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Checking-in windsurfing equipment at Heathrow

By Jonathan Clarke

Your gear will need to go in the hold along with suitcases and anything else you're not taking as hand luggage.

At Heathrow airport you can choose self-service, online or just regular check-in.

When using the self-service, you'll use a computer terminal to choose your seat, print your boarding pass and then take your gear to the bag-drop facility. Staff will be there to help you if you need it. Aer Lingus, Air Canada, Air France, American Airlines, bmi, British Airways, Gulf Air, Japan Airlines, KLM, Lufthansa, SAS, United Airlines and Virgin Atlantic offer a self-service check-in at Heathrow.

"From anywhere you have an internet connection, you can print your boarding pass and choose your seats on the plane."

The online check-in at Heathrow operates in just the same way as at Gatwick. From anywhere you have an internet connection, you can print your boarding pass and choose your seats on the plane. When you get to the airport you'll just need to take your windsurfing gear to the fast bag-drop area for it to be checked into the hold. Air France, bmi, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, KLM, Lufthansa, SAS, Singapore Airlines, South African Airlines, Swiss, Turkish Airlines and Virgin Atlantic all offer online check-in at Heathrow.

"No matter which airport you're departing from or which airline you're flying with, you'll need to put your gear in the hold."

No matter which airport you're departing from or which airline you're flying with, you'll need to put your windsurf gear in the hold. The difference is just in how you check-in and deal with the large bags on the day you travel. Be sure to check the exact details of your airport and airline well in advance so you can plan the easiest way to get your gear through departures.