5 Best US Airlines for Flying with Snowboards in 2023/2024
On this page you will find our picks for the best airlines for flying with your snowboard in the US during the 2023/2024 season, allowing you to fly with your snowboard without being charged an arma and a leg to bring it.
Most airlines will allow you to bring your snowboard in-lieu of a standard suitcase, but you will still be asked to pay the regular checked baggage fee (typically $30-$50 for a 1st checked bag, depending on your destination and airline). [AMZ asins='B07F8BZXFB,B085129W7P,B074FV9XFX,B083178YD3,B09HP9W8G8,B01MZYYICB']
When choosing an airline for your snowboard trip, be sure to look at the weight allowance (whether it is 40lbs or 50lbs), and also whether you should bring your boot bag separately or pack your boots into your snowboard bag. On some airlines your boot bag will count as an additional piece of luggage (meaning extra fees if you bring a separate boot bag) or can fly together with your snowboard bag without incurring an extra fee (your snowboard bag and your boot bag together will count as a single piece of checked luggage, incurring a single fee).
Before buying your flights, we recommend you also take a look at our list of Snowboard Baggage Fees for 300+ Airlines, as well as our recommendations for the Best Snowboard Travel Bags of 2023/2024
1. Southwest - FREE
Southwest Airlines is #1 on our list of Top Snowboard-Friendly Airlines for the 2023/2024 winter season. Southwest will gladly take your snowboard in place of a checked bag, and is the only airline in the US that will take it completely free of charge.In fact, Southwest allows 2 free bags, so you can bring both a suitcase and your snowboard free of charge.
You can pack your snowboard boots into a boot bag, separate from your snowboard, and it will still be treated as a single item, so no need to worry about fitting your boots into your suitcase.
Just note that the 50 lbs / 23 kg weight limit still applies with Southwest (The weight limit applies to the total combined weight of snowboard + bootbag), and you'll be charged an overweight fee if you exceed that limit.
Flying with Snowboards on Southwest
Southwest accepts snowboarding equipment free of charge, in substitution of one piece of the free Checked Baggage allowance for each Passenger at no charge on a one-item-for-one-bag basis. If the snowboard bag exceeds 50 pounds in weight, excess weight charges may apply.Note: Snowboard equipment will not be subject to excess size charges. However, excess weight charges may apply.
When substituting snowboard equipment for a free bag, Southwest Airlines allows up to two bags (containing one set of snowboard equipment) to count as one item, even if they are packed and tagged separately.
View Regular Southwest Baggage Policies 2023
View Southwest Snowboards Policy
2. Alaska Airlines - $30/$40
Alaska is another sport-friendly airline, allowing many types of sports equipment to fly without additional fees. You will still be asked to pay the regular checked baggage fee ($30 for first bag, $40 for 2nd bag), but it is still cheaper than all other US domestic airlines other than Southwest.The main benefit of flying Alaska is the more generous weight restriction (overweight fees will not be charged, with a maximum weight of up to 45 kg / 100 lbs), so you can pack the entire family's snowboard quiver into the same bag to save on baggage fees.
Please note that if your ski bag is your 3rd piece of checked baggage, Alaska's 3rd Checked Bag fee will apply. This 3rd bag fee has increased to $150 for 2023 (up from $100), to be sure to take this into account if planning to bring a lot of luggage.
For the 2023/2024 season, Alaska is once again offering a "Ski for Free" option to get a free day's skiing at selected resorts using your Alaska boarding pass on your day of arrival. Be sure to check Alaska Airline's website for details as to which resorts are participating.
Flying with Snowboards on Alaska Airlines
Alaska Airlines accepts snowboard equipment as a regular piece of checked luggage. Standard checked bag fees apply, but oversize and overweight fees are waived (as long as total linear dimensions are within 115 linear inches).You may check a boot bag and helmet separately from your snowboard, and it will all count as a single piece. However, if you have other clothing packed into the boot/helmet bag, it will count as an additional piece of regular luggage.
View Regular Alaska Airlines Baggage Policies 2024
View Alaska Airlines Snowboards Policy
3. United - $30/$40
United Airlines is the only US legacy carrier to have made it onto our list of top airlines for flying with snowboards in 2023.Although it charges similar fees to the others for checked baggage, it differentiates itself from the other airlines by allowing up to 2 snowboards per bag, whereas most other airlines theoretically limit you to a single board.
As with other airlines, you will still need to pay the standard checked baggage fees, which will run you $30 for a first bag, or $40 for a second bag.
Flying with Snowboards on United Airlines
United accepts one item of snowboard equipment per customer as checked baggage. Equipment must be securely encased in a suitable container. An item of snowboard equipment consists of:Up to two snowboards in one bag and one snow boot bag
If the combined weight of the snowboard bag and boot bag is over 50 pounds (23 kg), applicable overweight charges apply.
A boot bag without an accompanied snowboard bag is considered one bag and normal baggage fees apply.
View Regular United Airlines Baggage Policies 2024
View United Airlines Snowboards Policy
4. JetBlue - $35/$45
JetBlue will accept your snowboard in place of a regular piece of luggage, and you can bring a boot bag separately without incurring an additional charge.Do note that regular baggage fees do apply, which JetBlue has recently increased so expect to pay about $35 for the first bag, or $45 for a second bag.
The oversized baggage fee will be waived, but the a 23 kg / 50 lbs weight limit still applies to ski bags, above which an overweight fee will be charged.
Flying with Snowboards on JetBlue
There is no additional charge for snowboard equipment on JetBlue flights; however, one item of snowboard equipment will count as a checked bag. Snowboards are exempt from the standard size requirements (62") but should still follow weight and other equipment guidelines.One piece of snowboard equipment consists of the following:
One snowboard, with one pair of snowboard boots. (Please note: snowboard boots, if packed separately from snowboarding equipment, must be in a snow boot bag to be considered part of the one piece of checked baggage). Also note, customers will be charged an excess baggage fee if the snowboard exceeds our checked baggage weight requirements.
View Regular JetBlue Baggage Policies 2023
View JetBlue Snowboards Policy
5. Frontier - $38/$65
Frontier just barely makes the cut on our list of snowboard-friendly airlines for 2023/2024 season. Although it's snowboard policy is similar to that of most other airlines on the list (you can bring a snowboard bag instead of a regular suitcase), it frustrates us that Frontier will charges so much to bring a regular carry-on bag. Because of the high price of a carry-on bag, you are already likely to be flying with a suitcase as a piece of checked baggage, so your snowboard bag will usually be a 2nd item of checked luggage, so a higher fee will apply.
Be sure to also note that for 2023 the maximum allowed weight of a snowboard bag on Frontier Airlines is 40 lbs / 18 kg (down from 50 lbs / 23 kg in 2022), and a $50 overweight fee is charged for bags weighing 41-50 lbs. This overweight fee goes up to $100 for bags between 51-70 lbs.
Flying with Snowboards on Frontier Airlines
Frontier Airlines accepts snowboards as checked baggage, in place of a regular piece of checked baggage. One item may include one snowboard, one set of bindings, and one pair of boots. One pair of boots (in a boot bag) may be checked separately from the snowboard, but still count as one item as long as the boot bag does not exceed 25 pounds. If the boot bag is over 25 pounds, it will be considered a second bag.For example:
One snowboard bag and one pair of boots = one item
One piece of luggage, one snowboard and one pair of boots = two items
One snowboard and one boot bag over 25 pounds = two items
Allow an extra 30 minutes for check-in.Overweight charges apply if item is 40 lbs or more.
Oversize charges do not apply to snowboards on Frontier Airlines.
View Regular Frontier Airlines Baggage Policies 2023
View Frontier Airlines Snowboards Policy
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