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Air Travel and an Erg???

Posted: August 18th, 2006, 10:28 am
by ddeubel
Hi,

I just got a sweet deal on an erg. I live and teach at a university in S. Korea. Presently in Canada. No ergs or VERY few available in S.Korea. So I will ship my erg to Korea.

Has anyone ever traveled with an erg and checked it as oversized luggage? Is it possible? (seems to meet the dimensions/weight limits). Did you use a bicycle box/container - will it fit?

I'm definitely thinking of this option given to ship it alone would be about $350 CDN compared to the $50 fee as checked sports equipment.

Any thoughts, prior experiences?

DD

PS. Great site. I'm anxious to get back rowing and will contribute to the forum. For about 5 years I took up the erg and had some minor success. Just love it as a total way of fitness and it compliments my running very well....

Re: Air Travel and an Erg???

Posted: August 18th, 2006, 10:39 am
by Alissa
ddeubel wrote:Has anyone ever traveled with an erg and checked it as oversized luggage? Is it possible? (seems to meet the dimensions/weight limits). Did you use a bicycle box/container - will it fit?

I'm definitely thinking of this option given to ship it alone would be about $350 CDN compared to the $50 fee as checked sports equipment.

Any thoughts, prior experiences?

DD

PS. Great site. I'm anxious to get back rowing and will contribute to the forum. For about 5 years I took up the erg and had some minor success. Just love it as a total way of fitness and it compliments my running very well....
Hi DD!

I believe Pete & Janice Marston (who post more often on the UK forum) have had experiences checking an erg on a BA flights to the UK. It apparently works just fine (although it obviously takes up some/all of your checked baggage limitations).

I believe they've generally been traveling with "just purchased new" ergs, so have had the original packing boxes. I believe packing boxes are available for purchase from C2, so you might want to check with them on the cost. That would make sure that your erg made it home intact!

It will be nice to see you on the forum! :)

Alissa

Posted: August 19th, 2006, 12:03 am
by holm188
Hi,
I bought my 1st erg in Canada and carried it back to Switzerland, but that was 20 years ago (was a model A). It was still in it's original package. I did not have to pay anything for the transport, only tax & duty on arrival.
Good luck!

Posted: August 19th, 2006, 6:17 am
by sledgehammer
I have had excellent luck with C2 customer service. I suggest you give them a call or email. My guess is that they will send you a box and packing materials at their cost.

Now you need to get Digital Rowing's RowPro software (http://www.digitalrowing.com). We need more online rowers from Asia.

Best, Ernie

Posted: August 25th, 2006, 9:47 am
by ddeubel
Thanks for all the responses. I will let you know how it works out!

I did phone concept service and I am awaiting a box....so so far , so good.....

I leave sept 6th and the airline has said okay (pay a $50 surcharge), so we will see....

DD

Posted: August 25th, 2006, 11:41 am
by johnlvs2run
When I got a box from c2 they charged $35-40 for it a couple of years ago.

Posted: August 26th, 2006, 10:43 am
by Pete Marston
Hi all,

Yes we have brought two ergs over from Seattle to London in the past couple of years, both times checked as one item of hold luggage at no extra cost. Of course we weren't shipping them over to sell, because that would be wrong... The first one was Janice's that she'd had for 12months or so, that we brought over after we'd got married over there, and the second one for my dad - we bought that to train on while we were staying over there for an extended trip, and brought it back after.

Anyway, both times we've just checked it as oversize luggage, and at the time the weight was just under the BA limit for an item of luggage on that route, which was 32kg (x2 per person). This limit is due to go down to 23kg soon per item, though they never weighed the box anyway. There are also special rules for sporting equipment that you might be able to get them through on. And if worst comes to worst, you pay a little excess baggage charge for it.

We have brought them in their original boxes as that's best for packing, but have taken them out, put together, and used for a time at least, so that you can either argue they are second hand (so no duty to pay), or if you've moving country, or taking it legitimately to a holiday home, no problems anyway I don't think.

If anyone has any specific questions I can help with, PM me through the UK forum as I don't get over here too often.

Pete

Posted: August 26th, 2006, 1:19 pm
by mpukita
Thanks Pete.

Posted: September 8th, 2006, 2:35 am
by ddeubel
Thanks for that info. Pete...

Just an update on my situation. I arrived in Korea and didn't have any problem with Air Canada, checking in the rowing machine. Did pay $35 dollars as oversized item and it was part of my checked luggage (2X ) allowance. But I am happy, not too much to pay for getting the thing over the Pacific.

Concept2 were great with providing info. about boxing and disassembly. Best and concise advice possible.

Now one day soon, I'll have to row across the Pacific! Forget the bloody airplane.

DD