Updated: Airline Boardbag Fees

by | Mar 13, 2012 | News, Surf Travel

Our friends at Surfline.com recently posted an article with updated pricing and information about airline boardbag fees.  The pricing below is subject to change at anytime by the airlines and we always recommend contacting the airline you will be traveling with prior to your departure to see what their current fees are for checking-in surfboards.

Airline Price Notes
Aer Lingus
www.aerlingus.com
516-622-4226
Free Free if it’s within your checked baggage allowance on flights between Ireland and North America. No charge if you’re in Business class. Surfboards are subject to a fee of €30 ($40) payable online prior to departure or a fee of €40 ($55) payable at the airport. Can’t be larger than 110 in.
Aero Mexico
www.aeromexico.com
800-237-6639
$76 One-way per board, maximum length 9ft packed. Sorry guys, you can’t include this as your free carry-on. If you purchase over the phone, it’s $70.
Air Canada
www.aircanada.com
888-247-2262
$50 Per board, one-way. Must pre-register when booking. Each board counts as one piece of checked baggage. Max linear dimensions (length + width + height): 109 in. Max length: 80 in. No paddleboards.
Air Emirates
www.emirates.com
800-777-3999
Free Included in your checked baggage. Remove fins and wrap tail and nose in bubble wrap. Must be less than 10 feet.
Air France
www.airfrance.com
800-237-2747
Free Free, kind of. If it’s less than 6.5′ it’s included as checked baggage, but in economy you only get one bag. If it’s bigger than 6.5′ and more than 50 lb, it’s €200 ($273 USD) and you need to call ahead.
Air New Zealand
www.airnewzealand.com
800-262-1234
Free One surfboard can be considered as one standard piece of baggage (they have a limited checked bag allowance though). Max of 70 lbs and 8.2′. For one additional bag it’s $25, for two it’s $87.
Air Pacific
www.airpacific.com
800-227-4446
$50+ Each way per surfboard bag. Variable Excess Baggage Charge + $50 “Bulky Item” charge. Must be less than 50 lbs & 115 in.
Air Tahiti Nui
www.airtahitinui.com
877-824-4846
Free Must be under 50 lbs. One board, one bag. Each additional board is $150 each.
Alaska
www.alaskaair.com
800-252-7522
$20 The board can be included as a standard checked bag, but checked baggage fees apply ($20 per bag). Max length is 9.5′, max weight is 50 lbs.
American Airlines
www.aa.com
800-433-7300
$150 One-way. One board per person. Max weight and size: 70 lbs, 10.5 ft.
Bahamas Air
www.bahamasair.com
800-222-4262
$50 Must be less than 5′. One-way per board. Remove your fins.
British Airways
www.britishairways.com
800-247-9297
Free As part of your checked baggage. Otherwise it’s $43 under 51 lbs. and $60 between 51-70 lbs. Boards must be smaller than 75in x 29.5in x 25.5 in (6’6”).
Cathay Pacific
www.cathaypacific.com
800-233-2742
$600 Any board bag totaling 80 inches or more in total dimensions (l+w+h) gets charged, which means every surfboard.
China Air
www.china-airlines.com
800-227-5118
$150+ $150 per board if it’s under 9′. Over 9′ is $225.
COPA
www.copaair.com
800-359-2672
$75 One-way per bag, 2 boards per bag/passenger. Only $50 to São Paulo and San Jose. Must be under 115 ins and 70 lbs. Remove fins. Can’t be more than 115 inches or 70 lbs.
Delta*
www.delta.com
800-221-1212
$150 Per board. Must be under 70 lbs. or pay additional fees ($125). 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
+44 843 104 5454
$40 Per item, per flight. Boards can be added while booking online, which is the easiest and cheapest way to do it. Total max weight of 72 lbs.
Hawaiian Air
www.hawaiianair.com
800-367-5320
$100 One-way, per bag. Allowed two boards per bag. Max height 11ft, max weight 50 lbs. Price drops to $35 between islands. Goes up to $200 for travel to most Asian countries.
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.”
Interjet (Mexico)
interjet.com.mx
866-285-9525
Free Max weight per passenger is 55 lbs domestic and 110 lbs international. Anything over that will have a fee of $5 per kg (2.2 lbs).
Japan Airlines
www.jal.com
800-525-3663
$150 Price is per bag. Two boards allowed per bag. Must call in advance.
Jet Blue
www.jetblue.com
800-538-2583
$50 One-way. One board per bag. No surfboards allowed on flights to Santo Domingo or Santiago. Can’t be over 100 lbs. Counts as your checked bag.
Korean Air
www.koreanair.com
800-438-5000
$25 One way, per board. Must be under 70lbs and/or 109 total linear inches (L+W+H), which would be about a 7’2″. Varies based on destination – outside the US is more.
Lan
www.lan.com
866-435-9526
Free Free, kind of. But it cannot exceed 300 linear cm (9’10” total linear dimensions) or 50 lbs. Excess baggage fees range completely by destination.
Lufthansa
www.lufthansa-usa.com
800-645-3880
$100-$200 Must be less than 70 lbs and/or 6’7″. Within Europe: $100, Europe to intercontinental: $200. If it’s over 6’7″, the fees are doubled. You need to register sports baggage 24 hours before the flight.
Malaysian
www.malaysiaairlines.com
800-552-9264
Free Can be included as your checked bag if it’s under 9’10”. If larger, excess baggage fees range from around $110-$150.
Qantas
www.qantas.com.au
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 bigger, excess fees range from $22-$150 depending on destination.
Singapore
www.singaporeair.com
800-742-3333
Free As part of your two bag limit. After that prices range from $84 to $550 depending on destination.
South African Airlines
www.flysaa.com
800-722-9675
Free As part of your two bag limit, not exceeding 6’6” or 44 lbs. Larger boards must go as cargo.
Southwest
www.southwest.com
800-435-9792
$50 One-way per bag. Fins must be removed.
SriLankan Airlines
www.srilankan.lk
661-250-8287
Free You can bring one surfboard for free as part of your checked bags. Can’t exceed 70 lbs.
TACA
www.taca.com
800-400-8222
$125 One-way. Up to 3 surfboards in one bag per passenger. Up to 70lb and 12 feet in length. Fins must be removed. Prices vary based on takeoff location/destination. From Brazil it’s $50.
TAP Portugal
www.flytap.com
800-221-7370
$50 Each way per surfboard bag up to 10 kgs. Domestic, Europe, Morocco & Algeria is apx $50 (EUR35). Intercontinental are apx $100-$140 (EUR75-100).
Thai
www.thaiairways.com
800-426-5204
$60 If it’s over 9′, it’s $119. Each additional board is $119.
United*
www.united.com
800-864-8331
$100-$200 North America, national: $100 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 50 lbs. & 109 in.
US Airways
www.usairways.com
800-428-4322
$200 One-way per board. Remove your fins.
Virgin Atlantic
www.virgin-atlantic.com
800-862-8621
Free Free, limit one per customer. Must not exceed 9 feet and must not exceed 50 lbs.

Article Source: Travel section of Surfline.com