China Airlines--the bane of my existence....

SO, as is par for the course, every other airline seems to allow scuba equip. as a free checked item. China airlines, however, does not seem to have this as an option on their website. I called and spoke to a very confused girl who did not seem to understand what scuba diving equipment was. Here is a link to the full requirements in case anyone would like to have a look: http://www.china-airlines.com/en/check/sprots_fee.pdf You can bring your golf clubs, or your water ski's, but no dive gear. So, getting to the point of this post, has anyone checked a bag full of dive gear with them and not been required to pay and extra $115? I'm wondering if it's possible to bend the truth slightly here, ie: 'Oh, this bag? Yes these are my WATER SKIING inflatable vests and fins.....you know, for all the WATER SKIING I will be doing in Palau......'

Thank you much gents and gals,

KTDG

I wasn't aware any airlines accept an additional bag at no extra charge?

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Oh yes, it's the one thing they do give you! I have here examples of the criteria from Air Tahiti, Jetblue, and Air New Zealand.

No charge if within permitted baggage allowance.

This does not mean an extra free bag. It means you are allowed to check it just like any other bag.

No charge if within permitted baggage allowance.

Hey Giffenk, is this for China Airlines spec. and what is the sporting equip. baggage allowance?

Hey Giffenk, is this for China Airlines spec. and what is the sporting equip. baggage allowance?

Hi Katy-kid

I think giggenk is pointing out that on the airline info you sent, sporting gear will be carried if it's inside the limit of your baggage allowance. An extra bag of sports gear might be allowable but, again, inside the baggage allowance.

Bottom line, there's no free sports gear bag extra.

Some airlines used to give an additional baggage allowance for sports equipment as a way to boost tourism. For example when I lived in New Zealand a long time ago, Air NZ would carry surfboards, bikes, skis, and golf bags free. Sadly, that practice is long since confined to the mists of history, with the rise of fees for everything bar the toilets, and in fact was never possible in most of the world as far as I can remember. It is a durable myth (read FlyerTalk if you want an overdose of outrage over things that are "supposed to be" true!) but a myth nonetheless.

EDIT: I read the T&C on the China Airlines site, as I am a frequent customer of theirs on work trips and was curious. ALL sports equipment is subject to the overall limit. There is no special discrimination against scuba gear. And seriously, $115 to carry an extra very heavy bag (it's a piece limit not a weight limit) is a bargain these days. You can spend that much in the airport on bad food and drink, or on a taxi, or in the resort bar. I'd accept it as a price of scuba travel and just get over it.