ride_wv - 17-2-2011 at 09:50 AM
I've got a trip to Big Sky, MT planned and would like to bring a kite with me. I'm trying to pack carefully because I don't like overwhelming bag fees
and will have all my snowboard gear plus clothes etc. for a week so I'm trying to keep my checked luggage to a minimum. Could I make it through
airport security with a Twister II 4m in a backpack or maybe a small FS Outlaw as a carryon without a hassle? Should I check the handles, bar and
plastic kite stake? Any tips for airline travel with kites? I don't see a harness being a problem, but TSA may not like the spreader bar. Who knows?
Thanks in advance for your thoughts.
SlasherQuan - 17-2-2011 at 10:02 AM
Took my beamers 3m and 5m as carry on and didn't have any problems. The Kite stake caught attention, and had to explain to the TSA what it was. The
supervisor labeled it an Accesory and i was able to continue. If I can get a stake through security I don't see why you wouldn't be able to get a
spreader bar through. But the TSA can be diffrent from airport to airport. Phoenix the asked questions, in Maui they didn't say a thing. All it
takes is one self important super and they could take your stuff. I work for the airlines and have 2 fimmediate family members that are pilots. I
hope this helps you and any one else
indigo_wolf - 17-2-2011 at 10:03 AM
Check both the TSA and airline site. Kites shouldn't be any problem, and handles shouldn't either (unless you get a particularly over-zealous TSA
agent). Put the stakes with check-in luggage. Bar may be an issue. The problem with TSA is that some of their rules are too much of a moving target.
This was from back in 2004, but it still redlines the "roll your eyes meter".
http://www.sptimes.com/2004/09/17/Hillsborough/Tourist_s_cri...
Basically, if it can even be construed as an adhoc weapon, check it in.
ATB,
Sam
burritobandit - 17-2-2011 at 10:15 AM
When I took a kite trip to Cozumel, I flew with Continental and put my kiteboard, bar&lines, pump, and a backpack of clothes inside my golf bag
and checked that in, then brought my kites on board with me. I didn't want to deal with possibly encountering an overzealous TSA agent and I figured
they couldn't argue about some rolls of ripstop.
I used Space Bags to compress the kites (11m and 15m LEIs) and they both fit into one kite bag.
Kamikuza - 17-2-2011 at 05:13 PM
At the zoo, people have told about having problems with bars cos they're weapons, don't you know 
Kites in check-in suit case, clothes in carry-on ... I travel light 
ripsessionkites - 17-2-2011 at 05:28 PM
Carry on with kites, makes me feel safer knowing they are with me than in the belly of plane.
TSA can be picky as one time they ask with is with the lines and handles. I said kite stuff and they wanted to double and makes me remove my lines
from the kite. All kites what a pain. They still let me through though.
I always remove the lines and handles and put them in my luggage
Lines and handles = weapons? Really but better safe than sorry I guess.
Kamikuza - 17-2-2011 at 05:32 PM
I have a very low opinion of the nasty little frustrated dictators that get jobs as check-in assistants ... so it surprised me not that they make life
difficult.
And don't forget to say "kiteBOARDing" and not "kitesurfing" or they'll insist that it's a surfboard and try to charge you extra too.
... depends how big your kites are too I guess 
rocfighter - 18-2-2011 at 06:05 AM
Last year when we went to Antigua I checked my kites in. But they lost all of our luggage on the flights home. (they found them in some other world
and dropped them off at our house) But still freaked me out. I would insure them for A LOT next time.
markite - 18-2-2011 at 07:12 AM
Funny, only problems we've ever had is traveling from Toronto to US
- Ziggy had a problem bringing a big stuffed Phantom bag once - they wouldn't let him carry it one - due to size exceeding the small carry on limit
- had a friend get his rev handles yanked out at X-ray and told he needed to check them
- friends have also been hit with high fees by putting clothing in with sports goods coming back and the getting billed as an extra bag instead of
sports goods
- Norm wasn't allowed to take his buggy bolts carry on - the woman pulled them as a possible "weapon" demonstrating to Norm that you could hit someone
with one. He should have demonstrated the "Screw you"
She told him to either check them or mail them to an address - good thing he caught me just checking in and got them in my luggage
flyjump - 18-2-2011 at 07:26 AM
I've done carry on with my charger but put spars and bate/lines in checked luggage. I figured they'd be curious what the spars where for. I figured if
they lost my luggage clothes and bar are cheaper to replace than kites
g00fba11 - 18-2-2011 at 11:40 AM
I carry on my kites only. Anything else goes into checked. Depending on the TSA agent, you may have to check it anyway and if you are running late
you will loose it.
arkay - 19-2-2011 at 11:21 AM
Kites are not a problem to carry on, you just can't wear the "paraschute" in flIght.
I just gy the nsi "golf bag" for traveling and ts wonderful. I fit 4 bars, a pump, 2 lei's (12/9), a v2 16m, tools, mako 151, all the hardware, and
there was plenty of room to spare, and 49lbs :D. Bit if you are just going to take one small kite I'd carry it. Kites do pack amazingly small, I
would think you could pack 2-3 foils easy flat in a snowboard bag.
rocfighter - 20-2-2011 at 05:26 AM
The whole calling things weapons is a joke. My Mom had a tiny pair of scissors taken from her but they let her bring her 11" aluminum knitting needles
on board! 
speleopower - 20-2-2011 at 09:40 PM
A buddy accidently carried a loaded handgun through Orlando International guess the TSA agent was high.
I've not had a problem carrying on my kites so far.
Leojim - 20-2-2011 at 10:12 PM
Wow, reading all this there is one thing that is very apparent: the TSA dosn't have a clue what they are doing. What works on the "to" trip might not
work on the "back" trip. It would apear that bottom line one needs to leave plenty of time and have plan B in place for work arounds. All this
because of some crazy islamic #%&@ :puzzled:
Some great suggestions on packing a "golf bag" for carry on though.
SlasherQuan - 21-2-2011 at 09:46 AM
In the Aviation industry we affectionatley refer to them as the "Thousands Standing Around"
aircav1182 - 22-2-2011 at 11:47 AM
You can all thank the bad people in the world for the pain (s) in the asses we have to deal with now. I agree, TSA can be different and inconsistent,
and they have offended me on a number of occasions with their rudeness but their job is to keep planes from blowing up and their criteria for
inspecting changes with the intel received. With this in mind, I just go with the flow.....
tobytobsen - 25-2-2011 at 12:37 AM
I never had a problem to fly with just the kite in carry-on. I always check at least everything metal/long like bar/spars/lines.
I will fly to Fuerteventura next month and will bring my light wind kiteboard with me for the first time. It's 144x45cm so pretty big. Bought a
wheelie bag for that purpose. The bag is very heavy but very nicely foamed out. http://www.handmade.de/handmade-travelbag-wheelie-1011-149cm...
It eaven works as a huge ass backpack (its 1,49m long - thats 4.8 feet). Will take a picture with it on my back :-)
The problem is the weight - the airline i fly with only lets you pack 20kg in your sport luggage - but no size limit. The bag itself is 6 kg, so only
harness, 2 venom II's, helmet, the board, bar and spars fit weight wise.