This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Surf's Up...and So is the Cost of Taking a Surfboard on Airlines

Photo by delara-photos via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr
If you're planning to jet away to a surfing destination in the next few weeks, or you've got a surf enthusiast coming in to town for a visit, save room in the budget for packing a surfboard onto the airplane.
Surfers have been getting increasingly gouged via fees charged by airlines to shuttle their boards on continental and international flights, according to the OC Beach Blog.
They've put together a list of airlines and how much they charge for surfboards:
- Delta- $200 each way per surfboard bag
- United- Domestic $100 each way per surfboard, International $200 each way per surfboard
- American- $150 each way (charge is per surfboard bag if neatly packed and under 50lbs)
- Continental, $100 each way for 2 surfboards , $400 each way for 3 surfboards, $700 each way for 4 surfboards)
- Taca- $125 each way per surfboard bag (max. 2 surfboards), $175 extra for additional surfboards
- Copa- $75 each way per surfboard bag
- Jet Blue- $75 per bag (max. length 80 inches and accepted on space available basis only)
- Southwest- $50 each way per surfboard bag
- Air Paciifc- $50 each way per surfboard bag
- Interjet (Mexico)- No Charge
- Singapore Airlines- No Charge for first 2 surfboards
- Qantas - No charge
- South African Airways- No charge
- Air Emirates- No Charge