It might be “surf’s up” in Costa Rica, but swelling airline fees are wiping out surfers hoping to catch the next big wave.
Some airlines are now charging surfers up to $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 also have been rising, but not as much as surfboards.
Surfers note that most airlines don’t charge for golf bags, while surfers are paying up to $300 per board for international flights.
That’s nearly as much as a new board costs. Avid surfers take up to 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 as far as to ban surfboards altogether.
“Why are we being singled out?” asked Evan Slater, a surfer and editor in chief of California-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 list of surfer- friendly carriers that wave riders should patronize. One of the hottest surfing websites is now a guide to airline fees.
“It’s a big issue for us,” said Rusty Long, a professional surfer who spends nine months each 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., last week but was looking to chase a swell moving up the East Coast. He said he has been telling his fans to avoid Delta, Continental and United. All of them charge more than $150 per board depending on the destination. He recommends JetBlue, which charges $50 a board, and international carriers such as Qantas and Air New Zealand, which don’t charge for surfboards.
Surfers say they’ve considered shipping their surfboards, but the cost can range from a few hundred dollars to several thousand depending on the destination. Renting a board also can be expensive.
Decent boards rent for up to $100 a day, and most travelers spend several days or more surfing on a trip.
