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| 15 Apr 2008 09:09:31 |
| Jack Linthicum |
| Costa Rica Surfboard fees by airline |
http://www.floridatoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080415/SPORTS/804150342 Surfboard fees by airline (prices subject to change)Airline Board fee* Aero California $30 each way Aero Mexico $50 each way Air France $55 each way Air New Zealand Free (2 bags max.) Air Pacific $34 each way Alaska $50 each way America West $50 each way American $95 each way BWIA $35 round- trip British Airways Free (2 bags max.) Cathay Pacific $70 each way China Air $50 each way Continental $75 or $100 each way per board COPA $50 each way Delta $80 domestic, $150 int'l, each way Hawaiian $50 each way Japan Airlines Free (2 bags max.) Korean Air $50 each way Lacsa $50 each way Lan Chile Free (max. 2 shortboards only) Lufthansa $75 or $100 each way Malaysian $75 each way Mexicana $45 each way Northwest $50 each way Quantas Free (2 bags max.) Singapore Free (2 boards max.) Spirit $50 each way TACA $95 each way Thai Airways $109 each way United $75 a board each way US Airways $80 each way Varig $50 each way * Two boards in a board bag, unless notedSource: Worldwide Adventures Inc. Text There's trouble brewing in paradise for Florida surfers planning vacation trips to those tasty waves in Costa Rica and other exotic locations. Advertisement Coconuts On The Beach Martinair's recent pullout after eight years from its unique, 3-hour non-stop Orlando-to-San Jose flight -- plus skyrocketing costs and embargo dates for board bags -- might have surfers thinking twice before purchasing their next ticket. "It's definitely a disappointment," said Melbourne Beach surfer Kyle Garson, who makes about five trips annually to his family's surf camp in Playa Hermosa. "Martinair was always a good airline, certainly the most reliable. They didn't even charge for surfboards. Miami's a nightmare. With so many flights arriving at one time, just going through customs takes forever." Yes, getting there won't be half the fun it used to be. Changing planes means less surfing time and an increasing chance surfboards will be lost or dinged. And, with rising fuel costs, Martinair's occasional $275 flight probably will never be matched. "It's definitely a bummer," New Smyrna Beach surfer Jeremy Johnston said. "All of the airlines seem to be downsizing. I went on a recent trip on American with a changeover, and there was a chip on every single board."<more > |
| 17 Apr 2008 11:11:26 |
| rodndtube |
| Re: Costa Rica Surfboard fees by airline |
On Apr 15, 12:09 pm, Jack Linthicum <jacklinthi...@earthlink.net > wrote: > http://www.floridatoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080415/SPORT... > > Surfboard fees by airline > > (prices subject to change)Airline Board fee* Aero California $30 > each way Aero Mexico $50 each way Air France $55 each way Air New > Zealand Free (2 bags max.) Air Pacific $34 each way Alaska $50 each > way America West $50 each way American $95 each way BWIA $35 round- > trip British Airways Free (2 bags max.) Cathay Pacific $70 each way > China Air $50 each way Continental $75 or $100 each way per board COPA > $50 each way Delta $80 domestic, $150 int'l, each way Hawaiian $50 > each way Japan Airlines Free (2 bags max.) Korean Air $50 each way > Lacsa $50 each way Lan Chile Free (max. 2 shortboards only) Lufthansa > $75 or $100 each way Malaysian $75 each way Mexicana $45 each way > Northwest $50 each way Quantas Free (2 bags max.) Singapore Free (2 > boards max.) Spirit $50 each way TACA $95 each way Thai Airways $109 > each way United $75 a board each way US Airways $80 each way Varig $50 > each way * Two boards in a board bag, unless notedSource: > Worldwide Adventures Inc. > > Text > > There's trouble brewing in paradise for Florida surfers planning > vacation trips to those tasty waves in Costa Rica and other exotic > locations. > Advertisement > Coconuts On The Beach > > Martinair's recent pullout after eight years from its unique, 3-hour > non-stop Orlando-to-San Jose flight -- plus skyrocketing costs and > embargo dates for board bags -- might have surfers thinking twice > before purchasing their next ticket. > > "It's definitely a disappointment," said Melbourne Beach surfer Kyle > Garson, who makes about five trips annually to his family's surf camp > in Playa Hermosa. "Martinair was always a good airline, certainly the > most reliable. They didn't even charge for surfboards. Miami's a > nightmare. With so many flights arriving at one time, just going > through customs takes forever." > > Yes, getting there won't be half the fun it used to be. Changing > planes means less surfing time and an increasing chance surfboards > will be lost or dinged. And, with rising fuel costs, Martinair's > occasional $275 flight probably will never be matched. > > "It's definitely a bummer," New Smyrna Beach surfer Jeremy Johnston > said. "All of the airlines seem to be downsizing. I went on a recent > trip on American with a changeover, and there was a chip on every > single board."<more> Very dicey these days. It is really tough to get a valid quote. For a recent trip to Costa Rica some of my fellow travellers were quoted or cited $80 and $100, the article above says $95 and they paid $70 (old rate?). Paipos still fly free (for now)! |
| 18 Apr 2008 02:06:37 |
| BG |
| Re: Costa Rica Surfboard fees by airline |
> Very dicey these days. It is really tough to get a valid quote. Hello Rod, Yep. I have been trying to get quotes to take a board from Australia to Europe. Often airlines have a minimum charge multiple times what a surfboard weighs. There should be a web-site that outlines charges both to provide information to surfers and shame rip-offs. Anyone with info on internal European freight companies I'd be interested to hear. Bob |
| 18 Apr 2008 08:45:12 |
| Jack Linthicum |
| Re: Costa Rica Surfboard fees by airline |
On Apr 18, 5:06 am, BG <bgr...@dyson.brisnet.org.au > wrote: > > Very dicey these days. It is really tough to get a valid quote. > > Hello Rod, > > Yep. > > I have been trying to get quotes to take a board from Australia to > Europe. Often airlines have a minimum charge multiple times what a > surfboard weighs. There should be a web-site that outlines charges > both to provide information to surfers and shame rip-offs. > > Anyone with info on internal European freight companies I'd be > interested to hear. > > Bob Nobody sells anti-lie insurance, note the quotes in this cite. http://www.rodndtube.com/surf/info/AirlineBoardCharges.shtml Australia but not a shipper http://www.surfsailaustralia.com.au/viewStory/Delivery Swiss Air http://www.swiss.com/WEB/EN/SERVICES/BAGGAGE/Pages/sporting_equipment.aspx |
| 18 Apr 2008 22:14:56 |
| BG |
| Re: Costa Rica Surfboard fees by airline |
Jack, I've looked at Rod's great site a few times, don't recall this info. Unfortunately, I'm all too familiar with Swiss Air's policy - 275 Swiss Francs for the round trip. Bob |
| 19 Apr 2008 10:49:46 |
| rodndtube |
| Re: Costa Rica Surfboard fees by airline |
On Apr 19, 1:14 am, BG <bgr...@dyson.brisnet.org.au > wrote: > Jack, > > I've looked at Rod's great site a few times, don't recall this info. > > Unfortunately, I'm all too familiar with Swiss Air's policy - 275 > Swiss Francs for the round trip. > > Bob I will probably update my site in a couple of months. In the meantime the baggage charge policies of the airlines are way too fluid. It becomes further complicated as airlines differentiate between domestic travel, overseas travel to specific areas and all other overseas or transcontinental areas. It becomes further murky by "additional bag fees, additional weight fees and special handling fees." Some check-in counters want to charge all three for a surfboard. Before too long one can expect that there will be charges for carryon bags and additional incrementing charges for each checked bag plus total combined weight charges. Several airlines are already starting to charge for "premium coach" seats, or simply to reserve a seat. Oh, and by the way, please arrive to the airport three hours early! |
| 21 Apr 2008 03:55:28 |
| BG |
| Re: Costa Rica Surfboard fees by airline |
Rod, You are right about the complexities - different charges international vs domestic for some airlines etc. I am still awaiting feedback from freight companies. It is a lot of work trying to sort out something that should be simple (or was simple in the past). I may end up with a mat and hire boards. Much prefer to take one of my paipo. Hope you were joking about arriving 3 hours in advance. Bob |