Airlines' fees for surfboards are dinging surfers

Some airlines are now charging surfers as much as $300 to take along a surfboard. That's significantly higher than the $15 fee that big carriers began charging for the first checked bag, a move that has riled passengers.

The fee, among the highest of airline charges, is grounding some surfers and has created an unusual uproar among an otherwise mellow surf community. Fees for bicycles, skis and other sports equipment have also been rising, but not as much as surfboard.

Surfers note that most airlines don't charge for golf bags, while surfers are paying as much as $300 a board for international flights. That's nearly as much as a new board can cost. Avid surfers take as many as four boards in a bag, which can mean a $1,200 bill, or $2,400 for a round trip.

Last year, British Airways, despite petitions from 14,000 surfers, went so far as to ban surfboards altogether.

"Why are we being singled out?" asked Evan Slater, a surfer and editor in chief of San Clemente-based Surfing magazine. "It's not like we're carrying nuclear weapons, and these surfboards aren't much heavier than a carry-on."

The charges have gotten so gnarly that some professional surfers are calling for a boycott of airlines that have high fees and are putting out their own personal lists of surfer-friendly carriers that wave riders should patronize. One of the hottest surfing websites is now also a guide to airline fees.

"It's a big issue for us," said Rusty Long, a San Clemente-based professional surfer who spends nine months out of the year traveling in search of the big wave. "It's ridiculous when you're having to pay more for your board than the price of your airline ticket."

Long was on Nantucket Island, Mass., this week but was looking to chase a swell moving up the East Coast. He said he has been telling his fans to avoid Delta Air Lines, Continental Airlines and United Airlines.

Charges on those carriers can exceed $150 a board, depending on the destination. He recommends JetBlue Airways, which charges $50 a board, and international carriers such as Qantas Airways and Air New Zealand, which don't charge for surfboards.

Surfers say they've considered shipping their surfboards via FedEx or United Parcel Service but the cost can range from a few hundred dollars to several thousands depending on the destination. Renting a board can also be expensive. Renting a decent board can cost as much as $100 a day, and most travelers spend several days or more surfing on a trip.