Constant travel and catching flights are part of the digital nomad surf lifestyle that we love. However, as we all know by now, flying with surfboards can be tricky and also expensive.
Surfboard baggage fees vary wildly between different airlines, destinations, and carriers, and can seriously impact budget travel or make things inconvenient and unnecessarily complicated.
This guide has been created to help you, the digital nomad surfer, choose surfboard-friendly airlines and avoid last-minute surprises at the check-in counter. Whether you’re flying to the perfect warm water waves of Indonesia or the crisp tubes and point breaks of Latin American surf towns, this guide will provide you with insight into flying with surfboards, as well as tips on the best airlines for different surf-heavy regions of the world.
What to Know Before You Fly With a Surfboard
Hassle-free travel and a minimal dent in wallets when it comes to flying with surfboards is the ideal scenario. To achieve this, it is important to understand a few general elements when booking your next flight to any remote surf haven:
- Check each airline’s surfboard policy. Understand what different airlines consider “oversized” or “sports equipment”. This is usually listed on their website. It is important to check each airline’s regulations individually for weight and size allowance, in correlation with your surf destination, as rules may vary based on these factors.
- Measure your surfboard bag. Some airlines may be lenient with limitations for exact dimensions of check-in board bags. However, it is the safer option to ensure that your luggage stays within the limits by measuring your board bag accurately before your flight. For tips on packing surfboards for travel, click here.
- Always read the fine print. To avoid surprise extra costs, it is essential to do your research, call ahead, and check the fine print of different airline surfboard regulations.
The Best Surfboard-Friendly Airlines (Minimal or No Extra Fees)
Below is a list of the top airlines to choose from when travelling with surfboards. These are airlines that will allow surfboards as part of your standard checked baggage, or provide this service for a flat or low fee.
Their offers may come with regulations within limits, and we have included the website links for each recommended airline below. It is always beneficial to check the airlines’ most updated information regarding surfboard travel before booking your flight.
Airlines That Include Surfboards as Checked Baggage
A favorite for global surf travel around Asia and Australia. They allow surfboards as part of the standard checked baggage allowance for most international routes. They are known for their generous weight limits and exceptionally smooth service.
This is a great choice for international flights with surfboards around Asia and Oceania. For domestic flights within Indonesia, surfboards are still included as normal checked luggage, however, Garuda is an upper-budget carrier, compared to other local airlines.
If you’re travelling and working online in Indonesia and looking for a more budget-friendly airline than Garuda, Pelita Air is a good and affordable choice. They offer inexpensive domestic flights in Indonesia with surfboards included as regular checked luggage.
Another affordable and surfboard-friendly airline to travel with is EVA Air. For anyone who lives in Taiwan, wants to stop over there, or travel to Southeast Asia, EVA Air is the ideal choice.
This is the go-to airline for shortboard missions around Oceania and the South Pacific Islands. Surfboards and board bags are accepted as checked luggage within limits that are clearly listed on their website.
Another solid option for flying with surfboards around Asia and Oceania is Australia’s national carrier, Qantas. They allow surfboards to be checked in with your regular purchased checked baggage, however, they do not accept boards and board bags that are longer than 9ft (keep this in mind, longboarders!).
For short and longboarders travelling from North America, Alaska Air is a great option as they allow surfboards up to 9’7″ to be checked in with normal baggage. If you’re a digital nomad who loves to hang ten on international waves, Alaska Air is a top pick for you.
Airlines with Low or Flat Surfboard Fees
A well-established airline for long-distance international flights is KLM. Their policies allow surfboards to be checked in for free instead of your regular checked baggage, and with no additional costs. They do not, however, take longboards, and extra fees may apply to flights with destinations in Canada, Mexico, and the US. They offer more surfboard-friendly regulations for travel within Europe and across to Asia.
Another good option for European surf travel is Turkish Airlines. Depending on your destination, some surfboard bags can be included in the price of your regular checked baggage. The number of boards you can bring and the specification of the bag size depend on the destination, and some places may incur an affordable extra fee for any or more than 1 board. This is an excellent airline to fly with for surf trips to Europe, Asia, South Africa, and South America.
This is the best budget-friendly option for digital nomad surf travel in Latin America. Surfboard baggage can generally be included as normal checked baggage or purchased for an affordable rate, depending on your destination.
Airlines to Watch Out For (High or Inconsistent Fees)
As someone who travels a lot with their surfboards, you are probably aware of the unexpected fees that can sometimes spring up out of seemingly nowhere at the airport check-in counter. Sometimes these things just happen, and it’s part of the adventure. However, you can still try your best to avoid these situations and curb these unexpected hits on your budget by knowing which airlines to avoid when travelling with surfboards, or which airlines to be wary of with unclear baggage regulations.
Lion Air (incl. Batik and Wings Air) – Indonesia
Lion Air and its partner airlines provide the widest range of locations in remote parts of Indonesia, and are generally the most affordable and budget-friendly compared to other domestic airlines. However, their surfboard fees can be heartbreaking.
Depending on your carrier type and destination, surfboard charges can range from 200,000 to 1,000,000 IDR per board per flight – a difference that can be staggering if you’re travelling with more than one board over multiple flights. I personally had a trip with Wings Air where on the way in the fee was 200,000 IDR per board, and on my way back it had jumped up to 500,000 IDR per board – a fun surprise when I was carrying 3 boards…
An additional consideration when flying with smaller jet-type aircrafts is that they may have limited space for board bags. Therefore, arriving early to check in your luggage is crucial to travelling on the same flight as your surfboards to remote surf towns.
Well-known for global international flights, Emirates may sometimes take surfboard luggage as part of the standard checked baggage. However, there are several specifications that are listed that vary with destination. Excess rates may apply unexpectedly, which are generally not budget-friendly, so do your research before booking your ticket!
The inconsistency with Emirates and surfboard baggage is what makes flying with them somewhat risky, unless you have been assured by the airlines of the regulations specific to your flight route.
Be wary of low-cost European carriers when flying with surfboards, as their policies for checking in board bags can be quite hefty. Ryanair, for example, will charge €40–€45 for a board bag with a maximum weight of 20kg. This is not ideal when travelling with several boards, or when travelling with a well-protected board bag, as they are generally heavier than low-quality ones.
Similar to Ryanair, this airline is not super surfboard-friendly, though they are known as a budget airline. They will charge between £50–£60 per item of sports equipment within weight limits. They also require you to book these pieces of special equipment in advance, as they have strict limits on the number of “large sports equipment” they allow onboard.
These airlines are great for budget trips within Europe, however definitely not the best option for surf trips as they can be notorious for high surf baggage fees.
Bonus Tips for Flying With Surfboards
- Always print or screenshot the airline’s surfboard baggage policy and bring it to the airport.
- Longboarders: Check size limits in advance—especially if your board is over 7ft.
- Pack your surfboard strategically to stay under weight and size limits while keeping your board safe.
Stay on the Adventure
We hope that this guide has given you a clearer idea of which airlines to prioritise when booking your next surf trip flights, and also which ones to be wary of. With a bit of planning and the right airline choice, you can avoid hassle, save money, and focus on what really matters—chasing perfect waves and living the digital nomad surfer dream.
