Our tips for flying with your Wing Foil equipment

Flying with your Wing Foil equipment requires a bit of organization, but it’s possible! In this article, you will find all the precautions to take in order to travel with complete peace of mind. If you want to fly with your inflatable SUP, Kite or Surf, these tips will also be very useful!

1 - Choose the right airline to transport your wing foil on a plane

To transport your wing foil by plane, you will first have to choose your airline carefully. Indeed, the baggage policy varies enormously depending on the airline. In some cases, the price of luggage can be up to three times more expensive than the price of the ticket. The cost of excess baggage is therefore the first element to consider when making your reservation. Sometimes, you should not hesitate to change airlines, even if it means paying a little more for the ticket but with less excess baggage. We also advise you to find out about the dimensions of the baggage allowed. Weight isn’t the only thing considered. Don’t forget to pay close attention to the restrictions regarding the length and width of luggage.

2 - Pack your wingfoil equipment well

Before you take the plane, you need to have something to protect your wing foil set. Choose a board bag that is large and strong enough to accommodate the gear. For your foil, disassemble it and store it in its protective and transport bag. You can then slip it into the large bag of your board.

Don’t hesitate to take a size up so you can put your foil and wing inside.

The wingfoil board should then be well padded to prevent it from being damaged on the plane, especially if you are carrying a rigid board. We advised you to pack the deck, edges and rails of your foil board with protective foam. It is also important to wedge the assembly to prevent the different elements from moving too much. Finally, distribute the weight as much as possible to avoid forcing more in one place of your bag and therefore damaging the seams there.

Sroka transport bags are perfectly designed to protect your foil and board and make it easier to transport.

3 - Flying with your Wing Foil: choosing the inflatable

For air travel, the inflatable wing foil board is the perfect solution.
Unbreakable
,
foldable
and
compact
when transported, the inflatable board offers nothing but advantages.
Indeed, with the inflatable, no more transport and storage problems! The board holds in a backpack.

At Sroka we build all our inflatable boards with a top quality PVC, identical to that used for professional RIB boats. Enough to guarantee a solidity that will stand the test of time.

The rigidity of our inflatable wingfoil boards will also amaze you! Contrary to popular belief, well-constructed inflatable foil boards are Extremely rigid. For example, on our Sroka V1 and V2 inflatable wing boards, we have chosen to integrate a carbon plate on the hull to obtain unparalleled rigidity and
maximum performance
.

The choice of the inflatable seems obvious if you want to be able to take your wingfoil equipment everywhere with you. Its high resistance to shocks and its ease of use and transport make it an essential ally. It is also a very good piece of equipment for all those who want to start wingfoil with ease.

V2 inflatable wing foil board: the ultimate travel board

The inflatable Sroka V2 offers superb performance and incredibly precise handling thanks to the carbon plate and foot strap inserts. The feeling on the water is closer than ever to a hard board. It also allows a super pleasant recovery during touches thanks to its rocker and an immediate take-off.
Built with a reinforced PVC that is used on RIB boats, it offers unrivalled mechanical qualities of strength and
rigidity
.

4 - Beware of oversized luggage

In general, airlines set a maximum weight of 23kg for checked baggage (with some airlines it is possible to go up to 32kg). In addition to this maximum weight, there are dimensions that should not be exceeded. Beyond this weight and dimensions, your luggage will not be taken. It is therefore important to check the dimensions and weight of the luggage, otherwise you will not be able to take it with you.

Take only what is strictly necessary if you don’t want to pay too much. To do this, check the weather conditions before you leave and try to find information with the local clubs. In any case, you will be obliged to check in your oversized baggage at the ticket counter. Most of the time, oversized luggage will have to be placed on a
special mat
. Try to spot this mat ahead of time to save time.

When landing, your luggage will also arrive on a different belt.

5 - Anticipate

We advise you to buy your luggage in advance. It costs less than buying them at the airport during check-in. Normally, it is recommended to arrive early to catch your flight. This is all the more important when you want to fly with your wing foil. If possible, plan at least 2 hours in advance. This will give you more time to manage your equipment in the airport. Airports are even fuller in summer, travelling with your wingfoil can quickly become complicated. To get through the airport with ease, make sure you get a good head start on your flight.

PS: Think about straps if you want to attach your wingfoil gear to the roof of a car when you arrive.

6 - What to do in case of damage to your wingfoil equipment?

To avoid any unpleasant surprises, it is advisable to check that nothing has been damaged directly when exiting the aircraft. If any part of your wing foil equipment is damaged during your flight, make a claim right away at the company’s ticket office. Subsequently, vYou will be compensated in exchange for the purchase and repair invoice, if it is possible for you to provide them. It is advisable to do this on the spot right away. In general , the claim period is set at 7 days, but remember to check this period with your company. After this period, you will no longer be able to prove that the damage was caused as a result of your theft. As a result, you may have to pay for the necessary repairs.