Whitewater Forum: Flying/ Shipping Kayak

Flying/ Shipping Kayak

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Category: General
Forum Name: Whitewater Forum
Forum Discription: Open Discussion Forum. Whitewater related subjects only
URL: http://www.professorpaddle.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=13847
Printed Date: 09 May 2025 at 4:32pm

Topic: Flying/ Shipping Kayak

Posted By: NOMADIC WORLD
Subject: Flying/ Shipping Kayak
Date Posted: 13 Mar 2014 at 11:23am

Hey all, I'm moving back to Seattle from NY, and wanted to see what the latest beta is on shipping or flying with a kayak. Any tips, tricks, or fine print I should be aware of at the airport to keep this as cheap as possible?

Or if you know a good link to point me to, I'll take that.

Thanks,
Chris

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In The Business of Doing Things.

Replies:

Posted By: Kaelan
Date Posted: 13 Mar 2014 at 12:55pm

If you go the airplane route, check with them beforehand. Some airlines will let you fly it free or you can say it is a surfboard. I would just saran wrap it with bubble wrap beforehand to prevent damage.
If you choose the shipping route, check UShip or ForwardAir. Both should be fairly reasonable pricewise. Depending on the size/weight of your kayak it may end up costing over anywhere from $50 to $150 so be prepared for that.

Posted By: James
Date Posted: 13 Mar 2014 at 1:24pm

Forward Air is a good suggestion, drop it off at a terminal and pick it up at one. Wrap it in carpet foam and plan on it getting banged around but it will work. Another one is Greyhound bus lines. They will take kayaks pretty cheap, I have used other carriers for personal and professional shipping but it depends on where the terminal is for you. Checking them onto the airlines is becoming more and more difficult and will ultimately end up coming down to the person you are dealing with at the counter. Some are friendly and helpful, others are not.

Posted By: JayB
Date Posted: 13 Mar 2014 at 10:36pm

Hey: I think we chatted before you moved out there. What runs did you hit up in NY?

I've shipped coast to coast with Pilot Air freight 2X. Terminal-to-Terminal shipping from Seattle to NY ran about $200.

Forward Air required a cashier's check for payment at both ends - which is a massive PITA, so I went with Pilot Air instead.

If you can find someone else to co-ship a boat with you you can cut your shipping costs in half (based on my experience). Not easy to do unless you are traveling with someone - but might be worth a shot.

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-Jay

Posted By: BIGWATER
Date Posted: 14 Mar 2014 at 8:59am

I dont know about coast to coast, but I flew up to AK last summer with a boat and it was easy. The just charged me 20$ for the boat. They had me tape my paddle to the boat so it was all one item, saved me 20$ for the paddle. That was Alaskan Airlines. Worst part was the escalators in Seatac

Posted By: Fenix747
Date Posted: 15 Mar 2014 at 8:19am

Chris, when are you moving back?
I'm driving back to Washington next week from Montreal and have space on my rack for another boat if you're interested.

-Andy

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"Full Face" Andy

Posted By: NOMADIC WORLD
Date Posted: 15 Mar 2014 at 5:34pm

Hey Thanks Everyone. I appreciate the offer of driving it across, but I think I'm going to try my luck with United. If I can mask it as some sort of kite/ wind surfing set up, I'm pretty sure I can get it on for $50.

JayB, we did catch up before I cam out here. Unfortunately the last 2 years have been the driest years out here, but I did head up to the Hudson Gorge and down to the Potomac area a few times. Stoked to get back west, and SYOTR

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In The Business of Doing Things.

Posted By: tiziak
Date Posted: 16 Mar 2014 at 2:38am

I've flown a creek boat with United. I wrapped it up and called it a surf-ski. No issues.

I also flew Alaskan with a Creeker and a Playboat. Not wrapped and that was no issue. They didn't even charge me one way because I was joking around with the guy at the baggage counter about using it if we crashed...

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If you don't know where you are going, any road will get you there.

Daniel Patrinellis
360.434.4616

Posted By: kensmba
Date Posted: 20 Mar 2014 at 8:26pm

Hopefully the flight plan will work out for you, but if not you may consider DHL. DHL is reasonable for shipping SUPs coast to coast. I have not tried shipping a kayak with them, but since the size is similar, it may be worth checking into. They will give you a free shipping quote through their site. All the best to you.

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