2013 Airline Surfboard Baggage Charges

by | Jan 23, 2013 | News, Surf Travel

Sweet talking the airline lady at check-in to try and get your quiver of surfboards on the plane at no charge doesn’t really work these days.  Also, arguing with the airline staff at the check-in counter about golfer’s not being charged for their clubs doesn’t help and will only get them more fired up!  For those who would prefer the convenience of traveling without surfboards, a lot of surf resorts now offer a large selection of epic boards to choose from, like the Nemberala Beach Resort in Indonesia (boards pictured above).  But for the rest of us who need our own boards, our friends at Surfer Magazine recently published some 2013 rates on airline surfboard 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.

*Be sure to note which airlines charge PER BAG and which charge PER BOARD. (Fees are accurate as of 1/17/13)
Surfboard Baggage Chart Source: Surfer Magazine

If you don’t see your airline listed above, check out SurferLiving.com for more airline surfboard baggage fees.