WINDSURF TRAVEL HACKS: WITH ANDREA CUCCHIWINDSURF TRAVEL HACKS: WITH ANDREA CUCCHITravelling with windsurf gear isnt for the faint-hearted. Oversized board-bags, unpredictable airline policies, brutal fees and last-minute drama at check-in are all part of the game. But for seasoned pros like Andrea Cucchi who has logged decades of miles, countless flights and more airport battles than he can remember, these challenges are a minor hurdle in the way of their next windsurf adventure.Andrea is the first to load the trolleys in our new Windsurf Travel hacks series, where we have asked the pros to share the hacks that save time, money, gear, and sanity. Hopefully these insider tips from some of the best in the business will help you on your way to a smooth journey through the airport and help you get to your destination with more money in your pocket and with way less stress!ANDREA CUCCHIFrom nightmare check-ins to driving cross-country through the night after being kicked out of an airport, Ive seen it all. With over three decades of globe-trotting to events with windsurfing gear in tow, here are my honest travel tips for anyone planning to fly with gear.TOP 5 TRAVEL HACKS YOU SHOULD NEVER FORGET!Never book a flight without checking the airlines gear policy: I never assume theyll take my equipment, especially board bags. Always call the airline and get everything clarified. Dont trust what the website says. One wrong assumption and your trip could fall apart before check-in.Avoid Sunday flights: If anything goes wrong, theres usually no one around who can help. Offices are closed, and youre on your own with a problem that could cost you thousands.Travel early, travel calm: I used to be stressed out until the moment I got through check-in. Now I arrive early, every time. I want everything planned, bags packed right, paperwork ready. Ive had too many chaotic experiences. Ive learned to hate adventure stress.Pack light, especially board bags. The heavier it is, the worse theyll treat it. If your bag looks heavy, theyll toss it around like trash. Keep it sleek, under the limit and easy to move.Be strategic at check-in. Dont overshare. Be calm and confident about your luggages weight. If it looks borderline, I politely and convincingly mention a weight thats acceptable. The more relaxed you look, the less likely they are to weigh or question it. Dont act too nice. Its a red flag. Just behave like any other passenger with a backpack. The best check-in is a quiet, uneventful one. My luggage is always pre-weighed and organized. I tried to avoid check in staff where I see the person looks stressed or grumpy!PLAN AHEAD!AC: Ive had times when I had to book a new flight because luggage fees were more expensive than a new ticket. I have also been thrown out of an airport and had to drive overnight to make it to a race. Once, with Andrea Rosati we showed up with 27 bags on 12 trolleys. We were not even able to make it to the check-in. They turned our trolley out of the airport we had to drive 1500km in one night to make it to the event. The gear was not even fitting inside one van; we had to tie a lot of the bags on the roof with belts going around the full and under the van. Now? Ive learned the hard way. I plan check in like a military operation. If the event is under 1500km away: Ill drive. No question. Ive had cargo ship gear before because airlines refused to take it, I had to cancel trips last-minute due to rule changes and missed key photoshoots because they would not check the gear in!WINDOW OR AISLE SEAT?AC: I never pay for a seat. I get on board last and choose my seat. Ill just confidently sit in any decent seat that is open. After 24-hour non-stop drives in a van to events, even a 10-hour flight feels like a spa day. I usually go for window or emergency exit seats. I sleep before take off and dont move until landing. Aisle seats? No thanks. Im wide-shouldered and tired of being whacked by food trolleys or bumped by every passenger walking by. If the window passenger looks like theyll need frequent bathroom breaks, then I might I offer to swap seats. Problem solved!TOP PACKING TIP FOR WINDSURFING GEAR!AC: Its all about smart protection and weight distribution. I roll two sails together, place the mast inside, and use wetsuits to pad the delicate parts of the boards. I travel with a separate boom/fins/extensions bag and a single or double board bag. Even with three boards, I can make it work. I leave the foot straps off if they dont fit. The lighter and simpler your setup, the fewer problems youll have, especially with the board bag.BOOKING & BAGGAGE!AC: Price Hacks. Incognito mode, late at night. Rates tend to drop when fewer people are searching. Clear your browser history and cookies. Especially when looking for flights on your mobile. Call unknown airlines about their baggage policy for windsurfers. Always check that theyll accept your luggage and what the weight rules are, and you can ask for better deals if they feel you like they are doing business with you and not just giving you a discount.Post check-in? Theres always a way to add extra kg after check-in. Its not ideal, but better than surprise fees if you end up taking back extra gear for any reason. The last two years, airlines have become slightly more forgiving. Maybe fewer travellers with gear, or better policies.MUST-HAVE ITEM ON LONG HAUL FLIGHTS?AC: Nothing. If theres internet onboard, I pretend there isnt. I fall asleep before the plane takes off. Thats my luxury. When I am on a plane that is my moment to finally relax a bit!CAR PARKING!AC: If Im alone at the airport and have a van full of gear, Ill ask the parking staff to give me a lift straight to the terminal. Skip the shuttle and then they take my van to their parking. If you ask kindly, they always help.Airlines over the years have been charging more. Were part of the reason some airlines stopped accepting gear altogether as many windsurfers were asking to cover breakages from their transport, which were not happening during the flight, but on the water. They understood it, and now we pay for the consequences!The post WINDSURF TRAVEL HACKS: WITH ANDREA CUCCHI appeared first on Windsurf Magazine Online.