Hi,
someone knows how i can go from Italy to Ecuador carring the kayks and spending not ver much???
What kind of air companies do you suggest??
Thanks
Paolo Bertola

[color=cyan:cd1057323c]Phone British Airways. They are usually windsurfer friendly. Sure it's cool with kayaks. They charge a once off fee for large items. Just phone before hand and confirm and try to get a letter from the airlines too. Airport staff can give you a lot of stick. Book in early too![/color:cd1057323c]

When I flew to Ecuador it was with Iberia, but from Munich (so sorry it's not quite the originating country you were after!) and to be honest - they were pretty poor. Once in Ecuador one of our group needed to alter his flight home and the only way they would allow it was if he paid to upgrade to business class!

I can agree with the above though as some friends joined us later and flew with BA and had no trouble at all.

As for boats - I have flown alot with boats and equipment and would recommend talking to the airlines first. If they ever ask or question you it can be useful to tell them it is a surf board (as the extra cost is cheaper). Its not really the weight that is an issue - just the size/bulk. I have winged it in the past and just turned up with boat and alot of times it has been fine and at no extra cost. The flight from Munich to Ecuador with Iberia was not one of these occasions though - it was an extra $50 even though I had no babbage, just a boat.

Not quite what you were after - but I hope this helps.

Ben