Top 5 Surfboard-Friendly Airlines in the US 2024

As we enter 2024, surfboard baggage fees and policies continue to evolve. Although you may not be able to bring your entire quiver with you, it is usually possible to fly with a few surfboards as checked baggage. To make this easier for you, I have compiled a list of the Best US-based Surfboard-Friendly Airlines which I recommend for you to fly with on your next surf trip in 2024.

The biggest news of the year is that after Billy Kemper's social media campaign raging against Hawaiian Airlines, they responded by slightly lowering their surfboard bag fees on flights between Hawaiian Islands and to the mainland, as well as allowing heavier boardbags to fly. This last part is a bit tricky though, because they also now charge more expensive fees for surfboard bags weighing over 50 lbs (23 kg), whether up to 32 kg (70 lbs) or even up to 45 kg (100 lbs). It is actually cheaper to pay for 2 standard surfboard fees (boardbags weighing less than 50 lbs) than for a single overweight boardbag, so most of this change was just lip-service to look good in the media, without actually improving things much for the average surfer. [AMZ asins='B00HTA1Z6C,B00GGPK0V2,B00NIYJF6U,B0053TGSK4']

Although you will still likely pay a surfboard excess baggage fee with most airlines in 2024, here are the airlines with the most reasonable rates and rules for flying with your surfboard. This list is for US-based airlines, so handy when planning to fly domestically within the US to California or Hawaii, or chasing waves in Central America, Puerto Rico, or the Caribbean.

When creating this list, I took into account the surfboard fee for each airline, as well as its rules regarding the number of boards allowed per board bag and any size restrictions. When flying with shortboards, the dimensions of your boardbag are usually not an issue, but bringing anything longer than 7-feet, such as an SUP or a longboard, may be a bit more difficult with some airlines depending on the aircraft you will be flying on.

As you may notice, many airlines have a set limit for dimensions and a maximimum weight allowance for the acceptance of surfboards, but most do not limit how many boards are allowed in a single boardbag, as long as you stay within the allowed weight. However, there are some airlines that do charge a surfboard fee per board (I'm looking at you, JetBlue!), so although unlikely, you may be charged twice or even three times if you pack 2 or 3 boards into a single board bag. It is best to do your research and stay away from those airlines.

Here on this page you'll find my picks for the best airlines for flying with surfboards in 2024, but you should also take a look at my compilation of Surfboard Baggage Fees for 300+ airlines from around the world before booking flights to your next surf destination.

1. Alaska Airlines - $30-40

Alaska Airlines remains as our #1 Top Pick for Surfboard-Friendly Airlines in the US for 2024. Your boardbag will be treated as a regular piece of luggage, hence you can take it for free, paying just the standard checked baggage fee: a fee of just $30 if it is your only bag, or $40 as a second bag.

Please note that as of last year, Alaska has increased its 3rd Bag fee to $150 (previously $100), so if your surfboard bag is a 3rd piece of checked luggage, it will now cost $150.

Alaska Airlines will waive both the oversize and overweight fees for your surfboards, and your board bag may weigh up to 100lbs/45kg, so you can pack almost your entire quiver on your next surf trip if you wish.


Flying with Surfboards on Alaska Airlines


Surfboards are accepted as a piece of checked luggage. Regular baggage fees apply, but there are no additional oversize or overweight fees that will be charged. Please note that size limits differ depending on which size airplane you are flying on, with different limits applied based on the flight number.

Surfboard Rules on Alaska Airlines
One item of surfing or paddle equipment is defined as a surfboard or paddleboard case with up to two boards inside. On Alaska Airlines flights operated with 737 or Airbus aircraft the equipment may measure a maximum 115" (9 ft., 7 in.) in length alone. On Alaska Airlines flights 2000-2999 and 3330-3499 the maximum combined dimensions may not exceed 115" (linear).

View Regular Alaska Airlines Baggage Policies 2024

View Alaska Airlines Surfboards Policy


2. American Airlines - $30 / $40

American Airlines has updated it's surfboard policy in recent years now accepts surfboards and SUP paddle boards within the regular checked baggage allowance. As such, it has jumped up to the #2 spot in our ranking of surfer-friendly US-based airlines for 2024.

Standard baggage fees still apply to surfboards, as if they were a regular suitcase, and your boardbag is limited in weight to 23 kg / 50 lbs, but you will no longer be charged any oversize fee nor special surfboard handling fee. If your board bag exceeds the weight limit, a $150 overweight fee will be charged.


Flying with Surfboards on American Airlines


American Airlines no longer charges its previous $150 surf board fee. Surfboards can be taken within your regular checked baggage allowance and will be treated as a normal suitcase. Standard checked bag fees for your destination apply up to 50lbs/23kgs and 126in/320cm (length + width + height) or a $150 fee applies for surfboard bags weighing from 51lbs/23kgs to 70lbs/32kgs.

1 bag or case can contain multiple boards and will count as 1 checked item.

Keels, kedges, and/or fins must be removed or properly protected to prevent damage to other bags.

View Regular American Airlines Baggage Policies 2024

View American Airlines Surfboards Policy


3. Delta Airlines - $30/$40

Delta Airlines also no longer charges its previous $150 USD surfboard handling fee, so it too has shot up to 3rd position in our rankings of surfer-friendly US-Based Airlines for 2024.

Surfboards will be treated as a piece of regular checked baggage, and so will be either included in your free checked baggage allowance, or the standard checked baggage fee will be charged, the same as if you were simply bringing a standard suitcase.

Be aware that Delta's regular 50 lbs / 23 kg weight limit still applies, and you may be charged excess weight fees if your surfboard bag exceeds it.


Flying with Surfboards on Delta Airlines


Delta customers traveling with surfboards, bicycles, golf clubs, scuba gear and other large-sized sporting equipment will now be allowed to check them as part of their standard baggage allowance.

The airline is eliminating the $150 specialty sports bag fee previously charged for these items, effective for travel worldwide on tickets purchased beginning July 17, 2019. Customers will instead pay a first, second or third checked bag fee according to the fare rules associated with their booking and/or SkyMiles Medallion status.

View Regular Delta Airlines Baggage Policies 2023

View Delta Airlines Surfboards Policy


4. Southwest Airlines - $75

As you would expect, Southwest is quite reasonable when it comes to allowing sports equipment, and surfboards are no exception. Southwest charges a simple $75 fee per boardbag.

Unfortunately, you can not take your surfboard bag in place of one of your 2 free checked bags on Southwest, you will always be charged this $75 flat fee. As such, Southwest ranks slightly lower on our 2023 list of best airlines flying with surfboards.

Only on flights between islands in Hawaii does Southwest allow you to bring a surfboard in place of a regular suitcase as part of your 2 free checked bags allowance, allowing your surfboard to fly completely free of charge.

Standard weight limits of 23kg/50lbs per bag apply, meaning you should be able to fit either 2 or 3 boards into a single boardbag without exceeding the weight limit.


Flying with Surfboards on Southwest


From Southwest.com:

The items listed below will be accepted as Checked Baggage for a $75 each way charge.

Surfboard/kiteboard, keels and fins must be removed and placed in carry-on or checked baggage.

View Regular Southwest Baggage Policies 2023

View Southwest Surfboards Policy


5. Hawaiian - $75

Hawaiian Airlines is quite reasonable for flying with surfboards between the islands of Hawaii (charging $25 per boardbag on inter-island flights), but it is more expensive for flights to/from mainland USA, charging a fee of $75 per boardbag in 2024.

Thanks to a social media campaign by Billy Kemper, Hawaiian Airlines' has updated its surfboard fees and policies in late 2023, slightly lowering the fees if the boardbag weighs less than 50 lbs / 23 kg, and allowing boardbags to weigh up to 100 lbs / 45 kg. Keep in mind however that heavier boardbags will be charged more, and it will generally be cheaper to pay for 2 lighter boardbags than a single overweight boardbag, so we always recommend splitting into 2 boardbags if you're exceeding the 50 lbs / 23 kg weight limit.

Thanksfully Hawaiian Airlines charges per board bag, not per board, so you can pack multiple boards into one boardbag. You should be able to pack at least 2 or 3 boards inside while staying below the 50 lbs / 23 kg weight cut-off.

Now that Hawaiian Airlines and Alaska are in talks of a merger, we're likely to see the airline adopt Alaska's more permissive surfboard policies, which will be a win for surfers on their way to Hawaii.


Flying with Surfboards on Hawaiian Airlines


Hawaiian Airlines offers special rates for surfboards, provided they are packed according to our guidelines. The following also applies to paddleboards, kiteboards, and wakeboards.

A surfboard bag may contain any number of boards. The fees for each route are shown for each of the 3 weight categories: less than 50 lbs (23 kg), between 50-70 lbs (32 kg), and between 70-100 lbs (45 kg).

Within the State of Hawaii Between Islands - $25 / $60 / $95 USD
Between Hawaii and North America - $75 / $125 / $275 USD
Japan / Korea / American Samoa - $75 / $125 / $475 USD
French Polynesia / Cook Islands - $75 / $125 USD (No bags over 32 kg / 70 lbs)
Australia / New Zealand - FREE if one of first 2 free bags (max 32 kg / 70 lbs)

Board bags are limited in size to a maximum length of 115 inches (292 cm).

View Regular Hawaiian Airlines Baggage Policies 2023

View Hawaiian Airlines Surfboards Policy


6. Spirit Airlines - $100

Spirit Airlines charges a fee of $100 per boardbag, but allows up to 2 boards inside, with no additional oversize or overweight fees.

However, take a note of any potential baggage limits during peak travel periods, during which surfboards may not be accepted on Spirit Airlines flight, as well as some destinations to which surfboards are not allowed.


Flying with Surfboards on Spirit Airlines


Surfboards are accepted on Spirit Airlines flights for a special charge of $100 each way (charged at the airport on the day of departure - $100 each way). A maximum of (2) two surfboards will be accepted in one case. These items will be subject to a charge whether or not presented as a single piece or the maximum of two (2) item allowance in one case. Size and weight limits are waived for surfboards.

Note: Certain destinations have bag restrictions and surfboards are not accepted on these flights, especially during peak times between December 1st and January 10th.

View Regular Spirit Airlines Baggage Policies 2023

View Spirit Airlines Surfboards Policy


7. JetBlue - $100

JetBlue has increased it's surfboard fee up to $100 (previously $50), hence it has dropped significantly on our list of top Surfer-Friendly Airlines in the US. JetBlue has since added a note that the $100 surfboard fee will be charged per board, not per board bag, further hurting its ranking, as 2 boards packed in a single boardbag may now cost you $200 (although you may get lucky at the check-in and only be charged a single fee, depending on who you get at the check-in desk).

In yet another hit against JetBlue, this $100 surfboard fee is charged IN ADDITION to the standard checked bag fee, which has recently been raised to $35 for the first bag, and $45 for a second bag. In short - if planning a surftrip in 2024, try to book with a different airline unless JetBlue is your only option or is really that much cheaper. Keep in mind that all of these fees are charged one-way.


Flying with Surfboards on JetBlue


JetBlue accepts your surfboard as a piece of checked baggage, upon payment of a $100 USD fee for transport. Please note, this fee has been increased by JetBlue from it's previous level of $50 USD.

What is accepted:
One (1) surfboard per case; size and weight restrictions do not apply, except items weighing more than 100 pounds will not be accepted as checked baggage. We recommend that surfboards travel in a hard-sided (rather than soft-sided) case to prevent damage.

Domestic Flights:
You will be charged any baggage fees associated with your fare and a $100 per board each way fee.

International Flights:
Surfboards are also accepted on JetBlue international flights for a fee of $100 per board each way and will count as a checked bag. Excess baggage fees may apply.

Surfboards are accepted to all destinations EXCEPT to/from Bermuda, Cuba, Haiti, Peru, Port of Spain, *Santo Domingo and Santiago, Dominican Republic.

*Please note: Surfboards ARE accepted on flights to/from Puerto Plata and Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.

View Regular JetBlue Baggage Policies 2023

View JetBlue Surfboards Policy


8. Honourable Mention - United - $150/$200

We do not generally advise surfers to travel with United Airlines due to the expensive fees it charges for flying with surfboards. Although it has removed its previous $150 surfboard fee, it now charges all applicable Overweight and Oversize fees, in addition to standard checked baggage rates, meaning fees can quickly add up to $150-$300 for a surfboard in 2024. However, United Airlines has earned an honorable mention on this list if your are flying to/from California.

As of October 5 2018, United will waive the oversize fee for surfboards on flights to/from California (flights connecting through California are not included), to celebrate surfing being named as the official sport of the State of California.

Oversize baggage charges for surfboards, wakeboards and paddleboards will be waived. First, second, excess and overweight bag fees may still apply.


Flying with Surfboards on United Airlines


United accepts surfboards, wakeboards and paddleboards checked as special items as long as they are packed in appropriate board bags and do not weigh more than 99.9 pounds (45.3 kg). These items are subject to standard oversize and overweight service charges. First, second and excess checked bag fees may apply.

Effective October 5, 2018, oversize baggage charges for surfboards, wakeboards and paddleboards will be waived for all customers traveling to and from California. Travelers with a connection through California are not eligible. First, second, excess and overweight bag fees may apply.

The skeg/fin must be removed or well-padded. The entire board must be encased in a suitable container to avoid scratching. United is not liable for damages.

View Regular United Airlines Baggage Policies 2024

View United Airlines Surfboards Policy


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