Surfboard Travel: Which Airline Do I Choose?

• Tweet

• Tweet

We get it. Digging through the baggage policy section of a poorly cobbled together airline site is probably the last thing you want to do before you head out on a surf vacation. Don’t panic, we’ve done all of that for you.

Prices and fees up to date at point of post. If there’s something we missed, comment below and we’ll be sure to update!

Below you’ll find a color coded table.

1. The Gold represents the best of the best. These airlines are highly surfer friendly, offering to transfer surfboards at reasonable rates with very few additional fees. Bless em.
2. Silver airlines are an acceptable alternative to gold. It’s still cheaper and safer that shipping internationally, but make sure you read carefully. Some of those policies are pretty absurd.
3. Next, Poo-colored. These airlines will try and take you for every dime you’ve got. Crazy fee stacks, unreasonable restrictions, avoid these at all costs.
4. Finally, White: which are airlines with highly variable fees. Kind of a random grab bag depending on destination and time of year. Better to just call in and ask.

Some tips:

• Prices are one-way only. Sorry!
• Linear size is: length + width + height.
• Remove you fins before you bag your board.
• Pad your ride (esp the nose and tail) before letting the airline handle it.

NOTE: Based on our research prices and fees were up to date at point of post. If there’s something we missed or wrong based on your experience, PLEASE comment below and we’ll be sure to update!

AIRLINE COST NOTES Aer Lingus www.aerlingus.com 516-622-4222 Free*   *No charge for business class or flights between North American and Ireland. Expect a fee of $40 per surfboard payable online. Maximum board size: 9’2″ Aero Mexico www.aeromexico.com 800-237-6639 $60   One-way per board. Maximum board size: 9’0″. Air Canada www.aircanada.com 888-247-2262 $50   Each board counts as 1 x check in luggage. Max linear dimensions (length + width + height): 9’1″. Max length: 6’8″. Air Emirates www.emirates.com 800-777-3999 Free   Included in your checked baggage. Air New Zealand www.airnewzealand.com 800-262-1234 $25   You can take one sporting item in addition to your check in. For international flights, this will run you 50% of extra bag cost. Air Tahiti Nui www.airtahitinui.com 877-824-4846 Free   Maximum weight: 50lbs. One board to a bag. Additional boards: $150 each. British Airways www.britishairways.com 800-AIRWAYS Free-$60   Boards free as checked baggage. Otherwise it’s $60. Boards must be smaller than 75ins x 29.5ins x 25.5 ins. Interjet (Mexico) interjet.com.mx 866-285-9525 Free   Maximum weight: 55 lbs/passenger. Every lb over that will run you 50 pesos plus tax. Jet Blue www.jetblue.com 800-538-2583 $50   One board per bag. *No surfboards allowed on flights to Santo Domingo or Santiago. Maximum weight 100 lbs. Lan www.lan.com 866-435-9526 Free   Maximum size: 300 linear inches or 50 lbs. South African Airlines www.flysaa.com 800-722-9675 Free   Boards free as part of 2 bag limit. Maximum size: 200 cm or 40 lbs. Southwest www.southwest.com 800-435-9792 $50   This price covers up to 2 boards a bag. SriLankan Airlines www.srilankan.lk 661-250-8287 Free   One free surfboard. No strings attached, though if you exceed the weight limit, expect to pay the standard fees/lb. Virgin Atlantic www.virgin-atlantic.com 800-821-5438 Free   Maximum 1 board, 109 inches, and 50 lbs. Air France www.airfrance.com 800-237-2747 $55-$200   200 cm and under: $55 Up to 9’7″: $200 Above: $273 Air Pacific www.airpacific.com 800-227-4446 $50+   Per surfboard bag fee. Variable Excess Baggage Charge + $22 “Bulky Item” charge. Maximum 115 in. and 50 lbs. Alaska www.alaskaair.com 800-252-7522 Free-$125   Boards count as checked baggage. Free: Maximum length: 62 in 50 lbs. Over 50lbs: +$50. Up to 80in +$50. Up to 115in + $75. Bahamas Air www2.bahamasair.com 800-222-4262 $50   Costs are per board. Maximum size: 6 ft. COPA www.copaair.com 800-FLY-COPA $75   Costs are per board. 2 boards per passenger. $50 to São Paulo and San Jose. Maximum: 115 ins and 70 lbs. Hawaiian Air www.hawaiianair.com 800-367-5320 $100   Two boards per bag. Maximum size: 11ft and 50 lbs. Price drops to $35 between islands. Goes up to $200 to travel to Asia. Korean Air www.koreanair.com 800-438-5000 $55-$110   As one of two check in bags: $55. Otherwise: $110. Maximum size: 70lbs and 109 total linear inches (about a 7’2″). Qantas www.qantas.com.au 800-227-4500 Free-$105   As one of two check in bags: free. Must be in a bag. Maximum size: 109 in and 66lbs. Can only be carried to/from/within South West Pacific. Otherwise expect to be billed on weight. Variable oversize fees. Singapore www.singaporeair.com 800-742-3333 Free   As one of two check in bags: free. Anything in excess of 2 boards will run you $109 each way (US to Singapore). Maximum size: 62 linear inches (now you know why its only silver). TACA www.taca.com 800-400-TACA $125   Maximum: 3 surfboards, one bag/passenger. Maximum size: 12 ft and 70 lbs. Prices variable dependent on takeoff location/destination. TAP Portugal www.flytap.com 800-221-7370 $50-$140   Each way per surfboard bag up to 10 kgs. Domestic, Europe, Morocco & Algeria is USD 50. Intercontinental are $100-$140. USA3000 www.usa3000airlines.com 877-USA-3000 $50   Subject to additional charges. American Airlines www.aa.com 800-433-7300 $150   One board/person. Maximum 126in and: 70 lbs. Cathay Pacific www.cathaypacific.com 800-233-2742 $600   Costs are per board. Keep your boards in the same bag to avoid the triple cost penalty for additional luggage. No size restrictions. Continental www.continental.com 800-523-3273 $100-$200   North America: $100/surfboard bag. North America to another continent: $200/bag. Maximum: two board to a bag, 109in and 50lbs. Delta www.delta.com 800-221-1212 $300+   $300 covers your first board. More boards, more monayyyy. Exceed 70lbs, pay more. Avoid at all costs. Iberia www.iberia.com 800-504-8030 $205   One board per passenger. Maximum size: 8’2″. If you’re stuck using this airline, remember to register your surfboard 24 hrs before your flight. Expect additional charges, taxes, and duties as well. Lufthansa www.lufthansa-usa.com 800 645-3880 $100-$200   Maximum size: 6’7″ and 70lbs. Flying inside Europe: $100, Intercontinental: $200. Exceed the size limit and pay double. Register your surfboard 24 hrs before your flight. United www.united.com 800-864-8331 $100-$200   North America (national): $100/surfboard. From North America to another continent: $200. Maximum: two boards per case. Maximum size: 109in and 50lbs. USAir www.usairways.com 800-245-4882 $200   Per board cost. China Air www.china-airlines.com 800-227-5118 Varies   Costs are per board. First: 50% charge, second:100% charge depending on destination. Maximum size: 109in. US to Indo: $109 if you already have two bags. Japan Airlines www.jal.com 800-525-3663 Varies   Costs are per board. First: 50% excess baggage charge, second:100% . Three times the charge if it’s over 80 inches. Price varies depending on destination. Malaysian www.malaysiaairlines.com 800-552-9264 Varies   Can be checked in if size reqs met. Per bag costs are 50% of excess baggage charge. Maximum size of 98in. Thai www.thaiairways.com 800-426-5204 Varies   Maximum size: 109in.

Prices and fees up to date at point of post. If there’s something we missed, comment below and we’ll be sure to update!

---

---