Board length and airline travel

[HaoleKook]

Aloha friends,

I want to start bringing my own boards when I travel. I haven’t flown with a surfboard yet and am wondering how much of a difference it makes traveling with an 8’0 versus a 7’6 or 7’0. As I write this it seems like probably not a huge difference, however it does make a difference when moving boards in and out of the house.

Ideally for these waves I’d have a 7’6 (which I don’t have) and the 7’0. The 8’0 isn’t ideal but it would work. So I’m trying to weigh the pros and cons of getting the 7’6, bringing the 8’0, maybe even all 3, or selling the 8’0.

Mahalos!

[BaNZ]

To me, not much difference. They all funboard size and fits inside most cars. I'd always go for which one I like the most. Which is why I have like 6+ boards and only use 2 the majority of the times.

[jaffa1949]

Airlines are the issue, cost varies greatly from free within certain limits and pay flights often have have a ridiculous volume formula which excludes most long boards meaning above 6ft.
There is a guide out there that is updated yearly! Good luck.
Used to be only one there are now several guides, where tower is a big factor!
I have no idea what spell check did to the last part of the last paragraph.
However most good surf destinations have good boards available, less cost risk for a two way trip for your magic board.

[waikikikichan]

My advice is don't take a board somewhere you plan on bringing back.

And if its your "Magic" board, definitely do not take it on the airplane with you.

Boards will get dinged up and creased. Then you have to pay and wait for your board to get repaired AND have to rent a board anyways.

I think you have to consider the ground transportation when trying to decide board length.

[HaoleKook]

Thanks everyone. I booked my trip last night which had me reading airline baggage policies. With most airlines it seems very difficult to travel with anything over 7 feet (115 total linear inches, length plus width plus thickness. ). Fortunately I have Hawaiian/Alaskan points and their policy is length only 115".

There’s also the issue of bags, most coffins only go up to 7’6. There is one I found that will take the 7’10 with another board, but the shorter ones can take 3+ boards.

Thanks for mentioning creases! I was only thinking about dings, a crease is on a whole different level of consideration.

And thanks for not making me feel stupid asking this question. I went to Costa Rica twice and rented, and just get so excited thinking about surfing those waves on a board of my liking.