Flying with Boards

Discussion in 'Mid Atlantic' started by zach619, Aug 20, 2010.

  1. zach619

    zach619 Well-Known Member

    Jan 21, 2009
    So, I just called Delta to check on the baggage pricing for my trip back east next week.

    I need to bring: One large suitcase with all my sh** in it.
    One Golf Bag with the clubs in it
    One 6'0 shortboard in a boardbag for A/C and Maui.

    Delta Just told me that the golf clubs fall into a "Regular Bag" category, and will be checked in at $35.00

    And then the Delta Rep said that surfboards fall into a "Flex sporting category". I gave him the board dimensions and asked him with the price was, he put me on hold and then told me that to bring the board, it will be a $205.00 charge... FOR ONE 6'0 BOARD!!!!

    Im freaking out, cause that is only for my ONE WAY trip to the east coast... So I will have to pay this sh** again to take it to maui and back...

    So, Jersey Heads: How easy will it be for me to rent a decent board for 24 hours? I know in OC MD, i have to know someone at Malibus to get a decent board rental. They will rent me the team rider board for a day or something, cause every shop down there only rents foamies and sh**y boards....

    I will be in AC this wednesday and thursday... Not to curse it, but its looking chest high for both days...

    So, what shop can I hit up around 3:00pm on wednesday, rent a decent shortboard, and return it on Thurday on our way out of town. I just want one session Thursday, and a dawn patrol and im out...

    Any advice on getting a decent board for a day?

    Now, I have to figure out WTF im going to do in Maui for 10 days.... I can't pay 200$ each way to take my board. I might as well just fu**ing buy a new one there... ThIS IS NUTS!!!!

    I flew home 2 years ago with 2 boards and it cost $50 each way!!!!!
     
  2. eshore

    eshore Well-Known Member

    564
    Jul 22, 2008
    have you looked into UPS of Fed-ex. they may be cheaper but i would be sure to buy insurance on my boards. Ask your hotel in AC if they will allow UPS to drop it off. I personally know nothing about the shops so sorry if this already crossed your mind. Maybe buy a used board and sell it the next day.
     

  3. jettyface

    jettyface Well-Known Member

    180
    Aug 5, 2009
    I don't know of any shop in NJ (of course I haven't been to them all) that rents anything but foam. Try craigslist for a cheap board. Some surf shops sell cheap used boards too. That really is your best bet. You could also try to find someone on here that would rent you a board for the day personally.
     
  4. yankee

    yankee Well-Known Member

    Sep 26, 2008
    freight

    I've not done it, but I've heard that freight forwarders will ship your board door-to-door for much less than the gouging airline bastardos. I think I've seen ads by freight forwarders on Surfline...?
     
  5. tibu35

    tibu35 Well-Known Member

    183
    Dec 28, 2009
    That sucks man,,,,,, I know spirit airlines was only 50 I believe to fly with my boards. I dont surf in ac really much or know many surf shops there, but i would google some shops in the area and give them a call to see if you can rent a board. Some shops might rent you a used board as long as you leave a creidt card number just incase you snap it or something. Or maybe one of your buddies will let you borrow there board and you could ship it back to him when your done. I forget what town it is either venter or margate, but I know they have shops, which is the next town over from ac.
     
    Last edited: Aug 21, 2010
  6. zach619

    zach619 Well-Known Member

    Jan 21, 2009
    Yeah, I fly out in less than 48 hours, so shipping the board may have already passed me by.

    I already got off the phone with Local Motion in HI and they already have a handful of high performance shortboards that they will rent to me. $125 per week, which SUCKS, but isnt that bad...

    So, I am just going to call shops and beg them to let me rent a decent board. Thats what I do in OC if my friends arent around... Most normal shops have demo boards and all kinds of **** lying around. I mean, I don't understand why there are no decent baord rentals at the mid atlantic beaches. I mean, I can't be the only one who flies to the mid-atlantic to surf. I know the masses all need foamies and stuff, but sh**, there is ZERO demand for a decent board rental?

    Anyway, its way too late in my time zone to make these calls, but I will have to call around in the morning and beg. I mean, I honestly figured that I would get skunked in AC while I was there, so I didn't think this would be an issue, but as of right now, both days are looking ok. I thought in late august, I wouldnt be worried about surfing, but if I am in AC for 2 days and its more than ankle high, I will have to surf. I just simply have to.
     
  7. schweez

    schweez Well-Known Member

    119
    Sep 17, 2008
    im always a big fan of late august surf
     
  8. StuckinVA

    StuckinVA Well-Known Member

    373
    Jul 23, 2007
    Yeah Delta is the worst. I think they use to be $150 each way. Although United isn't much better at this point. You can almost buy a new board for the cost it is to fly one. I think the bottom line is that the carriers don't want surfers flying boards.
     
  9. JMD

    JMD Well-Known Member

    195
    Jun 26, 2007
    Did not read this whole thread just your first post but I have picked certain airlines before just for their board bag rules. I know continental lets you do two boards in one bag for $100 each way. I know that is still expensive but at least you are getting 2 boards....
     
  10. zach619

    zach619 Well-Known Member

    Jan 21, 2009
    Yeah, I am almost thinking of buying a board in Maui, using it for 10 days, then mailing it to myself back home. Cause there would be no rush getting it back. Then I would never have to check it.
     
  11. pvjumper05

    pvjumper05 Well-Known Member

    685
    Jun 15, 2008
    you could always buy one and then sell it. thats what my buddy did when he went to CR... although this may take a while
     
  12. wavehunter

    wavehunter Well-Known Member

    142
    Dec 18, 2007
    Yeah, I dealt with this same thing on the north shore. It ended up being cheaper to buy a board when I got there and then just sell it for whatever I could get when I left.
     
  13. rodndtube

    rodndtube Well-Known Member

    819
    May 21, 2006
    Zach, you do know that your regular luggage bag will be charged on Delta, right? From San Diego the way to go is Southwest Airlines, two bags checked without charge. If that big luggage bag is more than 50 lbs you can easily have another $50 tacked on.

    SWA:
    • Surfboards will be transported as checked baggage for a fixed charge of $50.00 each way. Keels and fins must be removed and placed in carryon or checked baggage.
    • Golf clubs in a hooded or soft-sided golf bag are conditionally accepted. Golf clubs that are transported in a hard, plastic travel case should be tagged with a regular tag. Golf equipment includes golf clubs, golf balls, and golf shoes, contained in one bag.
    • Boogieboards/wakeboards may be checked in substitution of one piece of the free baggage allowance for each fare-paying Customer at no charge on a one-for one basis. Overweight charges may apply.

    That is why I fly in/out of SAN in OCT.
     
  14. mexsurfer

    mexsurfer Well-Known Member

    662
    Jul 14, 2008
    HA! be lucky. im going on a trip to mexico soon and the airline (delta or continental i forget), is having an embargo and WONT EVEN LET ME BRING A BOARD!
     
  15. zach619

    zach619 Well-Known Member

    Jan 21, 2009
    Yeah, on Delta to from SD to MD, the first bag costs $23, and the second (golf bag) costs $33.

    American from MD to HI is charging me pretty much the exact same prices.

    And although I do like southwest now that they give the check seating categories, so you can actually get seats next to each other, but I purchased a vacation package, and the agency found the lowest rates, and SW doesn't fly to the islands.

    And as for the one way back to MD, Delta just had the cheapest fares. Like $100 each person. Not bad.

    I was just incredibly shocked that the fees were $100+ now and $200+ on one of them. my board weighs like 1/8 of my clubs, but they charge 10x the price.

    Nuts. Some old anti surfer sh**.

    I used to always use SW and took boards to MD every time I went. It used to be $25 each way. Then $50... But this sh** is stupid.
     
  16. zach619

    zach619 Well-Known Member

    Jan 21, 2009
    Matter of fact. I am going to ship a damn board back home anyway for the future, just so I will never have to bring a board coast to coast. I have 1-2 I can spare. fu** these airlines.
     
  17. jettyface

    jettyface Well-Known Member

    180
    Aug 5, 2009
    Do boards usually arrive in one piece ?
     
  18. surfsup

    surfsup Well-Known Member

    54
    Oct 7, 2008
    First off...you surf SD all the time...why would you even want to surf AC. The surf may be ok on Wed/Thurs but nothing like what you surf 5 days a week out there.

    Secondly, good idea about stashing a board on the other coast. That's what I did in SoCal. I bought a very good used board at some big shop (ton of used boards) in Oceanside for only $175. I kept it out there at a friend's place for years. Then...my other friend moved into a big 3 car garage house in an awesome neighborhood, Ladera Ranch, so i figured might as well take the board from my friend who is renting a place and store it at my other buddies house who has plenty of space to store an extra board. 2 weeks after he moved in he was robbed. Nice. His friggin' wife left the garage door open overnight and $hit was gone...so much for a nice neighborhood.
     
  19. zach619

    zach619 Well-Known Member

    Jan 21, 2009
    I just try and surf any destination that has an ocean. I grew up going to OC MD, VB, as far south as Myrtle, SC but I have never stepped foot on the jersey shore or surfed there. So, there was a slim chance that I would encounter surf there since my dates were locked in and it is August on the atlantic. But its looking like I will get some, so this will be one more notch on the belt as they say... But I would love to score jersey on a fun day in the summer...

    Not a big deal, but again, I just want to surf. I don't care what coast im on or what beach it may be, if there is swell in town, and im in town, i t gotta do it. I coulnd't sleep that night knowing I didn't even paddle out.
     
  20. surfsup

    surfsup Well-Known Member

    54
    Oct 7, 2008
    you shouldn't sleep anyway...it's your bachelor party. you should be more concerned about what strip club you are going to, not what break you are going to surf.

    i had my bachelor party at the links at brigantine too. be prepared...the green heads are the size of B52 Bombers...they can eat you alive if the wind is light. Aside from that, fun times.

    You can try Surf Shack in Vetnor for rentals http://www.shellemsurfshack.com/. Mikey is the owner maybe he can hook you up with a performance board. Also try Primal Surf in Brigantine www.psurf.com. not sure what kind of rentals they handle.