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Friendliest airlines for traveling/flying with a longboard in 2024 

Here is a quick list of what will find in this article:

• Introduction
• Asia-Pacific Airlines for longboards
• Central America Airlines for longboards
• North America Airlines for longboards
• South America Airlines for longboards
• Europe Airlines for longboards
• Tips for Packing Your Longboard

The thought of jumping into crystal-clear water on a tropical island somewhere has been a daydream for many as we’ve faced lockdowns, and international travel bans. While this thought is magical, it comes with some logistical challenges when you add a longboard into the mix.
 

Janey holding her 9ft longboard wearing Bingin rashguard and Sanur bottom
***click on the image to see the details
Source: ninefootstudio

With typical lengths ranging from 9 to 10ft, and sometimes up to 12ft, longboards are heavy, awkward, and hard to get around airports. There’s no standard airline policy for traveling with a longboard which makes it tricky when planning a surf trip. Some airlines charge additional fees, and some just can’t carry longboards at all.

Airplane flying over the tropical island
Source: Pinterest

Longboard Friendly Airlines

Longboards are generally classified as oversized baggage, so they come with an additional fee. Some airlines charge for flying in each direction, and some charge per board, even if they’re in the same bag. If your bag ends up being overweight, that could mean extra charges on top of what you’ve already paid.   

Surfboards packed and prepared to fly
Source: Pinterest

Asia - Pacific Airlines for longboards

AirAsia

Your board must be packed in a recognized surfboard bag. The bag mustn’t exceed 109in (277cm), or exceed 71lb (32kg), and single surfboards weighing more than 33lbs (15kg) won’t be accepted.

ATTENTION AUSTRALIANS ! For guests travelling on AirAsia flights departing to and from Australia flights you may qualify for one (1) complimentary surfboard check-in up to a maximum weight of 15kg. Terms and conditions apply. Check out their Free Surfboard Policy FAQ page for more details.

Find out more about their specific details here.

Air China

China Airlines can accept most sports equipment. Sporting equipment can be included as part of your free checked baggage allowance. For checked baggage that exceeds the standard weight restrictions and/or numbers of checked baggage exceeds free baggage allowance is subject to applicable excess baggage fees. If your sporting equipment set packed into separate pieces of baggage will not be considered as a single piece of baggage.

Find out more about their policy specific details here.

Air India

Weight of the baggage must not exceed 75 kg/165 lb.

For the US/Canada surfboards will be charged 50% of the excess baggage charge. One item can be pooled in the free baggage allowance. Excess weight due to additional items is charged as an extra baggage piece.

Find out more about their specific policy details here.

Cebu Pacific Air

Keep in mind that guests may carry only ONE surfboard per flight and each surfboard should not weigh more than 20kg including surfboard case and surfing equipment. Each surfboard including surfing equipment and case must not exceed 9ft.

Find out more about their specific policy details here.

Thai Airways

Surfboards are not allowed to be included in the free baggage allowance.

If it exceeds the allowance apply Special Unit price (Flat Rates) apply as follows :A board up to 2m in length : Charge 1 Unit rate (USD 150)A board exceeding 2m in length : Charge 2 Unit rate (USD 300)

Find out about their specific policy details here.

Japan Airlines

Longboards up to 13ft (4m) are allowed depending on the type of aircraft you’re flying. In certain cases, due to space limitations or weather, passengers may be unable to check in their baggage, even if baggage requirements are met.

Find out more about their specific details here.

Korean Air

Charges on surfboards are imposed per bag, and only longboards up to 115in (292cm) will be transported. For international flights, no oversize baggage fee applies within a total linear size of 115in (292cm), and a max. weight of 70lb (32kg).

Find out more about their specific details here.

Qantas

Boards will only be accepted if they’re enclosed in a surfboard bag that doesn’t exceed 70lb (32kg) in weight, and 109in (277cm) in length.

Find out about their specific details here.

Spice Jet

Surfboards can be checked in for an extra handling fee.

Find out more about their specific details here.

Sri Lankan Airlines

If the surfboard exceeds the free baggage allowance then you’ll be charged for excess baggage. It includes only one board with a max. weight of 70lb (32kg) which is charged at USD250. If more than one board is carried, normal excess baggage charges apply.

Find out more about their specific details here. 

Single fin
Source: Surfline

View on the waves in Sumbawa Indonesia
Source: Surf Indonesia

Central America Airlines for longboards

Aero Mexico

The max. weight allowed per piece is 70lb (32kg) with a max. length allowed, depending on the plane’s cabin, is 115in (294cm), including the board bag.

Find out more about their specific details here.

VivaAerobus

Longboards weighing more than 70lb (32kg), or measuring more than 126in (319cm) linear, or boards that aren’t properly packaged won’t be accepted.

Find out more about their specific details here. 

Danielle wearing Canggu one-piece in black        **click on the image to see the product details
Source: ninefootstudio

North America Airlines for longboards

Air Canada

Surfboards are accepted on a space available basis only. One board counts as one piece of baggage towards the max. number of checked bags allowed by your fare type. The max. length accepted is 115in (292cm), with a max. width of 24in (60cm). Two fees apply for two boards packed in the same board bag.

Find out more about their specific details here.

Air Transat

One board up to 12ft (3.65m) with a maximum weight of 70lb (32kg) is allowed. No overweight or oversized fees are applicable, but fees are charged depending on the destination.

Find out more about their specific details here.

Alaska Airlines

Standard checked baggage, overweight, or oversize fees apply to longboards. The length must not exceed 115in (292cm).

Find out more about their specific details here.

American Airlines

One board bag can contain multiple boards and will count as one checked item. Standard checked bag fees of the destination apply up to 50lb (23kg), and 126in (320cm) linear (length + width + height), or a USD150 fee applies from 51lb (23kg) to 70lb (32kg).

Find out more about their specific details here.

Delta Airlines

Overweight baggage fees apply to board bags that exceed 50lb and those over the baggage allowance, with bags no longer than 115in (292cm) linear (length + width + height).

Find out more about their specific details here.

Hawaiian Airlines

Fees apply to longboards with bags up to 50lb (23kg), and 115in (292cm) in length only allowed on flights. You can check more than one board bag, but a separate fee will apply.

Find out more about their specific details here.

jetBlue Airways

Surfboards are charged at USD100 each way, and can’t exceed 99lb (45kg), with only one surfboard per bag allowed.

Find out more about their specific details here.

Southwest Airlines

If your surfboard bag exceeds 50lb (23kg), an overweight baggage fee of US$75 will be applied per item each way. Board length and width restrictions don’t apply.

Find out more about their specific details here.

Spirit Airlines

Surfboard bags can have a max. of two surfboards in one bag, and are charged at USD100 each way. Additional items packed inside a surfboard case will have additional charges applied. Certain destinations have bag restrictions and surfboards aren’t accepted on these flights.

Find out more about their specific details here.

United Airlines

Surfboards are accepted as special items and must be packed in board bags, with oversized fees charged. They must not weigh more than 99.9lb (45.3 kg), not be more than 115in (292cm) linear (length + width + height).

Find out more about their specific details here.  

Airport traffic
Source: Pinterest

South America Airlines for longboards


 

LATAM Airlines

One bag containing a max. of three boards, with a length of 126in (320cm) being permitted in exceptional circumstances, regardless of the width and height.

Find out about their specific details here.

Avianca

One board bag with up to three surfboards will be carried, with fees applied. The board bag must weigh a maximum of 70lb (32kg) with a length up to 12ft (3.7m).

Find out about their specific details here.

Aerolineas Argentinas

Fees apply to longboards, with only one bag with one board being allowed up to 118in (300cm).

Find out about their specific details here. 

Source: ninefootstudio

Danielle wearing Canggu one-piece in black     ***click on the image to see the product details
Source: ninefootstudio

Europe Airlines for longboards

Air France

Longboards should weigh no more than 50lb (23kg), or 70lb (32kg) in business class, and be no longer than 118in (300cm), depending on the plane. Prior approval may be required.

Find out about their specific details here.

Alitalia

Excess baggage fees for anything over 50lb (23kg), and more than 118in (300cm) in their total dimensions (length + width + height).

Find out about their specific details here.

Iberia Airlines

One board which isn’t more than 11.5ft (3.5m) in length is allowed. For long-haul flights, it can be carried within your baggage allowance, but for short and medium-haul flights, a single fee in each direction applies.

Find out about their specific details here.

Icelandic Air

A max. of four surfboards may be carried per flight, and they don’t count towards your free baggage allowance.

Find out about their specific details here.

KLM

Longboards should be a max. of 118in (300cm), weighing up to 50,5lb (23kg) in economy class, and max. 70.5lb (32kg) in business class.

Find out about their specific details here.

Lufthansa

Fees apply to longboards which need to be a max. length of 124in (315cm) and a max. weight of 70lb (32kg).

Find out about their specific details here.

Swissair

One board bag is allowed, with the maximum length of 124in (315cm) and weight of 70lb (32kg). If more than one bag is transported, you’ll be charged excess baggage.

Find out about their specific details here.

TAP Portugal

Longboards up to 70lb (32kg) may be carried, and will be charged an excess baggage fee if they’re over 79in (200cm).

Find out about their specific details here. 

Flora wearing our Sanur bottom in fish color and matching Padang top
Source: ninefootstudio
 ***click on the image to see the product details

Tips for Packing Your Longboard

Airport handlers are notoriously rough when handling fragile objects. Remove your fins first and then wrap your entire board with bubble wrap, using foam piping for the rails, and cardboard for the nose and the tail for extra protection. Duct tape the whole thing, and make sure it fits tightly in your bag so it’s not moving around. If you’ve got more than one board, add extra bubble wrap in-between and stack them by rocker. 

Preparing the surfboard for travels
Source: ninefootstudio

Packing the surfboard at the airport secured and labeled as fragile
Source: ninefootstudio

Pro-Lite surfboard bag
Source: pro-lite

When You Get There

Now that you’ve conquered the flight, you need to focus on getting around with your longboard. If you’re travelling via vehicle then it’s best to travel in a car or van that has roof racks, or bring along soft roof racks just in case. You’ll need some tie downs to secure the board on the racks. In some regions like Asia, you can rent a scooter or motorbike with boards racks, but keep in mind the weight, shape and length of the board when riding as it can be hazardous.   

TOP TIP

Check the surfboard length restrictions to make sure they aren’t linear inches (length + height + width).  

Surf rack on the motorbike
Source: pinterest

Preparing for a surf trip
Source: pinterest

Travelling with surfboards might require a larger vehicle
Source: pinterest

Travelling should be exhilarating, not stressful! While some things are just out of your control, it’s better to plan ahead so you have a stress-free trip and jump into the surf as originally planned.

You might’ve been daydreaming about an epic trip to longboard in Hawaii, or to be longboarding on the Gold Coast. Either way, make the most out of your sessions with luxury sustainable swimwear made from discarded fishing nets. Our surfwear range includes high waisted bikini bottoms, long-sleeve crop tops, one-pieces and much more.