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How to travel with your surfboard!
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With a little research you can make sure your beloved sticks don't end up dinged casualties by the time you get to your tropical juice.
1. Avoid paying extra. - check with the airline first and GET IT IN WRITING and carry the letter - don't leave it to the travel agent or the check in staff. The check in staff have a lot of bad days! I was charged my last 90$ whilst flying from San Diego to New York one time and I had been promised by 3 different people on the airlines phones that I wouldn't be charged.
2. Damages - even if you sign a waiver, under the Warsaw convention (that small print in the jacket) guarantees you compensation. - check the board as soon as you land. have a photo and a receipt of purchase for claims. If the damage occurs at your intended holiday site and its well known for surfing get the airline to repair it for you and return it, unless you want to do it.In Bali, airlines offer this service. don't get angry just be cool and confident. if the damage occurs on your way home ask the airline to fix it, if not, ask for a replacement - play dumb. I have successfully had a board repaired twice, been compensated for it under the Warsaw convention, fixed it and sold it.Editors Note: Airlines consider that the job of your luggage is to protect the contents, thus making damage to the boardbag or other luggage to be acceptable.
3. Packing. Keep the surf board bag light, except for some padding around the tail and fins. I have used pipe insulation on the rails, bubblewrap for protection or the minimalist approach: take the fins off, (you do use FCS don't you?) slap a Fragile sticker on it and load.
4. Trust Don't trust any airline. Freight handlers treat all sporting goods like basketballs - expecting them to bounce
.5. Collecting your board. In some airports your board is not lost, but is just left on the carousel at the outsize baggage area. Always ensure the label stuck on the board is around the base of the strap and the code is for your destination.I hope this is helpful... No plug intended but I have found Virgin Atlantic are by far the best airline for surf board respect. No extra charges and I even witnessed a Virgin Atlantic suited official placing my boards in the hold of the plane by hand. Of course who knows what happens to it at the other end but it is a start!!
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