Surfing Waves

Hi guys, I'm trying to figure out how much it will cost me to take a board/couple of boards to Central America.

As I'm flying from London there are no direct flights so I will have a stop on the way, does this mean I will have to pay the surfboard luggage charge twice even if the flights are with the same airline?

Also when I've looked at flights online - experia, ebookers etc. it often says 'airline 1': operated by 'airline 2'. For example British Airways flight 1343 , flight 1343 Operated by American Airlines, so which luggage fee's apply the British Airways or American Airlines (it shows the BA logo so I'm assuming the flight follows their luggage allowances)?

Thanks for any help, it will be much appreciated!

The issuing airline's baggage policy should always apply, so if you fligh a BA flight number on an AA flight, you should be treated under the BA rules. That might not be a problem leaving London. However, check in staff at the AA counters in Central America are usually LOCAL and not very knowledgeable about rules and regulations and they will try and charge you the AA excess baggage fare on the way back. You need to then negotiate, ask for a supervisor and resolve the issue.
IBERIA has a good network via Madrid to Central America and you have only got one airline to deal with that way.
If you check your luggage through, one fee applies, if you stop over, then you have to pay twice.
Most surfers sell their boards in Central America, as they don't want to pay the fees. Good places to buy/sell boards are Mexico and Costa Rica. All other countries are not so good and you need to take your quiver.

Thanks! Found this eventually on the BA site:

"If your journey includes connecting flights with more than one airline, the checked baggage policy of the airline that operates the longer leg will apply. For example, if you fly with American Airlines from New York to London and connect onto British Airways to Amsterdam, the leg with American Airlines is longer and their baggage policy applies to the whole journey."

BA flights seem to be just under £850, there are others using a mix of airlines for around £700 but usually $150 for a surfboard bag per flight.

Thanks again

Thanks for the update HenryW, good to know.