How are surfboards transported by plane? How much does it cost to ship them? Does the cost vary from company to company? How long before I have to arrive on the plane and how much weight can I carry? All this and much more in the post.
Searching for the perfect wave is every surfer's mission. To look for it you have to move and very often you have to make long journeys. To cover long distances in a short time or to reach overseas destinations the forced choice isplane. Unfortunately, traveling with our beloved table is not easy and the various airlines apply different prices and conditions.
For this reason, I went to the companies' websites and made some phone calls to find out about prices and conditions for flying with the surfboard. Let's start with the so-called low cost airlines.
Ryanair
La Ryanair allows you to check up to two bags weighing a maximum of 15kg (or 20kg depending on the option chosen. To transport the board, the expense is 50 € / £ each way, with maximum weight of 20kg.
Vueling
With Vueling the conditions are roughly the same, but the price is 45 € each way.
Easyjet
With Easyjet if the bag is the only baggage and weight does not exceed 32kg the cost is £ 35 each way, if you add more baggage there is an extra charge for 12kg more.
Wizz Air
Wizz Air calculates baggage surcharges based on the low or high season periods that go from € 15 to € 48 each way if the weight does not exceed 23kg and from € 25 to € 58 within 32kg. To which you must add the sports equipment supplement of € 30.
Alitalia
Our national airline, Alitalia, specifies that "the transport of sports equipment weighing 23 kg or less is considered as common baggage and is included in the deductible. " In the case of sports equipment weighing more than 23kg and length between 200 and 300cm, theexcess baggage, each way, as follows:
75 € for domestic flights
75 * for flights within Europe and North Africa
200 * for the Middle East, China, Japan, Canada, South America and Central Africa
260 * from the USA to the rest of the world
200 * from the rest of the world to the USA
The value of the cost of excess reported is to be understood in: EUR (from Europe, Eastern Europe and Japan), CAD (from Canada) or USD (from USA and the rest of the world).
Lufthansa
For Lufthansa excess baggage charges are calculated based on the country's currency from which you depart, Euro if you depart from a European airport or US Dollar in all other cases.
To bring a surfboard (up to 2 meters) the supplement is € 50 or $ 70 for continental flights e € 100 or $ 150 for intercontinental ones.
Air France
Da AirFrance consider the board a standard luggage in the hold if it does not exceed 300cm and 23kg. Respect these conditions the transport is free (except in the Economy mini and Basic fares). If you are bringing additional baggage, you can purchase a baggage option online or at the airport.
Iberia
The Spaniards of Iberia treat sports equipment always as excess baggage at a rate of € 150 each way payable only at the airport and one piece of equipment per passenger is allowed
British Airways
Even the British of British Airways they accept surfboards as checked baggage as long as do not exceed 23kg and the following maximum dimensions of the bag 190x75x65cm.
Tap Portugal
Tap Portugal divides the boards by length. Under 200cm you pay 50 € for European flights, in Morocco and Algeria, while for Intercontinental flights the fare is 100 €. For boards over 200cm the rates are € 100 and € 150 respectively.
American Airlines
American Airlines charges a fee of $ 150 each way per case if it does not exceed 274cm and 23kg in weight.
These are broadly the rates and conditions for flying with a surfboard. Of course, all companies recommend pack the bag well, to avoid damage, but it should be superfluous advice given the care that many of us have for our boards. Another tip is to arrive at the airport well in advance with respect to the departure of the flight.
One piece of advice I would like to give is to contact the company for which you fly well in advance to get all the explanations and not to receive any nasty surprises at check-in.
