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Go Back   WakeWorld > >> Wakeboarding Discussion Archives > Archive through June 30, 2008

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Old     (nautiquerider27)      Join Date: Aug 2005       06-12-2008, 7:43 PM Reply   
I am going to be flying this summer, and bringing my board along. Do airlines charge for this or what are their limits for number of bags and whatnot.
Old     (bac)      Join Date: Feb 2008       06-12-2008, 7:50 PM Reply   
I would imagine there is some type of charge for it. Do you know what carrier you'll be flying? Or will it be changing throughout the summer? I know some of airlines have been killing the surfers on the charges to carry their boards (although they are bigger) Call ahead and ask a few of them. You may be within your size limits, etc... on some planes depending on your other baggage you have
Old     (nautiquerider27)      Join Date: Aug 2005       06-12-2008, 7:53 PM Reply   
Oh, forgot that part, I'm flying Southwest to Orlando, just one round trip.
Old     (lfxstar)      Join Date: Jul 2001       06-12-2008, 8:11 PM Reply   
Jeff I fly southwest Tampa to Ft. Lauderdale and visa versa all the time with my board and never get charged. But it seems like within the past couple months, everyone is charging
Old     (snowman89)      Join Date: Mar 2007       06-12-2008, 8:36 PM Reply   
As long as it's not past the limit of your freebie checked bags then it's free. I flew to orlando in febuary with southwest and it was free but they make you sign a sheet saying theyre not liable for any damages if its in a soft case.
Old     (mobv)      Join Date: Jun 2002       06-13-2008, 3:09 AM Reply   
Most airlines have gone to one free bag. Coming home from Miami Delta made Phil pay $80. Going down they didn't even ask what it was. Going to Minneapolis Northwest didn't ask either way.

There was a thread last week where American charged Nicola Butler $100 going from Orlando to Minneapolis.

Seems that it has more to do with the agent than the airline policy.

Here is Southwest Policy from their website:
Baggage Allowance: Beginning January 29, 2008, Southwest will allow two (2) checked pieces of baggage per ticketed Customer. Size and weight limitations apply.
Excess Baggage: Effective January 29, 2008, you may check a third bag for a charge of $25. Your 4th through 9th bag or item will incur a charge of $50 per piece, and any bag or item thereafter will be $110 per piece.
Weight and Size Allowance: Maximum weight is 50 pounds and maximum size is 62 inches (length + width + height) per checked piece of luggage. Effective March 1, 2005, overweight items from 51 to 70 pounds will be accepted for a charge of $25.00 per item. Items weighing from 71 to 100 pounds and oversized items in excess of 62 inches but not more than 80 inches (i.e., surfboards, bicycles, vaulting poles) will be accepted for a charge of $50.00 per item.
Old     (xistential)      Join Date: Jul 2007       06-13-2008, 5:07 AM Reply   
Under 63 inches and 50 pounds is normally free.You might have to pay something for the other checked bag though.In other words,one free checked bag per person, plus a carry on. AA, Southwest, Northwest.Continental in my experience is the worst, and most expensive.
Old     (bird_dog0347)      Join Date: Feb 2006       06-13-2008, 7:15 AM Reply   
I was talking with Adam Errington at the Ronix Demo day here in DFW a few weeks ago and his Ronix board bag said Ronix GOLF on it. I asked him why and he said they all do it so they airlines don't charge him. He said they will charge for a wakeboard, but not golf clubs.

He is also a really nice guy with a sweet effortless style. It looks like he just floats through the air.
Old     (chaser)      Join Date: Sep 2006       06-13-2008, 7:29 AM Reply   
Maybe they should save themselves the money of extra baggage fees by not bringing their board. Have one of the local board shops provide them with the board they normaly ride (they could still bring their own bindings). Then during the weekend sell raffle tickets for like a buck a piece to win "your riders" board with his autograph which would be available at the end of the weekend. Riders don't have to worry about hauling their boards around and paying extra fees, the money raised from the raffle can go to the local board shop to offset their cost. Not all the riders could get away with this, but the big names probably could.
Old     (xistential)      Join Date: Jul 2007       06-13-2008, 3:32 PM Reply   
I thought about that for Nicola. The problem is riding a brand new board at a comp. Even though its the same, its not the one you've been riding coming in.
Old     (eternalshadow)      Join Date: Nov 2001       06-13-2008, 7:05 PM Reply   
I've flown to the states with wakeboard at least 5 times now, I haven't to date encountered any additional fee's, the only time it came into question I said "it's basically a snowboard" and there was no charge.

However that being said some airlines were in the process of changing their baggage procedures as early as this summer if they already haven't and I'm no longer sure if I can bring my board across the continent free of charge.
Old    mobster            06-13-2008, 7:39 PM Reply   
Here is a link for the airlines limits or charges www.surfline.com/travel/boardbag_charges.cfm?id=15425
Old     (rocketdogg)      Join Date: Oct 2006       06-15-2008, 8:55 AM Reply   
It can depend on the airline, but I always do curbside check in, give the guy $5 and tell him it is a snowboard or golf clubs. Also don't over pack the bag and make it too heavy, that is just annoying for the handlers. I don't fly a ton, but have never had a problem with that routine and my gear.

Sometimes it pays to just be polite, keep it simple, be another face in the crowd, and slip through. If your ego demands that you have to roll in like a rock star, and stand out, then you increase your chances of the wrong people asking questions.
Old     (xistential)      Join Date: Jul 2007       06-15-2008, 9:20 AM Reply   
If airlines have got set policies you are not going to be another face in the crowd with a big bag that obviously contains sporting equipment.I certainly do not want to pay up to $100 to impress somebody who I am probably never going to see again and who ,in all likelihood, does not know what a wakeboard is.As gas prices continue to rise more airlines are going to see this as a way of making up money.
Charge people more that take up 1 1/2 seats.Or is that discrimination?
Old     (xistential)      Join Date: Jul 2007       06-15-2008, 8:22 PM Reply   
Just heard on the news AA are going to be charging $15 for first checked bag.Starting with immediate effect. What they going to be charging for a wakeboard?
Old     (scilost)      Join Date: Jun 2004       06-15-2008, 11:07 PM Reply   
I was flying to florida from new jersey and on the way down they asked what it was. I said it was a wakeboard. The attendant said it was surfboard, I said "No, its a wakeboard" They charged me $80. After getting pissed I read the policy that was mentioned earlier. On the way home, in order to avoid saying it had anything to do with water, I said it was snowboard. The lady looked at me a little funny but there was no charge.
Old     (xistential)      Join Date: Jul 2007       06-16-2008, 8:31 AM Reply   
$80? that's a lot of money. I paid $95. And that's one way. I think it's outrageously expensive. They don't know what a wakeboard is so it goes under surfboard. They can't be nailing you for the weight either. Ever felt how light a surfboard is?I don't really get it because golf clubs are free and those are way heavier. What are we actually being charged for??
Old     (devildog_ra)      Join Date: Jun 2007       06-16-2008, 9:24 AM Reply   
i flew to austin with my girlfriends board and mine, vests... to go to tsr on my flight to austin i told them they were snowboards. well there is a 50lb limit (american airlines) so i had to carry on my bindings and jacket. on the way back i told them the bag contained golf clubs and didn't have to take anything out.
Old     (sloshake)      Join Date: Mar 2003       06-16-2008, 11:01 AM Reply   
Business folks travel with golf clubs and lots of company business is golf clubs. The airlines don't want to tick them off. While some people may actually be traveling with a board for business (e.g. Nicola), it isn't that common, and it probably isn't CEOs.
Old     (iukekini)      Join Date: Apr 2007       06-16-2008, 11:30 AM Reply   
I was flying from Portland to Florida a couple months ago with two of the Slingshot "Tour Series Golf" Bags. The first question the attendant asked me was if they were kiteboards. I paid $160 for the plane ticket down there and had to pay $180 just to get both of my bags down there with me.

It's probably cheaper and more reliable to ship your gear UPS than to take it on a plane with you.
Old     (xistential)      Join Date: Jul 2007       06-16-2008, 5:03 PM Reply   
The airlines don't want to tick them off?? Lol. That's gotta be discrimination Actually there are about 60-100 wakeboarders and their boards flying all over the US for about 10-12 weeks during the summer. There and back. That's just for comps. Lot of flights.Lot of extra money
Old     (lfxstar)      Join Date: Jul 2001       06-16-2008, 5:33 PM Reply   
Here is a list from surfline for surboards, generally works the same for snowboards
EVERY AIRLINE:
http://www.surfline.com/travel/boardbag_charges.cfm?id=15425

Aero California
www.aerocalifornia-usa.com
800-237-6225

$35
Price is one-way per bag, bag must be under 50 lbs
Aero Mexico
www.aeromexico.com
800-237-6639

$60
Price is one-way per board, maximum length 9' - packed
Air France
www.airfrance.com
800-237-2747

$125
One-way per bag, ouch!
Air Pacific
www.airpacific.com
800-227-4446

Varies.
Variable Excess Baggage Charge + $20 "Bulky Item" charge.
Air New Zealand
www.airnewzealand.com
800-262-1234

Free
As part of your two-bag limit, otherwise $80
Alaska
www.alaskaair.com
800-252-7522

$75
One-way per bag.
American Airlines
www.aa.com
800-433-7300

$100
One-way per bag under 70 lbs
American West
www.americawest.com
800-363-2542

$80
One-way per board
Bahamas Air
up.bahamasair.com/
800-222-4262

N/A
No boards allowed.
British Airways
www.britishairways.com
800-AIRWAYS

No
No surfboards allowed on British Airways flights.
China Air
www.china-airlines.com
800-227-5118

Varies
Price varies with destination. One-way: Under 109"
Continental*
www.continental.com
800-523-3273

$95
One-way, 2 boards per bag. Max 115" and 70lbs.
COPA
www.copaair.com
800-FLY-COPA

$50
One-way per board. Limit 2 boards per passenger.
Delta*
www.delta.com
800-221-1212

$150
One-way per board.
Hawaiian Air
www.hawaiianair.com
800-367-5320

$80
One-way. Two boards max. per bag, Max height 11ft.
Iberia
www.iberia.com
800-504-8030

Varies
Price varies with destination. Over 80 inches will be triple charged.
Japan Air
www.japanair.com
800-525-3663

Varies
Price varies with weight. 1.5% multiplied by the excess baggage lbs.
Jet Blue*
www.jetblue.com
800-538-2583

$25
One-way per bag. *No excess baggage (including surfboards) allowed on flights to the Bahamas or Dominican Republic
Korean Air
www.koreanair.com
800-438-5000

$70/$140
Under 109"/Over 109" One-way per board
Lan
www.lan.com
866-435-9526

$100 to 150
One-way per bag. Price varies with destination.
Lufthansa
www.lufthansa-usa.com
800 645-3880

$100/$200
Under 78"/Over 78", per board, not bag, One-way, must reserve spot for the board
Malaysian
www.malaysiaairlines.com
800 552 9264

Varies
Price varies with destination. Bags are 50% of normal excess baggage charge
Mexicana
www.mexicana.com
800-531-7921

$75
One-way per bag, Max 100"
Northwest
www.nwa.com
800-225-2525

$80
One-way per bag
Qantas
www.qantas.com.au
800-227-4500

Free
Free as part of your two bag limit. Otherwise $53 each way.
Singapore
www.singaporeair.com
800-742-3333

Free
As part of your two bag limit. Otherwise, $109 each way
South African Airlines
www.flysaa.com
800-722-9675

Free
As part of your two bag limit, not exceeding 109", otherwise, $125
Southwest
www.southwest.com
800-435-9792

$50
One-way per bag (2 boards per bag). No size restricitons.
TACA
www.taca.com
800-400-TACA

Free/$100
No charge for domestic flights, $100 for international. Limit 2 boards per passenger.
Thai
www.thaiairways.com
800-426-5204

$100
One-way per board.
United*
www.united.com
800-864-8331

$100/$200
Under 109"/Over 109", One-way per bag, 2 boards per bag
USA3000
www.usa3000airlines.com
877-USA-3000

$50/$100
One-way: $100 if over 50 lbs.
USAir
www.usairways.com
800-245-4882

$80
One-way per board
Varig
www.varigbrasil.com
800-468 2744

$42.50/$85
Under 109", $42.50 per board each way, Over 109", $85 per board each way
Virgin Atlantic
www.virgin-atlantic.com
800-821-5438

Free
Free, limit one per customer
Old     (lfxstar)      Join Date: Jul 2001       06-16-2008, 5:34 PM Reply   
it is the number underneath the airline that is the number, the copy/paste messed up because of the page
Old     (xistential)      Join Date: Jul 2007       06-17-2008, 4:16 AM Reply   
Thanks Kyle. Lot of work We only fly Virgin when we go back and forth to the UK.Each passenger is allowed two fifty pound bags plus a carry on. We must have flown with them 30 times and they have never even asked what the board is.

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