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I flew delta to costa rica last month and used a salamandar boat bag. I didn't bring a paddle because I didn't want to look suspicious, particularly because delta is not boater-friendly. I wrapped the boat in bubble wrap ostensibly for protection but really to disguise it. I showed up at the ticket counter and they asked if it was a surfboard. We said yes. It was heavy when when the handler picked up the bag, they were wondering what it actually was but didn't say anything. I reccomend that you do not pack your paddle gear inside your boat if you are trying to pass off a boat bag as a surfboard.
The same thing happened on the return trip. The bagagge handler asked if it was a surfboard and we said yes. I pad a $60 surfboard fee each way.
Someone in a previous post said that they lashed two kayaks together, cockpit to cockpit, and to told the baggage handler that it was a prototype surf ski -- bold. This approach might save money and it's also a good story to tell over a few beers. But it is really short-sighted and doesn't help the overall cause of flying with kayaks. If that baggage handler ever learns what actually happenned, they are going to feel humiliated. They may never learn, but if they do I don't want to meet them while flying with a kayak. There is a lot of gray area when flying with kayaks, maybe the line should be drawn somewhere.
My reccomendations are to dress and act professionally, use a boat bag to make your boat look like luggage, and don't do anything to make them hate kayakers.
-jp
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