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What Is The Cheapest European Airline For Carrying Surfboards?

©Photo: Sylvain Cazenave
 

Airlines can be buggers. We’ve lost count of the number of times we’ve been stung by baggage charges at the airport.

Why is it always at 3am, when you’ve hardly had any sleep, and you’ve already spent 45 minutes waiting in the check-in queue? The bastards…

Some airlines will let you use your free hold baggage allowance for your surfboard, but most won’t because board bags are much bigger than their size allowance.

 

Europe’s “budget” airlines come second for most expensive surfboard fees”

 

You’ve also got to watch out for the weight of your boardbag. While airlines have a standard fee for surfboards, they’re happy to whack on an extra fine per kilogram if you go over the stated weight allowance. So, watch out!

So what is the cheapest European airline for carrying surfboards?

These were correct as of 16/05/14. However, we do recommend double-checking with the airline before you fly.

 

What’s the cheapest?

British Airways and Finnair. Well, technically they carry surfboards for free – but they only take surfboards under 6’3″, which rules out any longboarders and, errrr, pretty much everyone else.

Otherwise, Thomsonfly carry surfboards on short-haul flights around Europe for €49 return, followed closely by Air France at €55 return.

Editor’s Note: We’ve had a comment from our reader, telling us SAS fly surfboards for free with max. weight of 23kg and no length restrictions. So sounds like they’re our new top surf-friendly airline!

 

And the most expensive?

Iberia, by far. Despite being under new ownership by British Airways, the Spanish airline charge a whopping €150 one-way charge to carry a surfboard! You’d be better off driving…

Unsurprisingly, Europe’s “budget” airlines come second for most expensive surfboard fees. Norwegian charges up to €120 return, while RyanAir, Swiss Air and TAP Portugal will relieve you of €100 return for the pleasure of carrying your board.

Looking for a good breakdown of international airline charges? We like this one from Wave Tribe Company.

 

European Airline Surfboard Boardbag Charges 2014

 

AIRLINEFIRST HOLD BAG FEESURFBOARD BAG FEE (RETURN)EXTRA NOTES
Air FranceFree€55You have to book in advance through sales department. Won’t take boards longer than 9’10”.
AerLingus€20-25 depending on destination€60 pre booked/€70 at airportWon’t take boards longer than 9’2”. Max. 23kg per board bag.
British AirwaysFreeFree (counts as your free baggage allowance).Won’t take boards longer than 6’3”. Max. 23kg per board bag.
EasyJet€40€90 pre booked/€120 at airportMax. 32kg per board bag depending on size.
Read more at http://mpora.com/articles/what-is-the-cheapest-european-airline-for-carrying-surfboards.
FinnairFreeFree under 6’2”. Longer boards will incur €150 fee each wayMax. 23kg per board bag
FlyBe€19-61 depending on weight€86Max length of board depends on aircraft. Book in advance.
IberiaFree€300Won’t take boards longer than 8’2”.
Jet2€55€78Needs to be pre-booked. Won’t take boards longer than 6’2”. Max. 20kg per board bag.
Monarch€24-64 depending on route€62Max. 20kg per board bag.
Norwegian€50€74-120 depending on routeMax. 25kg per board bag
Ryan Air€37-62 depending on route€100 if pre-booked/€120 at airportMax. 20kg per board bag
SASFreeFreeMax. 23kg per board bag
Swiss AirFree€100Included as free hold luggage if under 5’2”. Won’t take boards longer than 6’4”.
TAP PortugalFree€100Max. 20kg per board bag.
Thomson Fly / Tui€54€49Pre-book at least two months in advance.

 

 
Source: Mpora