I think it is often the case that airlines will waive excess baggage for sporting goods. This why I have travelled the world with over 40 airlines and have travelled with my golf clubs approximately 350 times. This is the first, I repeat first, time I have ever been charged for my golf clubs. Not only that, but as a 'gesture of goodwill' they waived it on the way out to Christchurch but stung me on the way back when I had no choice! At $20 per kilo the excess baggage was more than my ticket! On that basis, an 80 kilo man costs the airline $1600 for a two hour flight! What a racket. read full review »