jetstar

Yeah, they are pretty strict about it. It's pretty well hidden in there, but it does so it somewhere in the conditions about boards. They will point to this and say you should have read the conditions first. The only thing that will get you through is the kindness of the person at the check in.

I booked with them when they changed this rule - you used to be able to take boards up to 3.08M long. They changed the rule after I had bought my ticket, but in the end I just hasd to leave my boards behind. They wouldn't budge on the rule at all.

Not what you wanted to hear.. Sorry! Just try and be nice to the check in staff and they may let you sneak it on. Good luck!

Flown with them to Indo a few times including a few weeks back, never had any problems, never measured my board or anything, but my longest board is 6"3.

7"2 is a fair bit longer so may be different.

I think the reason is that under new anti-terroism procedures and protocols, all luggage has to be contained within bomb resistant containers. The containers supposedly can't fit boards and other cargo over 2 metres in length.

Could be wrong, but I read that somewhere.

Problem is desoutc, what are you going to do if you rock up to the check-in counter and they won't budge?

Been off Jetstar for a while now, had similar problems.

Trip a) flew to WA with Qantas and came back with jetstar only to find out their weight restrictions and board sizes were completely different. After much frigging around and sweet talking we got our stuff on but learnt our lesson about board size there

Trip b) Trip down to Vicco- Jetstar flight super late going down, coming back canned my flight altogether with about 2 hours notice, many arguements later got on another flight via Sydney International, 1 torn board bag later and I'd decided no matter how cheap they were its not worth flying with them anymore

I wrote a letter to them and in their reply they stated, 'that at no time in their contract with me do they guarantee that the flight would leave on time or even on the same day and that my broken luggage was not their fault but the handlers at the airport'

So if you've got days to wait around for your flight and don't mind paddling into 6-8 foot reefs with a 6'2 shooter than this is the airline for you

Things aren't looking good here. Not sure Jetstar will move although being polite to the staff at the airport always helps.

I reckon its way of directing people to Qantas and their pricer fares and who don't have such restrictions.

Good luck

The length restriction is based on the type of Aircraft you are flying on and the size of the Luggage containers that it can handle.
I do one or two Bali trips per year and have never had a problem with a 7'6" bag.
Follow this link for the details on Jetstar's website:
http://www.jetstar.com/au/en/planning-and-booking/baggage/bulky-items

From my experience, most Jetstar flights to Bali from Melb,Sydney,Brisbane are all Airbus A380 Aircraft and you shouldn't have any dramas.
Check you Ticket/Itinerary and it should show the Aircraft type you are flying on.
Hope this helps

are jetstar any better or cheaper than air asia? air asia takes surfboards up to 2.7 metres according to there website.

I have flown Jetstar from Melbourne to Bali 3 x and Gold coast 1 x in the last 8 months and always taken my 7'1 cover. No issues at all.

Check the type of aircraft.
From memory their:
- Long Haul A330's take up to 2.7M i.e. Bali ex Syd / Mel
- Domestic and short haul international (including FIJI) only take 1.9M.
I have been caught in the past on the 1.9M and will avoid JS at all cost.

Interestingly i flew to Fiji on Airpacfic with a 7'6 Board bag weighing about 25kg - intentially avoiding Jetstar. The return leg was with Jetstar (i had no other choice) non a A320. I very nervous about getting on. In the end they did not blink an eyelid with regard to either weight or length!

Anyone ever had trouble with fins taken in carry on? Could they be considered a weapon?

Desoutc, just got back 3 weeks ago, flew Jetstar from/to Melbourne, 8ft board bag, no problems. Like has been mentioned above, depends on the type of plane for length allowance. I was also unsure about fins so left mine in the board bag (in lots of bubble wrap).

Anyone ever had trouble with fins taken in carry on? Could they be considered a weapon?

By: "groundswell"

Ive traveled many times with with fins in my backpack that i take on plane as hand luggage including only a few weeks back and had no problem, but i can see your point maybe in the future it could be an issue.

Depends upon how cashed up you are, but I've got a mate that travels to Indo annually and buys a couple of boards in Bali. According to him there is an abundance of good, cheap boards available that tourists offload to the shops for a bit of extra beer money or whatever at the end of their trips. He can, with a bit of haggling, pick up a couple of as new boards for less than $500.

At the end of his trip he usually gives them away to the local kids. As far as I know, he only travels with a couple of sets of fins and a spare leggie or two.

Might not be an option if you're on a budget, but good karma all the same.

Disclaimer: I have never been to Bali. Maybe Indo Dreaming is the man to ask about availability of cheap boards in Bali.

I flew yesterday domestic only on Jetstar A320 with an 8'0 board bag. (2 x 6'3s inside though). They didn't say a thing, but I might of got lucky? I always take my fins as carry on. A smile will be your best weapon.

Apologies as this is slightly off topic.

Have also booked a jetstar flight (to sunny coast) and due to possible hassles I'm considering just hiring a board when I get there.

Any recommendations for good hire boards in Noosa? (I don't really want a 7'6" funboard). Usually I'm a whitebread 6'3" thruster kinda guy but I'm willing to get a bit fishy for a coupla weeks (it is a holiday after all!)

Cheers for any suggestions

This is why I fly with Garuda when going to Bali, they allow you to take 2 surfboards for free. I got clever and drank my duty free alcohol on a Garuda flight to Bali, the air hostess told me off, but unfortunately she didn't discipline me.

Id rather pay a bit extra for my air fare and not have to muck around with buying surfboards over in Bali.

Furthermore, if you go into any branded surf shop (quicksilver, rip curl etc) in Bali, you will only get slightly cheaper than Australia from memory, you have to buy from a local non branded shop if you want to get a cheap board.

Was in bali recently and regret buying a step up before going over. got a near new 6'6 here for $275 with some glass fins. (looked in 20 plus stores between byron and the sunshine coast to find what i wanted)

Mate was getting a board repaired in a board shop 50m down the road from suka beach inn on poppies 2 and found multiple choices of boards in as good if not better condition for 2 million (200 bucks) and that was without haggling. the repairs where better then some ive seen in aus too.

Bought 2 board socks my mate lost his somewhere between leaving the shop and dinner, went back to pick up repaierd board 2 days later and they gave him another sock when he told them he lost it which i thought was pretty cool.

Take your standard shorty and fold the extra on the bag if your worried and buy a step up when your over there but dont stress if they dont let you take the boards. If you can factor in 400 bucks you will get 2 good sticks over there no worries then flog em off to some euros for 500 when your done haha.

I think the reason is that under new anti-terroism procedures and protocols, all luggage has to be contained within bomb resistant containers. The containers supposedly can't fit boards and other cargo over 2 metres in length.

Could be wrong, but I read that somewhere.

By: "zenagain"

G'day brother Zen,

Can't say that you are wrong (I heard the same reason myself from a Jetstar representative when they first restricted the size of baggage), however Virgin don't appear too concerned. They also fly the A330 short haul international (same as Jetstar) but can (and do) take oversize baggage to 3 metres. Jetstar are doing themselves out of a portion of the market by putting in such restrictions.

While we are discussing Jetstar, they also used to fly to Bali direct out of Brisbane but now you have to have a stop-over in Darwin. For these ludicrous decisions, I now give my money to any other airline but Jetstar (haven't flown Jetstar for years now).

Yo Brother Hash.

A few nice waves around here today, see you're getting a bit of swell too.

I suppose the whole Jetstar thing is, you get what you pay for. Never flown with them and probably never will.

Glad you're getting a couple brother. Down to the 3/2 steamer and ditching the hoodie yet? Yes, a few waves around after a period of flatness but so south that not getting the most out of it. Wind's aren't helping either. May try during the week for something. Mostly avoid the weekends now.

Flew Jetstar Adeliade - Perth - Jakarta two years ago and was quite surprised when check in chick said my board was too big 6'8 because previous flights with Jetstar it was not mentioned. But yeh it is all about the plane she allowed me to checkin at adelaide but could not guarentee I would be allowed to at the next stops (she checked perth and said "should be able to") but also said anything could happen on the way home because it was 2 months away and the planes they use can change.

Anyway I arsed it all the way because every check in after that nothing was mentioned. I have to agree with some of the comments that it is worth paying extra for better service but I am/was a bit povo so was looking for a cheap trip. since then I have gone with Virgin with no problems and generally better service, but qantas/singapore etc. are another class above Virgin and usually worth the extra.

I have noticed boards in Bali are quite cheap now compared to what they used to be. 4 -5 years ago, boards new and used were more expensive than oz, but now it seems there a few manufactureres over there plus an abundance of backpacker boards that have driven prices down, so yeh it is a viable back up plan. Some of the local boards look alright too, at least one thing in Bali is becoming cheaper thanks to euro backpackers! but it does not cancel the huge price hikes elsewhere and the (dangerous) kooks in the surf.

about the reason, the check in chick told me it is something to with an automatic loading system that they use for the containers on the smaller planes. So I am guessing if there is lots of space they might chuck them in manually, otherwise the machine , or the containers cannot deal with anything over 6'3

Anyone had any recent experiences in flying domestic with boards on Jetstar?
Got a trip booked Melb-sunshine coast in March and taking a 5'9 and 6'2 with me, and the flight I am on says the limit is 191cm (6'3 including the bag )
I've used my 6'7 bag with them several times (but not for a few years)and been fine.
Just want to know if they have become more strict on this recently. Cheers

Just in case they pick you on the extra length take some duct tape ........fold over board bag tail and tape up the extra 5 inches...should get you down to the 6'3' max length
Whats the domestic weight restrictions on surfboards ?

Cheers Udo, good advice.
As far as I can tell the boards will count for my checked in baggage, which is up to 20kg. Anything over gets charged as excess per KG.