One of the things I'm always a bit anxious about when flying long distances with kite gear is the dreaded extra baggage fee. However, with Turkish Airlines, I've found a brilliant solution that I've used several times—and it's actually one of the reasons I often choose to fly with Turkish when going on a kite trip.
You can, of course, pay for extra baggage, but the price is high because Turkish charges a fee per flight segment—Hamburg–Istanbul, Istanbul–Nairobi, and the same on the way back. It quickly adds up to several hundred euros.
Why use this hack?
Turkish Airlines allows one piece of water skiing equipment (wakeboard or water skis) for free within your normal baggage weight—and this applies until December 31, 2026. A TT-kiteboard looks almost identical to a wakeboard, so I take advantage of this rule every time.
After booking my ticket, I call Turkish support and ask to reserve transport for a "Wakeboard." This usually requires a good deal of patience, as many support agents aren't immediately aware that it's free. I often have to refer them directly to their official site under Sports Equipment → Water Skiing. Eventually, they get it noted in the system—including the board's dimensions and weight.
At the Airport: The Big Test
Standing in Hamburg Airport with two regular suitcases full of kite gear plus a separate board bag, I went to the check-in counter. The airport agent (who is not employed by Turkish Airlines, but by the airport itself) looked at the bags and asked:
“Have you paid for the extra baggage?”
I answered calmly: “No, it's a wakeboard that is pre-reserved as special baggage with Turkish. It should be free.”
He looked skeptical and called over a Turkish Airlines representative. Airport agents don't always know the specific special baggage rules for every different airline, so when in doubt, they always call a representative from the carrier in question.
The Turkish colleague looked into the system, disappeared for a few minutes to check thoroughly, and came back with a nod: “Okay, it’s approved.”
Both suitcases and the board bag went through without extra charge. It’s always a small victory when it works!
Room for Everything
The advantage is that Turkish provides 2 × 23 kg per person in regular baggage. This means I can pack all my kites, bars, and equipment in the two normal suitcases, while the board goes for free as "wakeboard equipment." Over time, I’ve acquired several good kite suitcases made of flexible, thick synthetic material that can easily hold 3 kites plus all the other gear.
Summary of my hack:
- Book your ticket first
- Call Turkish and reserve “water skiing equipment” / wakeboard
- Refer to their official website
- At the airport, always say “wakeboard” – never kiteboard or TT-board
I’ve used this trick several times now, and it has saved me a lot of money. It is quite simply one of my absolute favorite travel hacks for flying long distances with kite gear.
If you’re planning a longer kite trip, you might also like our Secret Spot Dakhla – En rå og autentisk kitesurf-oplevelse and other Travel Tips to save money on flights and baggage.