I'd like to retract a statement I made last year about how easy it was taking a SUP on a flight to/from Bali. I did it again, returning to Perth yesterday. When I checked my board bag I was a little disappointed when I saw a small tear in the fabric. I thought no more of it until this morning when I opened the bag to unwrap the protective wrapping and to refit the fins. I'll let the pictures speak for themselves. No amount of foam padding protects a board from this sort of heavy-handed mindless abuse! My beloved Sunova is no more.....

Where do you stand if you've not checked the board at the airport? I've heard once you take it out of the airport and find damage you cant claim? Is this true? Hope not !

steve35 said..
Where do you stand if you've not checked the board at the airport? I've heard once you take it out of the airport and find damage you cant claim? Is this true? Hope not !

So True it's a must do every time.

Vandals said..
I'd like to retract a statement I made last year about how easy it was taking a SUP on a flight to/from Bali. I did it again, returning to Perth yesterday. When I checked my board bag I was a little disappointed when I saw a small tear in the fabric. I thought no more of it until this morning when I opened the bag to unwrap the protective wrapping and to refit the fins. I'll let the pictures speak for themselves. No amount of foam padding protects a board from this sort of heavy-handed mindless abuse! My beloved Sunova is no more.....

Do you read what steve35 said Vandals I do that with my surfboards every time I travel.

The funny thing is when you speak with the damage claims department at the Airport they will laugh at you "so just keep your cool"

One time I had to sign a waiver with QANTAS (to say they are not responsible for damages while) traveling from Honolulu to Brisbane in 2008 as I was bringing home a SIC f16 as part of my language. Anyway I arrive at Brisbane airport flyblow from all the free in-flight beer, My board cover had the biggest foot print on it but I didn't have a camera, baggage claims made me fill out the paper work and laughed at me.

I ended up getting the LAST LAUGH I took QANTAS to Southport Court and Sued there arses off. (under Duty Of Care) got all my money back $2,500 thats how much a new SIC f16 was at the time.

If I had a camera and took a photo of the foot print I would have went all the way in the courts for a clean of $ million ( under the Duty Of Care Act)

I sued my Travel Agent last year when I went to Samoa for ripping me off with my flights (it's a long story) but the Judge tore shreds of my travel agent I did feel sorry for him. - I got all my money back, hahahah.

I've sued many for ripping me off (first person to ever take eBay to court and win, take me for a dummy hahaha) I should have been a Lawyer I love Perry Mason

Perry Mason

Can you see a resemblance, hahaha

Macaha said...
DW you are all time one funny man.

I think you are the funny one after that post mac

Nice Qantas tie, DW...are you working as a Qantas Hostie now?

Downwinder said..

Helmy said..
Nice Qantas tie, DW...are you working as a Qantas Hostie now?

Sorry Helmy thats not a Qantas tie that an Australian tie.

I love the red thumb hahahah you guys must love being ripped off

I didn't red thumb you but I suspect the red thumbs are from people who may have experienced the other side of a frivolous law suit - it's not a nice situation to have to defend yourself when you've done nothing wrong. Maybe all the people you've sued deserved it, but really, the only other person to delight so much in suing people is Donald Trump, and he'd probably get red thumbs too.

PTWoody said..

Downwinder said..

Helmy said..
Nice Qantas tie, DW...are you working as a Qantas Hostie now?

Sorry Helmy thats not a Qantas tie that an Australian tie.

I love the red thumb hahahah you guys must love being ripped off

I didn't red thumb you but I suspect the red thumbs are from people who may have experienced the other side of a frivolous law suit - it's not a nice situation to have to defend yourself when you've done nothing wrong. Maybe all the people you've sued deserved it, but really, the only other person to delight so much in suing people is Donald Trump, and he'd probably get red thumbs too.

G'day PTwoody I'm an honest very easy going person and always try and help people.

I just hate being taken advantaged of by people or companies who lie to you and just rip you off by taking you for a dummy.

If I told you (explained) about every company I have taken to court and sued, you'd totally agree I was in my right.

I hate thieves

I also have experienced the other side of a frivolous law suit 26 years ago with the family law court. I can see why people blow up courts or murder the Judge.

Hi Vandals

That's absolutely tragic
I have flown many many times and only had damage the nose of a shortboard
What airline did you just fly with ??
I'm back over in 4 weeks with Garuda

Muppets - !!! don't they realise people work hard for nice things !!!!

Downwinder said..

PTWoody said..

Downwinder said..

Helmy said..
Nice Qantas tie, DW...are you working as a Qantas Hostie now?

Sorry Helmy thats not a Qantas tie that an Australian tie.

I love the red thumb hahahah you guys must love being ripped off

I didn't red thumb you but I suspect the red thumbs are from people who may have experienced the other side of a frivolous law suit - it's not a nice situation to have to defend yourself when you've done nothing wrong. Maybe all the people you've sued deserved it, but really, the only other person to delight so much in suing people is Donald Trump, and he'd probably get red thumbs too.

G'day PTwoody I'm an honest very easy going person and always try and help people.

I just hate being taken advantaged of by people or companies who lie to you and just rip you off by taking you for a dummy.

If I told you (explained) about every company I have taken to court and sued, you'd totally agree I was in my right.

I hate thieves

I also have experienced the other side of a frivolous law suit 26 years ago with the family law court. I can see why people blow up courts or murder the Judge.

Careful, you may have just black flagged yourself there, my friend.

Certainly, I wouldn't deny anyone the right to pursue justice through the courts when they have been wronged, and especially in the case of the OP. As you say, the important thing is not to be intimidated by someone at the front desk whose job it is to tell you that you have no grounds for complaint. That's bull****. Even if you sign a piece of paper indemnifying someone, that doesn't get them off the hook where criminal negligence is concerned.

Looks like they jammed it sideways into the hold and because it came out on top of the baggage cart it went in first with all the other bags pushing/landing on it from behind.

Narrow or wide body aircraft? I would expect different damage if you flew on a widebody with "D" containers, mostly crushed in the middle then.

You can purchase stick on shock loading stickers that change color if your board is thrown around, not much help in this case.

Gutted for you mate. That really sucks. They can be aholes at airports.

steve35 said..
Where do you stand if you've not checked the board at the airport? I've heard once you take it out of the airport and find damage you cant claim? Is this true? Hope not !

Same thing happened to us a few years ago, we took two 12/6's to cali, got home and only 1 was completely destroyed. Almost broken in half, someone used a knife and stabbed away all over the board, the other one was fine though!

We claimed and got some money but not enough to cover it.

Sunova are strong boards, that was a big hit to do that.
Looks like a forklift pushed it into a brick wall from one end.

Thanks for the support guys! I won't mention the carrier yet. I've had an email stating that the claim has been referred to their International Baggage Claims team and that I'd be contacted in the next few days. I haven't tried to make an insurance claim at this stage because I consider this to be negligent service rather than an accident. I'll give them a chance to make amends before I consider my plan of attack.

Was that incident while unloading in Sydney(Fiji Air) or Perth(Qantas).......and how long ago.
am trvelling soon with sups & wnd kit.....just curious...as have heard mixed reports on treatment of oversize baggage.....some good some bad..........it was stated by travel consultants and airlines that it is the same handlers for all the carriers....did you pay excess baggage fee as well?