Just wondering how airlines go with SUPs around the 8 ft mark. Hoping to head to Tahiti in the near future and concerned on cost of getting board there. Airline being pretty cagey.

Any advise appreciated

Hi Tony, did you manage to take your sup with you to Tahiti?
I am travelling with Air New Zealand tomorrow and have the same doubts...

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Loule said..
Hi Tony, did you manage to take your sup with you to Tahiti?
I am travelling with Air New Zealand tomorrow and have the same doubts...

Hi Loule, keen to hear how you go with AirNZ. What size sup are you travelling with?

It always depends on the aircraft type. For example, you guys planning on flying with air newzealand, many of their daily flights are A320 aircraft. They simply don't fit on A320s.
If the flight you're on is a Boeing 777 or 787 then they will fit.
I have a mate that is an airline rep for NZ and I've sent him the question. I'll get back with exact details once he replies

Worst thing with airlines is that they don't need to take our ****. EVEN if there'd would be a perfectly clear rule that says "ANY Surfboards can be taken", then depending on who sits there on the counter that day it's all useless.
It's like. They either take it or they don't. Trust me in my job I'm pretty stressed 24/7 and I love it... , but nothing compares to flying... I've been nearly arrested numerous times when these c$&nts just would have no more. In most cases you can fight your boards on board but it needs the will to not give up.

The problem is that no matter What experience you I or the next guy just had it's has not influence on the next trip.

Haha. It's the one reason us flying around with half boards now. It at least makes it easier to take say a 14' search other things.

So heres Tahiti flight last year with 4x 7" !!!

Dont ever give up.

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Tino42 said..
Worst thing with airlines is that they don't need to take our ****. EVEN if there'd would be a perfectly clear rule that says "ANY Surfboards can be taken", then depending on who sits there on the counter that day it's all useless.
It's like. They either take it or they don't. Trust me in my job I'm pretty stressed 24/7 and I love it... , but nothing compares to flying... I've been nearly arrested numerous times when these c$&nts just would have no more. In most cases you can fight your boards on board but it needs the will to not give up.

The problem is that no matter What experience you I or the next guy just had it's has not influence on the next trip.

Haha. It's the one reason us flying around with half boards now. It at least makes it easier to take say a 14' search other things.

So heres Tahiti flight last year with 4x 7" !!!

Dont ever give up.

Hi Tino

Would you mind clarifying a couple of your comments?
"they don't need to take our ****"
and also "I've nearly been arrested numerous times when these c$&nts just wouldn't have anymore"

Every airline has clear statements on there websites relating to passengers baggage allowance. Meaning how many pieces at what size and weight are accepted as checked luggage per passenger. There's several factors that contribute to these allowances for each airline and the aircraft type operated. So I'm curious to know what airline and type of planes you were flying on when you had these issues.

Haha. Yeah. The 4 stars were proper protection from the forum about my 2 times bad language! Automatic exchange ... well done.

The rest you is totally true. For sure EVERY airlines has all that, BUT it's a bit like insurances. Once your house is washed away by a flood or the wind somewhere it nicely says that acts of god obviously can't be covered.

so in the end somehow when I saw your post I got stressed up all over again and felt my emotions coming up. Once again the point is:

some airlines are definitely better than others. For example all main American Airlines are ridiculously crazy. Some smaller ones are good. Virgin is usually super good and ppl say jet star sucks and will only take up to 6'. Contrary to that I've logged on few 10' Sups on there.
To me I fly Airasia anywhere I can. Not really because it's cheaper or anything and definitely not because they are so comfortable or the food is so good (nah they must win totally for least space/Passagier and wirst food ever) BUT they allow 40kg sports luggage and when you bought sport they usually take it. Anywhere almost always. And trust me I do have to take lots of 14' these days. It goes.

But again it's not because it's in some statues that they take it or they don't. It's the ppl at the counter. If they want your stuff to go then it goes. If they don't. It stays.

And thats just taking it. I guess a whole other story is damaging it.

Again. My advise is to just roll up and try. Fight til the end with smiles. Tears. Shouts etc. doesn't matter. I usually do all in the course of a few minutes.

"Traveling with Surfboards sucks"

But it's not gonna stop us ...

Fair enough Tino

I worked in the airline ground handling game for 12 years, and now as an airfield safety officer for the last 4 years. So my advice to all is always check the aircraft type for the flight you intend on booking. As I said before, Airbus A320 & A321 Aircraft have a cargo hold configuration that only allows for board approx 6'8"... That's the largest they can physically fit: it's not a policy thing, not is it a staff attitude issue. They just can't fit anything bigger. Flying domestically in OZ i always fly Virgin because I know for a fact they can fit boards well over 10' in the hold of a 737. Policy may vary from port to port but the boards will fit.
Also I never recommend shouting or swearing at check in staff. That will definitely get you nowhere for obvious reasons. Always be nice.
something else that may be a factor on any given day is the number of passengers booked on the flight. This can result in more baggage checked in than expected and the likely hood of "bulking out" the cargo hold increases. Flight distance and weather conditions can also result in limitations on cargo uplift. If it's hot and dry and you're flying a long way, the aircraft may need more fuel than it can actually carry to reach its destination. Therefore cargo is offloaded in order to ensure your plane doesn't land in the middle of an ocean.

Just got clarification from my mate at Air NZ

Airline policy is 2 meters accepted. That is the max length for A320.
However if you're travelling on a larger aircraft you can pay an excess fee for boards over 2 meters in length. That fee is $160 per board.

Hey Zeusman,

Do the restrictions on the A320 have anything to do with the baggage crates/containers they use?!?

I know that AirAsia doesn't use them and I have flown on A320's multiple times with 14' boards, up to four at a time with no issues!

Defintely some persuasion has to go on with check in staff, but I've never been denied!!

Cheers

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juniorburger said..
Hey Zeusman,

Do the restrictions on the A320 have anything to do with the baggage crates/containers they use?!?

I know that AirAsia doesn't use them and I have flown on A320's multiple times with 14' boards, up to four at a time with no issues!

Defintely some persuasion has to go on with check in staff, but I've never been denied!!

Cheers

Yes Juniorburger. You are correct. Some airlines choose not to use the AKH containers and loose load the baggage instead. That leaves the option to load much larger items.