True Blue Surf & Island Travel , board bag travel information
A Note About Seasonal Surfboard Embargoes: Depending on the time of year, some airline’s won’t even take your surfboard, for any excess baggage charge. See the list below the table, and ask any airline, especially if you’re booking during peak travel times. Actually, it’s a good idea to call the airline no matter what time of year; this list is a guideline and fees can change, depending on the weather and the ticket agent’s disposition. Oh, yeah: remember to smile and be nice to the ticket agent.
Charges, Sorted By Airline
| 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) each way, if paid online or a fee of €40 ($55) each way if paid at the airport. Can’t be larger than 110 in. |
| Aero Mexico www.aeromexico.com 800-237-6639 |
$40 | If you purchase over the phone, it’s $40. At the airport is $50. |
| Air Canada www.aircanada.com 888-247-2262 |
$50 | Per surfboard, one-way. Boards are 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 on top of the $50. Max linear dimensions: 109 in. Max length: 80 in. No paddleboards. |
| Air Emirates www.emirates.com 800-777-3999 |
Free | Included in your checked baggage. Must be appropriately packed and less than 10 feet. Items up to 13 feet may be accepted in exceptional cases. Contact them for more info. |
| Air France www.airfrance.com 800-237-2747 |
$55-$200 | If it’s less than 42 in (3.5′), it can be included in your baggage allowance. If the length is between 107 and 300 cm (23 kg max. per board), you must pay an extra fee ($55-$200, one-way) determined according to your trip. You need to call ahead for approval. |
| Air New Zealand www.airnewzealand.com 800-262-1234 |
Free/$100 | 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″. If the bag is over 50 lbs or 6’5″ it’s $100 if going to New Zealand, Australia, or Pacific Islands. Anywhere else is $165. |
| Air Tahiti Nui www.airtahitinui.com 877-824-4846 |
Free | Must be under 50 lbs and 8’1″. One board is included on top of your free allowance. Each additional board is appx $75 each, but depends on the destination. |
| Alaska www.alaskaair.com 800-252-7522 |
Free/$75 | If it’s under 62 linear inches, it counts as your checked bag. If it’s over, it’s $75. |
| American Airlines www.aa.com 800-433-7300 |
$150 | Lightweight surfboards 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, your first board is $37.50; any additional boards are $75. |
| Bahamas Air www.bahamasair.com 800-222-4262 |
$65 | Must be no greater than 80″. |
| British Airways www.britishairways.com 800-247-9297 |
Free | As part of your checked baggage. Boards must be smaller than 75in x 29.5in x 25.5 in (6’6”). If it’s over 50 lbs, it’s $60. If you’re over your checked bag limit, additional fees apply ranging up to $170. |
| Cathay Pacific www.cathaypacific.com 800-233-2742 |
Varies | Can be included as part of your free checked baggage, but if you go over your limit, charges are calculated by piece on a zone basis. Fees can be anywhere from $100-$230. |
| China Air www.china-airlines.com 800-227-5118 |
Varies | Must be under 9′. Excess baggage fees depend on city of departure and destination. Prices range from $85-$170. |
| China Eastern Air www.ceair.com 800-200-5118 |
$82/$165 | If your board bag weighs under 50 lbs and less than 9′, it’s $82.50. If it’s over 50lbs and/or taller than 9′, it’s $165. One-way. A second board is $165 no matter the size. Also, when traveling to many countries in the South West Pacific, it’s $165 regardless if size. |
| COPA www.copaair.com 800-359-2672 |
$75 | One-way per bag, 2 boards per bag/passenger. Only $50 to São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and San Jose. Must be under 115 in and 70 lbs. Remove fins. Max of two surfboards per pay per person. Make reservations 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 ($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 should be added while booking online, otherwise the fee is higher. |
| Fiji Airways www.fijiairways.com 800-227-4446 |
$100 | Each way, per board bag. Must be less than 50 lbs & 9′. Bulky items are subject to additional excess weight fees beyond each passenger’s allowance. |
| Hawaiian Air www.hawaiianair.com 800-367-5320 |
$100 | One-way, per bag. Allowed two boards per bag. Max height 115 inches (9’5″), max weight 50 lbs. Price drops to $35 between islands. Goes up to $150 for travel to most Asian countries. For flights to Australia or New Zealand, 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) interjet.com.mx 866-285-9525 |
Free | Max weight per passenger is 110 lbs. There is a max size of 107.5 linear inches. 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 Bermuda, Santo Domingo or Santiago. Can’t be over 100 lbs. Counts as your checked bag. |
| Korean Air www.koreanair.com 800-438-5000 |
$200 | One way, per bag. Must be under 70lbs and/or 109 inches. Varies based on city of departure and destination. |
| 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 range by destination from $50-$90. |
| Lufthansa www.lufthansa-usa.com 800-645-3880 |
$70/$150 | Must be less than 70 lbs and/or 6’5″. Continental flights: $70, intercontinental: $150. You need to register sports baggage within 24 hours after booking the flight. |
| Malaysian www.malaysiaairlines.com 800-552-9264 |
Varies | Only one board allowed. Must be under 9’10”. There is a zone-based weight system in which fees vary from $10 – $30 per 11 lbs. The piece system is $25 per extra bag. |
| 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 beyond your baggage allowance, excess fees from America are $113 per piece, or you can purchase Additional Baggage Allowance in advance for $80 per piece. |
| Singapore www.singaporeair.com 800-742-3333 |
Free | As part of your checked bag allowance. After that, prices range from $84 to $180 depending on city of departure/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 | Each way, per bag. Fins must be removed. |
| SriLankan Airlines www.srilankan.lk 732-205-0017 |
Free | You can bring one surfboard as part of your checked bags. Can’t exceed 50 lbs. $120 per piece if you go above your checked bag allowance. |
| TACA – Avianca nuevaexperiencia.avianca.com 800-400-8222 |
$125 | Up to 3 surfboards in one bag per passenger. Up to 50 lbs and 12 feet in length. Fins must be removed. Prices vary based on city of departure/destination. From Brazil it’s $50.It’s $100 for Miami to San Jose, Costa Rica or San Jose, and Costa Rica to Miami. To/from Peru is free if it’s within the size/weight parameters & checked bag limit. |
| TAP Portugal www.flytap.com 800-221-7370 |
$125 | Each way, per bag up to 44 lbs. Total maximum weight of 70 lbs. |
| Thai www.thaiairways.com 800-426-5204 |
$60 – $119 | One board under 9′ is $60, two is $119, or one board over 9′ is $119. If travel to/from Australia/New Zealand, the surfboard can be included in the baggage allowance. We’ve heard that this rule might apply en route from LAX to Bali. Contact Thai directly for more specific information. |
| 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. |
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.
DELTA
Excess baggage is NOT accepted from June 3 through August 31 to the following cities: Guayaquil, Ecuador (GYE), Quito, Ecuador (UIO), San Salvador, El Salvador (SAL), Guadalajara, Mexico (GDL), Leon, Mexico (BJX), Zacatecas, Mexico (ZCL). Also, no bag over 50 lbs or 62 linear inches.
See bottom of this page for more restrictions.
UNITED
Surfboards and Wakeboards will not be accepted during an excess baggage embargo when no excess baggage is allowed (0 pieces). Exception: Surfboards and Wakeboards will be accepted to Costa Rica during an embargo period. Continental does not accept excess baggage in the following YEAR ROUND embargoed markets: Lima, Peru (LIM) Tegucigalpa, Honduras (TGU)
Continental Seasonal Embargos by City
ALTERNATIVES WITHOUT EMBARGOS (BUT SOME RESTRICTIONS): UNITED, AMERICAN, TACA, LAN, AEROMEXICO
