Article
2013 Surfboard Baggage Fee Comparison
An updated breakdown of airline baggage fees
After you choose the best airline, your next worry is whether your boards arrive in one piece. Photo: Burkard
Every overseas surf trip usually starts and ends with gripes about surfboard baggage fees. We complain that it’s unfair and outrageous (because it is), but let’s face it, prices are only going up from here, so it’s time we do a little research before we go. Here we’ve provided you with a comprehensive breakdown of fees, so the next time you get slapped with a $400 one-way fee, the only person to blame is yourself. *Be sure to note which airlines charge PER BAG and which charge PER BOARD. (Fees are accurate as of 1/17/13)
(FROM THE MAG: Read “Gripes of the Fortunate” for more about our plight against baggage fees.)
|
AIRLINE
|
FIRST BAG
|
ADD’T. BAG
|
SURFBOARD
|
NOTES
|
| Aeromexico | $0 | $0 | $76/bag | Max length: 9′ |
| Air Canada | $0-$25 | $35-$100 | $50/board | WILL NOT accept bags over 6’6″ |
| Air France | $0 | $75-100 | $55-150* | *Depending on destination |
| Air New Zealand | $0 | $150 | $0* | *Free if only checked bag, otherwise $150/bag |
| Air Pacific | $0 | $0 | $50/bag | Max length: 9’6” |
| Air Tahiti Nui | $0 | $75 | $0* | If under 6’6″. If over, $150/bag. |
| American (US or PR) | $25 | $35 | $150/bag | Max weight: 70 lbs. |
| American (to/from Mexico) | $0 | $40 | $150/bag | Max weight: 70 lbs. |
| American (to/from Europe) | $0 | $60 | $150/bag | Max weight: 70 lbs. |
| Alaska Airlines | $20 | $20 | $50/bag up to 6’6″, $75/bag 6’7″+ | Max length: 115 in (length X width X height) |
| British Airways | $0 | $0 | $0* | *WILL NOT carry boards over 6’3″ |
| China Airlines | $0 | $0 | $150/board for under 9′, $225/board for 9′+* | Varies slightly by destination |
| Continental (US, PR, Canada) | $25 | $35 | $100/bag* | *$200 if over 70 lbs.; Max length: 9’6″ |
| Continental (International) | $0 | $40 | $200/bag* | *$400 if over 70 lbs.; Max length: 9’6″ |
| COPA | $0 | $0 | $75/bag* | *Two boards max per bag |
| Delta Airlines (within US and Canada) | $25 | $35 | $150/bag* | *2 boards per bag max; Max size: 9’6″ and 70 lbs. |
| Delta (to/from Caribbean) | $25 | $40 | $150/bag* | *2 boards per bag max; Max size: 9’6″ and 70 lbs. |
| Delta (to/from Europe, S. and Central America) | $0 | 40-$100 | $150/bag* | *2 boards per bag max; Max size: 9’6″ and 70 lbs. |
| Delta (to/from Brazil) | $0 | $0 | $100/bag* | *2 boards per bag max; Max size: 9’6″ and 70 lbs. |
| Hawaiian (interisland) | $17 | $17 | $25/bag | *Two boards max. per bag |
| Hawaiian (to/from North America) | $25 | $35 | $100/bag* | *Two boards max. per bag |
| Hawaiian (International) | $0 | $0 | $100/bag* | *Two boards max. per bag |
| Interjet | $0 | $0 | $0 | (None) |
| JetBlue | $0 | $30 | $50/board | (None) |
| Korean Air | $0 | $0 | $200/bag | (None) |
| LAN | $0 | $0 | $0* | *$50 if exceeds 50 lbs. |
| Qantas | $0 | $0 | $0* | *If included in baggage allowance. Cannot exceed 9′ |
| South African Airways | $0 | $0 | $0* | *WILL NOT carry boards over 6’6″ |
| Southwest | $0 | $0 | $75/bag | (None) |
| TACA | $0 | $0 | $125/bag* | *Three boards max. per bag. |
| United Airlines (Domestic) | $25 | $35 | $100/bag | Max length: 9’6″ |
| United (to/from Europe) | $0 | $100 | $200/bag | Max length: 9’6″ |
| United (to/from Mexico) | $0 | $40 | $200/bag | Max length: 9’6″ |
| United (to/from other international destinations) | $0 | $0 | $200/bag | Max length: 9’6″ |
| US Airways (Americas) | $25 | $35 | $200/board | (None) |
| US Airways (Transatlantic) | $0 | $100 | $200/board | (None) |
| Virgin America | $25 | $25 | $50/board | *Additional charge if more than 50 lbs. |
| Virgin America (Domestic) | $25 | $25 | $50/board | *Additional charge if more than 50 lbs. |
| Virgin Atlantic (International) | $0 | $60 | $0* | *If included in baggage allowance. |
| Virgin Australia | $0 | $0 | $0* | *If included in baggage allowance. |
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Comments
June 13, 2013 6:34 am
Please add Lion/wings airlines on here they charged us 200 000 rps per board irrespective if you have 2 or 3 boards in one bag
April 29, 2013 1:45 am
Good article. I am facing many of these issues as
well..
April 21, 2013 1:59 am
<3 Surfer Mag but for airline board charges it's Surferliving.com all the way. They list every airline you can think of. Pretty much all the questions people are asking in this forum you can find answers to on that website.
March 19, 2013 5:37 am
BA charge £30 online/ £40 at check-in, each way for surfboards. If your only check in bag is a surfboard (ie. no extra luggage) then it’s part of your baggage allowance. Trust me, I learnt this lesson the hard way.
January 26, 2013 12:17 am
Used this before… box your boards up in cardboard so that its a rectangular shape. Tell the checkin staff its ” Art Work” …. No Charges… been doin this for years…. Never been charged… helps not to check in with a copy of Surfer mag under your arm also!
January 25, 2013 3:52 am
United Airlines official policy (and note that Continental is now United): $200/bag, under 9’6, up to four boards in the bag. Continental’s policy before the merger charged per board (up to $700 for four boards), and some employees that transitioned from Continental to United still haven’t figured out the new policy. Don’t let them hassle you for having multiple boards in a bag, and if you have a long forced layover, make sure to get a receipt ensuring that you have paid for the boards all the way through to your destination, even if you have to collect your bag mid-trip to clear customs. Also, United will let bodyboards on for free.
Air Asia is usually $50 for a board bag, but you can often get it on for free.
Frontier Airlines will let your boards on as a normal bag, but the airline is based in Colorado, so it is pretty rare to fly Frontier with boards.
January 23, 2013 5:06 pm
You should have included Singapore Airlines. Please continue to update.
January 22, 2013 12:28 pm
Has anybody traveled United Airlines to Managua from California during June or July? I see that this data lists United as “PER BAG” but their agents and web site info is very unclear as far as multiple boards. Does anybody have a reference to a hard rule in writing that I can carry with me in case they try to charge for multiple boards packed in one bag. Please copy me at lawrenceperlin@sbcglobal.net. Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
January 21, 2013 5:40 am
Hey guys,
Not sure when you updated this last but you still list Continental Airlines, which merged with United back in 2011. Anyway, for lots of the airlines that aren’t listed here, I’d definitely recommend surfers check out SurferLiving.com. They list every airline you can think of and it looks like they update regularly.
http://SurferLiving.com/airline-boardbag-charges
January 21, 2013 4:55 am
To be avoided, Iberia……….150 euros PER board!! Ohhh! and the worst food EVER!!
January 19, 2013 6:50 pm
anyone know about asiana or air asia????
January 19, 2013 4:28 pm
Leaving london for Denpasar 15/01/2012 Singapore Airlines wanter £150 per bag. Eventually not paid due to changing check in desk but website now states board charges.
January 19, 2013 5:12 am
Garuda airlines no charge for your board bag, max 3 in bag
January 18, 2013 8:54 pm
Flown to Fiji twice recently. Charged the $50 both times heading over and not on the way back. Second time on the way home they were insistent they were going to charge me but couldn’t find the right paper work or something, haha love the Fijians!! And it’s $50 Fijian flying out of the country.. so basically $25.
^Air Pacific
January 18, 2013 5:31 pm
Qantas now charges $100 or $75 if you book online.
Found out the hard way on a recent trip to NZ
January 18, 2013 5:27 pm
Just flew with Qantas…assuming that you get 15kg sporting allowance for boards…no more! After your first free bag, its $90 for additional bags if ya pre book, otherwise like me you get slapped with 150 big ones at the airport for ya sleds…
January 18, 2013 1:04 pm
Bruce that is a freakin brilliant and (devious) idea!!! Going to try that. Just got to find a baggy old board sock!!! LOL
January 18, 2013 10:40 am
if you’re a regular at some surf destination, might be worth getting a local shaper to make and store a board for you… that’s what I do.
January 18, 2013 7:01 am
No charge with Emirates, Sri Lankan, Qatar or Singapore Airlines.
January 18, 2013 6:02 am
Anyone fly on Royal Air Maroc with boards? I’ve heard they don’t charge if it’s your only checked bag. Can anyone confirm this?
January 18, 2013 3:48 am
Singapore Airlines all day going to Indo/Oz, won’t fly with anyone else!
January 18, 2013 12:13 am
China Southern didnt charge me for my boards (no additional bags) from Melbourne to Paris but I got hit with a $130EUR on the return flight. Not too bad considering I paid $1090 return for the flights). Emirates dont charge when flying with boards.
January 17, 2013 11:17 pm
Thank god I’m a bodysurfer… V-Duck swim Fins = Free. I feel for you all.
January 17, 2013 10:43 pm
Singapore Airlines doesn’t charge for boards going to Asia and is a great airline.
January 17, 2013 7:24 pm
US airlines will not except boards over 6’8″
January 17, 2013 6:49 pm
Go Aussie Airlines they know what’s up!
January 17, 2013 6:33 pm
Just got back from Fiji on Air Pacific, it cost $50 USD out of LAX for a double board bag, they didn’t seem to be checking the numbers at all, the return trip was only $50 Fijian ($28.50 USD) not sure if that always happens, last year my return was free of charge, roll of the dice I guess . Make sure to bring your own entertainment, close to half of the inseat monitors are broken or have a glitch & the planes are dated, new planes are on the way but for now they’re wasting a bunch of money on re-branding, fly Quantas if you can.
January 17, 2013 5:56 pm
I called Swiss to take my one board 7.6 back to Switzerland from LAX and they wanted 300$…
January 17, 2013 5:31 pm
It would be helpful to see FedEx rates to ship boards.
January 17, 2013 4:50 pm
Pretty un-comprehensive list. Volaris doesn’t charge for boards just per Kilo, so keep that in mind. Cathay Pac charges mucho.. I saw why. they have Pods which load the luggage, and the boards will not fit easily in there. Spirit air also a ripoff at $100 per board. but you can throw clothing in and save on other bag fees.
January 17, 2013 4:38 pm
Double check the Alaska Airlines listing. They list 115 “linear” inches, which means you are supposed to take the length+width+thickness and those numbers added up cannot be more than 115″ otherwise they charge you air freight which is more expensive.
January 17, 2013 2:06 pm
Put 3-4 finless boards in one huge board sock then duct tape the mess out if it. When they ask you how many the answere is always one. This has worked on tons of Indo trips. The chinese airline people;Eva china air Cathay pacific air china jal don’t know the difference. I’ve never surfed maccaronies but I have had plenty of lasangia. If you ever in Singapore check out the orchard towers!!!
January 17, 2013 1:00 pm
For people who are bitch about golf clubs, we surfers have not helped the matter by putting broken boards in bags and claiming the airlines broke it. Also Golf clubs don’t get damaged like boards do. But I do agree, it is robbery to charge us this much for boards.
January 17, 2013 12:49 pm
A Lam cobrou $100,00 Lima x São Paulo em Dezembro de 2012
minha capa nao passou do peso e mesmo assim tive que pagar.
January 17, 2013 11:58 am
So did Korean air change their policy? Surfline and people who have used them are saying that they charge up to $200 a board!! Right now they have the best deals from honolulu to Bali.
January 17, 2013 11:46 am
Updated to my previous post… Should have read $150 per board one way.
January 17, 2013 11:44 am
Flew out of LAX to Bali (DPS) on Malaysia Airlines Nov. 2012. It was $150 per one way. However, when I left Bali a month later they they charged $0.00 for my boards to return back to LAX.
January 17, 2013 10:52 am
So basically with a lot of airlines these days, on a round trip flight, bringing a surfboard is like having to buy an extra ticket. Take that into account when you think you’ve found a “good deal” on a flight. So lame. I wonder how much these airlines charge for golf clubs (which are usually heavier)…
January 17, 2013 10:46 am
note;
if you fly jet blue and check a bag in addition to checking a surfboard, the cost is 90$, 50 for the surfboard and 40 for the additional check bag. i just flew with them two weeks ago, wasn’t stoked on the 40$ added on top