Due to their bulky size, many airlines do not accept Kayaks on their planes, even if you are willing to pay excess luggage. The airlines that do take kayaks have strict policies in effect, and the size of the boat does matter. Be sure to check which plane you will be flying in, so as to see whether the cargo load is large enough to fit your boat.
Charter airlines are usually more accepting of kayaks and sporting equipment in general, whereas the scheduled airlines will make more of an issue out of your kayak. Further, those that do accept kayaks charge huge fees for the service, so it may make more sense to ship your kayak using a luggage shipping/luggage forwarding service, such as the ones linked to on this site. [AMZ asins='B001F5AHKC,B013GMLBNS,B00NIYJF6U,B00WUIEK3I']
Tips for Flying with a Kayak
If you do insist on taking your kayak with you on your flight, here are some tips for packing your kayak, and getting it onto the plane.
- Always use a kayak bag to protect the kayak
- Wrap the kayak in cloth/blanket/bubble wrap to disguise it
- Try claiming it as a surfboard, although it may be risky if found out
- If trying to hide the fact that you are bringing a kayak, consider disguising/not bringing your paddle. Do not pack your paddling gear inside the boat.
- Dress and act professionally. SMILE :-) to the check-in agent, do not cause any trouble.
- DO NOT ask to talk to a manager. You are better off trying to sort out the situation with the check-in agent. If a manager shows up, they will likely be more strict in enforcing the rules, and charge a higher price.
Airline Name | Accepts Kayaks? | Included in Allowance? | Cost | Policy / Comments |
---|---|---|---|---|
Adria Airways | No | See Policy | View Policy | |
Aegean Airlines | No | See Policy | View Policy | |
Aeroflot | Yes | Free | View Policy | |
Air Asia | No | Not Accepted | View Policy | |
Air Asia X | No | Not Accepted | View Policy | |
Air Berlin | Yes | See Policy | View Policy | |
Air Canada | Yes | $100 USD | View Policy | |
Air Chathams | No | See Policy | View Policy | |
Air Mauritius | No | See Policy | View Policy | |
Air Nelson | Yes | FREE | View Policy | |
Air New Zealand | Yes | Oversize Baggage Fee | View Policy | |
Air Nippon | Yes | See Policy | View Policy | |
Air Pacific | No | See Policy | View Policy | |
Air Poland | No | Not Accepted | View Policy | |
Air Pullmantur | No | 100 EUR | View Policy | |
Air Rarotonga | No | See Policy | View Policy | |
Air Tahiti | No | See Policy | View Policy | |
Air Transat | No | Not Accepted | View Policy | |
Air VIA | No | See Policy | View Policy | |
Airlines of Tasmania | Yes | FREE | View Policy | |
AirTran Airways | Yes | USD 75 | View Policy | |
Alaska Airlines | Yes | $150 USD + | View Policy | |
Allegiant Air | No | Not Accepted | View Policy | |
American Airlines | No | Not Accepted | View Policy | |
ANA Wings | No | See Policy | View Policy | |
Arik Air | No | See Policy | View Policy | |
Arkia Israeli Airlines | No | See Policy | View Policy | |
Aserca | No | Not Accepted | View Policy | |
Aurigny | Yes | See Policy | View Policy | |
Austrian Airlines | Yes | 100-200 EUR | View Policy | |
Avianca | No | Not Accepted | View Policy | |
AZUL Brazilian Airlines | No | Not Accepted | View Policy | |
Bahrain Air | No | BHD 19 | View Policy | |
BinterCanarias | No | See Policy | View Policy | |
Blekingeflyg | No | 150 SEK | View Policy | |
bmi | Yes | See Policy | View Policy | |
bmi Regional | Yes | See Policy | View Policy | |
bmibaby | No | See Policy | View Policy | |
bmibaby.com | No | See Policy | View Policy | |
British Airways | No | Free - Small Kayaks Only - Standard Baggage Fee | View Policy | |
Brussels Airlines | No | See Policy | View Policy | |
Bulgaria Air | No | Not Accepted | View Policy | |
CanJet | No | Not Accepted | View Policy | |
Caribbean Airlines | No | Not Accepted | View Policy | |
Cathay Pacific | Yes | See Policy | View Policy | |
Chathams Pacific | No | TOP 30 | View Policy | |
City Airline | No | View Policy | ||
Condor | No | 45-135 EUR ($115-$160 USD) | View Policy | |
Continental Airlines | No | See Policy | View Policy | |
Contour Airlines | No | Not Accepted | View Policy | |
Copa Airlines | No | Not Accepted | View Policy | |
Corendon Airlines | No | 50 EUR | View Policy | |
Croatia Airlines | No | 100-200 EUR | View Policy | |
Cyprus Airways | No | Not Accepted | View Policy | |
Czech Airlines | Yes | See Policy | View Policy | |
Dagestan Airlines | No | See Policy | View Policy | |
Danube Wings | No | See Policy | View Policy | |
Darwin Airline | No | See Policy | View Policy | |
Delta Airlines | No | Not Accepted | View Policy | |
Dragonair | Yes | FREE | View Policy | |
Eastern Airways | No | Not Accepted | View Policy | |
EasyJet | No | 45 - 55 GBP | View Policy | |
Edelweiss Air | No | See Policy | View Policy | |
EgyptAir | No | See Policy | View Policy | |
El Al | No | $100-$200 | View Policy | |
Emirates | Yes | Included - See Policy | View Policy | |
Enerjet | No | Not Accepted | View Policy | |
Ethiopian Airlines | No | See Policy | View Policy | |
EuroLOT | No | View Policy | ||
Finnair | No | 150 - 300 EUR | View Policy | |
Finnair | No | 150 - 300 EUR | View Policy | |
Finncomm Airlines | No | EUR 50 | View Policy | |
Flair Airlines | Yes | See Policy | View Policy | |
flybe | No | Not Accepted | View Policy | |
FlyNiki | No | See Policy | View Policy | |
Flysmaland | No | 150 SEK | View Policy | |
Frontier Airlines | Yes | $150-$175 USD | View Policy | |
Germania | No | Not Accepted | View Policy | |
Gol Airlines | No | Not Accepted | View Policy | |
Gotlandsflyg | No | 150 SEK | View Policy | |
Gulf Air | Yes | FREE | View Policy | |
Hainan Airlines | No | Not Accepted | View Policy | |
Hawaiian Airlines | No | Not Accepted | View Policy | |
Helvetic Airways | No | See Policy | View Policy | |
helvetic.com | No | See Policy | View Policy | |
Horizon Air | Yes | See Policy | View Policy | |
Iceland Air | No | $126-$174 USD | View Policy | |
JAL Express | Yes | FREE | View Policy | |
Japan Airlines | Yes | FREE | View Policy | |
JAT Airways | No | See Policy | View Policy | |
jet2.com | No | See Policy | View Policy | |
JetBlue | No | Not Accepted | View Policy | |
Jetstar.com | Yes | $25 AUD / NZD | View Policy | |
Kalmarflyg | No | 200 SEK | View Policy | |
Kenya Airways | No | Not Accepted | View Policy | |
KLM | No | Not Accepted | View Policy | |
Korean Air | No | See Policy | View Policy | |
Kullaflyg | No | 150 SEK | View Policy | |
LAN | No | View Policy | ||
LATAM | No | Not Accepted | View Policy | |
LOT Airlines | Yes | Free | View Policy | |
Lufthansa | Yes | Free | View Policy | |
Monarch Airlines | No | See Policy | View Policy | |
Moskovia Airlines | Yes | See Policy | View Policy | |
Nordavia | No | See Policy | View Policy | |
Norwegian | No | Limited Acceptance - Call | View Policy | |
Orenair | No | See Policy | View Policy | |
Pacific Blue | Yes | FREE | View Policy | |
Par-Avion | Yes | FREE | View Policy | |
Pegasus Airlines | No | See Policy | View Policy | |
Polynesian Blue | Yes | FREE | View Policy | |
Porter Airlines | No | Not Accepted | View Policy | |
Qatar Airways | No | See Policy | View Policy | |
Rossiya Russian Airlines | Yes | FREE | View Policy | |
Royal Air Maroc | No | See Policy | View Policy | |
S7 Airlines | No | See Policy | View Policy | |
SATA Azores Airlines | No | 55-75 EUR | View Policy | |
Singapore Airlines | Yes | See Policy | View Policy | |
Sky Airline | No | Not Accepted | View Policy | |
Sky Airlines | No | EUR 35 | View Policy | |
Skywest Airlines | No | Not Accepted | View Policy | |
Solomon Airlines | Yes | See Policy | View Policy | |
South African Airlines | No | See Policy | View Policy | |
South East Airlines | No | See Policy | View Policy | |
Southwest | No | $75 USD | View Policy | |
SpanAir | No | 90 EUR | View Policy | |
Spirit Airlines | No | Not Accepted | View Policy | |
Sundsvallsflyg | No | 150 SEK | View Policy | |
SunExpress | No | See Policy | View Policy | |
Sunwing | No | $100 CAD | View Policy | |
Sverigeflyg | No | See Policy | View Policy | |
SWISS | Yes | Free | View Policy | |
Swiss European Airlines | Yes | Free | View Policy | |
Swiss International Airlines | Yes | $150-$370 USD / 120-320 EUR | View Policy | |
SwissAir | Yes | Free | View Policy | |
Swoop Airlines | No | Not Accepted | View Policy | |
TAME | No | Not Accepted | View Policy | |
TAROM | No | See Policy | View Policy | |
Tatarstan | Yes | See Policy | View Policy | |
Thomas Cook | No | 45-65 GBP / 50-75 EUR | View Policy | |
Thomas Cook Belgium | No | See Policy | View Policy | |
Thomas Cook Scandinavia | No | See Policy | View Policy | |
Thomas Cook UK | No | See Policy | View Policy | |
Thomson Airways | No | See Policy | View Policy | |
Tiger Airways Australia | No | AUD 60 | View Policy | |
Titan Airways | No | See Policy | View Policy | |
TUIfly | No | 65 EUR | View Policy | |
Turkish Airlines | No | 30-60 EUR | View Policy | |
Ukraine International Airlines | No | See Policy | View Policy | |
United Airlines | No | Not Accepted | View Policy | |
URAL Airlines | No | See Policy | View Policy | |
US Airways | No | 200 USD | View Policy | |
UTair | Yes | See Policy | View Policy | |
V Australia | Yes | FREE | View Policy | |
VIM Airlines | Yes | See Policy | View Policy | |
Virgin America | No | Not Accepted | View Policy | |
Virgin Atlantic | No | No Longer Accepted | View Policy | |
Virgin Australia | Yes | Free - Standard Baggage Fee | View Policy | |
VivaAerobus | No | Not Accepted | View Policy | |
Vladivostok Air | Yes | See Policy | View Policy | |
Vladivostokavia | Yes | See Policy | View Policy | |
Volaris Airlines | No | $40-$200 USD | View Policy | |
Vueling | No | View Policy | ||
Westjet | No | $100-$200 | View Policy | |
Yakutia Airlines | No | See Policy | View Policy | |
Yamal Airlines | No | See Policy | View Policy |