Anybody have any good ideas on getting around surfboard baggage charges. I'll be flying from San Diego to Oahu. I flew to Australia last month on Virgin Airlines. TWO surfboards for FREE! Bummer they don't fly to Hawaii. Delta is $175.00 each way... per board!
Another option is to have them shipped. UPS will ship a boards anywhere in the world for anywhere from $100 - $250 as long as the board is under 7'6" I believe. This would be a cheaper alternative then delta for sure plus you don't have to worry about carrying it all the way through the airport and UPS will insure the package, if the board breaks they pay for it.
brought my board with me on the way to santa cruz, (flew contential) charged $100 for oversized bag fee. shipped it fed ex back and it was only $55.
Renting may not be a bad way to go... Hey, I have traveled both ways, travelling with my boards and renting boards once i get there. It really depends on if there is a reputable place to rent, what it costs, and what kind of boards are available to you. For Oahu, you can't go wrong with renting. There are lots of options, the best I have found is www.hawaiisurfboardrentals.com. Check out the site, they have a nice board selection, their rates are great, for a 10 day trip its less than $200 bucks, and you don't have to worry about your boards not making it or getting beat up by careless air handlers. I am actually going ot Oahu on Friday and already have my board reserved. They will also swap our your board for you and deliver and pick up the board to where ever you are staying. It beats paying the United Airlines rate of $175 each way per board! Hope this helps!
Mike M's on track Am on Oahu now leaving for Maui Friday - I used to fly my boards over here from mainland when it was reasonable but.....only once out of three times was I able to use it right out of the bag on this end. The baggage guys here are brutal on incomming boards and my boards were in heavy travel bags with insulated rails, padded deck and bottom, etc. 2 out 3 times they still managed to screw 'em up which made ding repair necessary over here. I have relatives here so I finally bought a board here and leave it here as well as on Maui. I agree with Mike on this one as there is no given that you'll be able to use yours once you pay those chumps at Delta 175 per direction. The other airlines are charging 100 and I managed to fly to Cabo and back twice this summer with a 3 board coffin bag containing 3 boards, and was only charged 100 on US airways the first time and Alaska the second. I don't fly on Delta. Have a good time.
It is airway robbery. US Airways charges 100 each way and I believe that is the most reasonable. I know a slalom boater who competed in the Beijing Olympics. He told me that China air tried to charge him $500 dollars to return home with his boat. He missed his flight because he refused to pay. He got it down to $300 on the next flight. One alternative to renting would be to buy a used one and then sell it before you leave. I haven't tried this but you could come out ahead depending on the demand for used boards. Some of the local shops may even do that as an alternative to renting with a deposit.
Traveling from most airports to San Jose on TACA - $125 each way for two boards in one bag. Counts as second piece of luggage. Flying from Miami to SJO is $100 each way. American is $100 per board. Sometimes you can get away with more than 1 in a bag, but they can be cruel and knock ya for each, too. To help stop this craziness, visit: http://surfers-against-airline-fees.com/
Buy If you ever go to FL, CA, or HAW I would highly recommend to buy a board there and than sell it the day you leave. I went to CA and bought a Spyder surfboard for $130 which was almost new and sold it for $50 the day I left. So it only cost me $80 for a board for 10 days.
Wow it took you a whole 10 day to come back with that!!!! You my friend are a true interweb gangster. What you dont relize is if it wanst for my "***gy" longboard you would have nothing to ride. Now run along and ponder you reason for exhistance Aloha
Yo Bigdix,Just curious man,Being your NOW on here bloging with us are you one of are forum friends now?
Bring or buy a board??? In the last 2 trips to Maui, I've done different things. First I bought a board through Craigslist, and gave it to some kid on the beach the day I left, and then on my last trip I bought a DAKINE world Traveller bag and brought 2 of my boards. I liked option 2 a lot better.... Check out this blog... www.surfersdesk.com - The place office workers would rather be. http://surfersdesk.com/
