· Last October my wife and I shipped two Feathercraft folders, and paddles, via British Air from New York through London to Milan. Successfully? That's another story. I asked for "load on top" and the gate and was refused. BA lost the paddles in London and could not get them to me for three days. One of the packs was pretty beat up (abrasions, holes) and the cockpit coaming of one boat was chipped. BA eventually made good the $180 damage but ruined our vacation.

Shipping a rigid kayak might be safer. I imagine it would go on a freight flight and be handled wit some care by freight specialists - but it's likely to cost the earth. Our folders were just large backpacks to the gorillas usually working passenger flights and I'm sure they handled them with their usual blend of resentment, malice and incompetence. Let me know how you make out: bill@billmarsano.com
Bill