AIRLINE SURFBOARD FEES
Charges, Sorted By Airline
| Airline | Price | Notes |
| Aer Lingus www.aerlingus.com 516-622-4222 | Varies | May count as checked baggage to/from North America (fees vary). Excess baggage is subject to a fee of €75/$100. For all other flights, Sports Equipment is subject to a fee of €40 if paid online or a fee of €50 at the airport. No charge if you're in Business Class. Cannot exceed 110" in length or 50 lbs. One board per passenger. |
| Aero Mexico www.aeromexico.com 800-237-6639 | $40 | If you purchase over the phone, it's $40. At the airport is $50. Fee is per case; up to 3 boards per case. Max length on a narrow-body cabin is 80 in. Max length on a wide-body cabin is 115 in. Max wight is 100 lbs. |
| Air Canada www.aircanada.com 888-247-2262 | $50+ | Per surfboard, one-way. Boards accepted on a space available basis, so pre-register when booking. Each board counts as one piece of checked baggage. If you exceed the checked baggage allowance you'll have to pay extra (depending on destination) in addition to the $50 handling fee. Max linear dimensions: 109 in. Max length: 80 in. No paddleboards. |
| Air Emirates www.emirates.com 800-777-3999 | Free / Varies | May be included in your checked baggage (up to two bags free), but if it's over 59" the fee is $175. Must be appropriately packed, under 118" and under 23 kg (50 lbs). If you are over your allowance and have to pay an excess baggage fee, the weight limit goes up to 32 kg (70 lbs). |
| Air France www.airfrance.com 800-237-2747 | $55-$150 | If it's less than 42", it can be included in your baggage allowance. If the length is between 42" and 118" you must pay an extra fee ($55-$150, one-way) determined according to your trip. You need to call ahead for approval. Cannot exceed 50 lbs. |
| Air New Zealand www.airnewzealand.com 800-262-1234 | Free / Varies | One surfboard bag with up to two boards can be considered as one standard piece of baggage (but they have a limited checked bag allowance). Max of 50 lbs and 6'5". Overweight/oversized or excess baggage are subject to fees (anywhere from $60-$200) depending on your trip. Contact the airline for details. |
| Air Tahiti Nui www.airtahitinui.com 877-824-4846 | Free | Must be under 50 lbs and 98in (8'1"). One board is included on top of your free allowance. Each additional board is subject to an excess fee depending on your trip. Call or check their website for more info. |
| Alaska www.alaskaair.com 800-252-7522 | Free / Varies | One item (two boards per case) may be included as a checked bag. On Alaska Airlines flights 1-999 the board can be up to 9'7". On Alaska Airlines flights 2000-2999 and 3440-3499 the maximum combined linear dimensions (h + l + w) may not exceed 115". Customers checking surf or paddleboards are charged standard overweight/oversize charges (~$75). |
| American Airlines www.aa.com 800-433-7300 | $150 | Multiple boards packed in a single bag that weighs less than 70 lbs will be accepted as a single surfboard. No bags greater than 126". For travel to, through or from Brazil the boards must be under 108" and your first board is $42.50; any additional boards are $85. For international travel, contact the airline ahead of time. |
| Avianca www.avianca.com 800-284-2622 | $125 | Up to 3 boards per bag per passenger. Up to 70 lbs and 12'. It's $125 to/from North America, but travel between Miami and Costa Rica is $100. All other international travel is $100. Travel to/from Brazil is $50 for the first bag, and $125 for each additional bag. For travel with regional airline, the fee is $30. Taxes may apply on all charges. |
| Bahamas Air www.bahamasair.com 800-222-4262 | Free / Varies | Treated as a checked bag (first bag is free). One board per bag. For international flights, if it's over 50 lbs and under 70, or if it's over 62", it's $75. If it's over 70 lbs but under 100, it's $125. If it's over 62" and 70 lbs, it's $150. For domestic flights & Turks and Caicos, if it's over 62" but under 44 lbs, it's $65. Can't exceed 100 lbs. |
| British Airways www.britishairways.com 800-247-9297 | Free / Varies | May count as part of your checked baggage. Boards must be smaller than 75in x 29.5in x 25.5in (6'6''). If it's over 50 lbs, prices vary anywhere from $60 to $200 depending on whether you pay online or at the airport and what type of ticket you have. If you're over your checked bag limit, additional fees apply. |
| Cathay Pacific www.cathaypacific.com 800-233-2742 | Varies | Cathay Pacific costs four times the $150 oversized fee. That means it is a minimum of $600 each way to get your board on the plane. That fee will go up with the thickness of your bag, as it is based on measurements. Contact the airline for more information. |
| China Air www.china-airlines.com 800-227-5118 | Varies | You can choose to use the piece system or weight system. Must be under 9'. Excess baggage fees depend on city of departure and destination. Prices can range from $85 to $225. Call for more info. |
| COPA www.copaair.com 800-359-2672 | $75 | Allowed 2 boards per bag/passenger. Only $50 to São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and San Jose. For flights within Colombia, there's no additional cost provided the items fall under the terms of allowed luggage. For flights within Panama, it's $15. Must be under 115" and 70 lbs. Remove fins. Make reservations for your boards when purchasing your ticket. |
| Delta www.delta.com 800-221-1212 | $150 | Limit 2 boards per bag. Must be under 70 lbs or pay additional fees ($200). Surfboards over 115 linear inches will not be accepted. To/from Brazil is $100. Between Honolulu and Maui, it's $20. |
| EasyJet www.easyjet.com/us +44330 3655454 | $45-$60 | Under 45 lbs is $45 when booking online or $55 at the airport. Up to 70 lbs is $50 online or $60 at the airport. Per item, per flight. If it's over 70 lbs, there will be additional charges. |
| Hawaiian Air www.hawaiianair.com 800-367-5320 | $100 | One-way, per bag. Allowed two boards per bag. Max height 9'5" (for travel within Hawaii board can be 11') and max weight of 50 lbs. Price drops to $35 between islands. Goes up to $150 for international travel. For flights to Australia or New Zealand from USA, the board can be part of your free allowance. |
| Iberia www.iberia.com 800-772-4642 | $150 | One way. One board per passenger. Max size: 8'2". Must make request 24 hours before flight via phone. Keep in mind: "Various charges, taxes or duties may be applied, in accordance with the legislation of each country." On flights from Brazil, it's $60. |
| Interjet (Mexico) www.interjet.com 866-285-9525 | Free | Included as part of your baggage allowance. Max weight total (for all luggage) per passenger is 110 lbs. |
| Japan Airlines www.jal.com 800-525-3663 | $200 | Price is per bag. Two boards allowed per bag. Must call in advance. From Japan to Asia, Guam, Oceania, it's $100. For flights within Japan, it's $50. |
| Jet Blue www.jetblue.com 800-538-2583 | $50 | One-way. One board per bag. Counts as part of your checked baggage allowance. No surfboards allowed on flights to/from Bermuda, Haiti, Peru, Port of Spain, Santo Domingo and Santiago. Can't be over 100 lbs. |
| Korean Air www.koreanair.com 800-438-5000 | Free | Included as checked baggage. Must be under 50 lbs and/or 9'. If you're over your bag limit, it's $200 from the Americas (to Brazil from US is $75; to Brazil from Asia is $175). |
| Lan www.lan.com 866-435-9526 | Free | Free, as part of your checked allowance. Cannot exceed 118 linear inches or 50 lbs. If beyond your baggage allowance, excess baggage fees depend on departure/destination and range from $60-$195. |
| Lufthansa www.lufthansa-usa.com 800-645-3880 | Free | Included as part of your baggage allowance (which depends on service class). Must be less than 70 lbs and/or 6'5". If you exceed your allowance, on continental flights it's $70; intercontinental is $150. You need to register sports baggage at least 24 hours before the flight. |
| Malaysian www.malaysiaairlines.com 800-552-9264 | Free | As part of your checked baggage allowance, and will be subject to excess baggage charges if overweight. One board per person. Max length is 8'. If it is in excess of your allowance, there is a zone-based weight system in which fees vary from $15-$140 per 6.5 lbs depending on location. |
| Qantas www.qantas.com 800-227-4500 | Free | Free as part of your checked baggage. Must be in a bag and may not exceed 70 lbs and 9 ft. If it's beyond your baggage allowance, excess fees apply depending on place of departure/destination. Between Australia and Americas is $135. |
| Singapore www.singaporeair.com 800-742-3333 | Free | As part of your checked bag allowance. After that, additional baggage is either $150 or $225 depending on destination. Only one board per person. |
| South African Airlines www.flysaa.com 800-722-9675 | Free | Only one board and it must not exceed 6'5'' or 50 lbs. Larger boards must go as cargo. |
| Southwest www.southwest.com 800-435-9792 | $75 | Part of checked baggage. Each way, per bag. Fins must be removed. |
| TAP Portugal www.flytap.com 800-221-7370 | Varies | If it's under 62 linear in, it can be included as part of your free allowance. Up to 6'5" is €50 for Domestic flights, Europe, Morocco and Algeria; €100 for Intercontinental. If the board is over 6'5" it's €100 for Domestic flights, Europe, Morocco and Algeria or €150 for Intercontinental. Must be under 70 lbs. Prices are one-way. Call ahead. |
| Thai Airways www.thaiairways.com 800-426-5204 | $60 - $119 | One board under 9' is $60; the second board is $119. A board over 9' is also $119. If travel to/from Australia/New Zealand, the surfboard can be included in the baggage allowance. One surfboard is free to/from Bali. Contact Thai for more info. |
| United* www.united.com 800-864-8331 | $150-$200 | North America, national: $150 each way between the U.S., Canada, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and $200 each way for all other travel. Max of 99 lbs. & 9'5". Summer '15 embargo in effect: June 1 - August 31 |
| US Airways www.usairways.com 800-428-4322 | $150 | One-way per board. Remove your fins. |
| Virgin Atlantic www.virgin-atlantic.com 800-862-8621 | Free | Free and doesn't count against your free checked allowance. Limit one per customer. Must not exceed 9 feet and must not exceed 50 lbs. |
Surfboard Embargoes
According to wavehunters.com, the following embargoes are in effect:
(*) SEASONAL SURFBOARD EMBARGOS
Depending on the time of year, some airlines won't even take your surfboard - for any excess baggage charge. See the list below, and ask any airline, especially if you're booking during peak travel times.
UNITED
Surfboards and Wakeboards will not be accepted during an excess baggage embargo when no excess baggage is allowed (0 pieces).
Permanent and Seasonal Embargoes by City: View this list
ALTERNATIVES WITHOUT EMBARGOS (BUT SOME RESTRICTIONS): DELTA, AMERICAN, TACA, LAN, AEROMEXICO
Source: surfline
No comments