Flying with Board?

[Clash360]

Ok i've searched and i looked through punkrock's thread about this already. But i am flying to SLC in the middle of janurary from NC, via. US Airways, on their site it says anything between 62-80 inches is a $80 charge. has anybody flown us airways and did not have to pay the extra money?

[DragonUSMC]

only if you have more then 2 to check in...

[Clash360]

all i have is 1 suitcase, my board bag, and one small carryon. so with that i will not need to pay any extra?

[DragonUSMC]

no you shouldnt... you get two checked items and they usually dont care the size...

[Clash360]

^ok thanks for the help, and if they do try to charge me then i'm going to punch them.

[Nevereversummer]

It just gets thrown in the odd-shaped luggage. I've never been charged on my board in my numerous airline travel experiences.

[Clash360]

i could fit my boots in my bag as well, should i do it? And i was wondering if i should take my bindings off and put them in my carry on incase anything would be on top of them and smashed...do you leave your bindings on? i just have a thin dakine bag, no padding.

[DragonUSMC]

i usually just leave mine on cause i'm lazy and my bindings are pretty tough... but then again i dont care if my boards or bindings get scratched and such. and i always load up my SB bag with as much SB gear as i can. I USE it as a check on bag.

[Clash360]

ok sounds good, i might like rap my board with a few towels or something soft so it doesnt get a chip or anything, then put my board pants and such on top of it. thanks for all the help.

[Marie]

don't they charge extra for oddly-shaped luggage though?

[DragonUSMC]

Not when i used to work at the airport they didnt... and last year i never had a problem... 2 checked bags, 1 carry on, and you're golden.

[Fae]

It depends on the airline, airport, and person who's checking your luggage actually. The first time I flew to Colorado, they charged me an extra $80 to fly my board out. When I returned home, I didn't receive a charge, and haven't any other times I've flown with my board.

[get me out of GA]

on their site it says anything between 62-80 inches is a $80 charge.



why are you even asking us, this is pointless.


sorry, but the all knowing DragonUSMC is wrong!

yes it may work like he says for numerous airlines, but Fae is right it depends on the airline, the airport, and the person

If the site SAYS that anything 62-80 inches is $80 extra then why are you asking us thats retarded.

Measure your bag with all your stuff in it, if it is over that limit then DUH you're going to need to pay the extra $80, unless you can sweet talk the check in guy/girl.

also relook on the site for a weight limit, thats usually where you hit problems.

[DragonUSMC]

^heh.. well he must be flying "janky air" because MY airlines dont try and pull BS like that... sooo... =P

that colorado based airlines... ummm frontier or something, the one i always fly on cause they are cheap and dont throw my gear around... let you replace a checked bag for a snowboard bag, bindings and boots.

http://www.frontierairlines.com/frontier/plan-book/travel-info-services/baggage/baggage-chart.do

Dont Fly Janky Air... they are just money whores!!

[advres]

Clash, don't you got a 153? That is smaller than 62". Just make sure your board bag is as tight as possible to your board (ie duct tape). If it is 63" and they try to charge, just bitch and you should get away with it. I travel with much bigger boards and have never been charged and I fly with whomever has the cheapest rates at the time.

Your results may vary, but keep the bag out of sight from the checker, do your thing and when they ask for the bag just slide it up and don't make a big deal about it. If they get out the tape measure, than start to worry and complain.

[DragonUSMC]

so true! squeeky wheel gets the grease!

Practice a high pitched whiney voice to use... that way you can not only get them flustered, you can get the rest of the crowd around you involved! They LOVE crowd participation!

[Clash360]

Clash, don't you got a 153? That is smaller than 62". Just make sure your board bag is as tight as possible to your board (ie duct tape). If it is 63" and they try to charge, just bitch and you should get away with it. I travel with much bigger boards and have never been charged and I fly with whomever has the cheapest rates at the time.

Your results may vary, but keep the bag out of sight from the checker, do your thing and when they ask for the bag just slide it up and don't make a big deal about it. If they get out the tape measure, than start to worry and complain.

The 62 - 80 inches is, height + width + length. so mines like 61 inches long, by 12 inches wide. by 1-5 inches high, depending on what i put in it.

[get me out of GA]

5 inches wide........ hahaha, you're not packin much in there then.

[Clash360]

^well it depends on if i take my binds out, or if i put a bunch of crap in there. idk yet.

[Swerveon]

First of all, whatever experience anybody may have had in past seasons can be thrown out the window, cause the FAA just got tighter on weight and dimension restrictions for baggage. As a rule, you may check in two items that do not exceed 50lbs total free of charge. I looked at US Air and ski equipment and you are allowed one piece of ski equipment in lieu of a check in item if you it falls within baggage restrictions.

You are right here about the size cause there is no way a board bag is less than 65in (L+H+W). They'll probably try and charge you the $80. If you throw enough of a fit, they might let you slide. I went on an international flight earlier this year with my board and they tried to charge me for being over weight (the bags, not me), so I bitched about it and they let me slide. That was one incidence however, and things could be different.

There are companies that will frieght your equipment seperately, but they can be more expensive than it would cost to just fly with it.

All in all, Call the airline. Now that I'm looking at the numbers, I can't think of a singe ski or snowboard bag that falls under those dimensions, but they act like they take them no problem.

Good luck, and have fun in SLC!

[Clash360]

^Thankyou, this was the best information i have gotten yet.

[advres]

As someone that works for a company that sends skiers and filmers all over the world, we have found that weight is more important than length. My friend just went to Costa Rica with his girlfriend. They both had 6'8" SURFBOARDS with them and they didn't get the extra charge. It all depends on how you act and how the person at the counters day is going. I am nice and polite and have NEVER ONCE been charged. Your results may vary though.

[Clash360]

Ok i just checked US Airways policy's and i found under the special items that i will be able to bring my snowboard with no extra charge to me. so i'm happy. Thanks to everyone who helped.