Hawaiian Airlines Drops Surfboard Fees by 47 Percent*

Paying an airline a good chunk of change to transport an expensive piece of intricately shaped foam and fiberglass around the world is a painful process in more ways than one. Sometimes it's financial stress. Other times it’s sentimental. It’s like knowing there’s a good chance your favorite toy is going to get damaged and there's not much you can do about it (save pool noodles and bubble wrap).

One airline has recently made it a bit cheaper for surfers to get their boards in the air. On January 8, Hawaiian Airlines announced that it would charge most sports equipment, including surfboards, golf clubs and bikes, as standard checked baggage on every flight. The change is effective immediately. That means if you’re in California and headed to the islands (or vice versa), you’ll pay $40 for one board bag, provided it's under the 50-pound limit. That’s a 47% discount off the previous rate ($75 per bag). And it will cost $30 to lug one board bag between neighboring islands. Of course, the charge depends on weight and the number of bags. You can view the domestic and international rates here. 

“Hawaii is synonymous with surfing and many ocean and land-based activities that draw visitors from around the world,” Sandra Wang, product manager at Hawaiian Airlines, said in a statement. “We are excited to extend this new benefit to our visitors and kamaʻāina so they can enjoy their favorite sports and hobbies while exploring Hawaiʻi and anywhere they travel in our network, including Asia, Oceania and the US continent.”

It’s not unheard of for an airline to change its bag policy after a little public outcry. In November 2023, Billy Kemper aired his grievances with Hawaiian Airlines after his boards (Jaws guns) were denied at Honolulu International. In response to the backlash, 

In response, Hawaiian Airlines changed the weight limit for board bags to 100 pounds (extra feed included) and lowered the price between Hawaii and North America from $100 to $75. While we can't confirm if anyone had their boards snapped in transit recently and complained about it, we can thank Hawaiian Airlines for making surf travel just a bit easier.