The majority of our surf holiday guests staying with us in our surf house on Fuerteventura come to us as surfing beginners who want to try out something new, have fun and simply disconnect from work and their everyday life. However, there are quite many surf holiday makers who choose Fuerteventura as their surf destination because of the island’s great intermediate and advanced surf spots. The famous North Track, which starts just outside the town of El Cotillo where our surf school and surf house are located, offers more than 30 surf spots for intermediate and advanced surfers along a beautiful jagged coastline.
Intermediate and advanced surfers going on surfing holidays – not just to Fuerteventura, but everywhere in the world – face a difficult decision before leaving for their dream surf holiday destination: To bring or not to bring my surfboard? To rent or not to rent a surfboard while surfing abroad?
There are pros and cons for both, of course. You’re used to surfing your own surfboards, but do you want to risk your surfboard being dinged while traveling. Will the surf school you hiring surf equipment from have a surfboard suited to your surf level? How much will hiring a surfboard cost vs. how much does my airline charge for checking a surfboard and board bag?All very valid queations.
When researching airlines luggage policies, we found that some airlines seem to want to make life easy for surfer by being rather generous with their luggage policies, while other airlines just don’t seem to get that surfers travel lots and that surfing and surf travel is becoming more and more popular. I’m not saying that airlines should change their oversize luggage restrictions just so it’s easier (and cheaper) for surfer to travel, but a bit more “surfer-friendliness”, especially on flight routes to popular surfing destinations like Fuerteventura, for example, would be highly appreciated – and might actually get them more business!
Well, here at Star Surf Camps, we want to facilitate your surfing holidays to Fuerteventura as best as we can! That’s why we checked all oversize luggage policies of airlines flying into Puerto del Rosario on Fuerteventura and put together a handy list for you of each airline’s fees and oversite luggage restrictions for surfboards. Top of the list are surfer-friendly airlines. The further down you get, the worse their surfboard policies/ higher their costs for checking your surfboard and board bag.
BRITISH AIRWAYS: Accepts your surfboards as a normal checked bag, if the surfboard bag doesn’t exceed the following dimensions and weight limit: 190cm x 75cm x 65cm (75in x 29.5in x 25.5in) & 23kg (51lb). Niiiiiiice!
LUFTHANSA: You can check in your “sports bag” free of charge instead of a suitcase. Your bag is not allowed to way more than 32 kg though. LIKE!
KLM: The ultimate surfer-friendly airline! Bring your surf equipment instead of a suitcase for NO additional fees. Or pay 40€ when checking in online. It’s the same price as a checked bag. Cool!!
NORWEGIAN: This Scandinavian airline is also rather surfer-friendly. You can travel with your surfboard from around 40€ (or £33) if you check in your surfboard online. Size wise their oversize restrictions are no larger than 250cm x 79cm x 112cm. So, come on, people from the North! If you’re not bringing your longest log, let’s surf on Fuerteventura
VUELING: Lovely, surfer-friendly Spanish airline: Just 45€ for oversize luggage includes surfboards, bicycle, skis, etc.. Yes, thank you!
SWISS: A fair fee of 50€ is charged for the transport of your surfboard for European flights if you are coming from Switzerland! Whohohooo!
GERMANIA: Germania also charges a fair 50€. Thank you!
AUSTRIAN AIRLINES: Another airline charging 50€. Please note though that you need to make a request to bring surf/ sports equipment in advance. If not confirmed by AA, there is a chance they might not accept your oversize luggage at the check-in desk. Seems fair and efficient, so *LIKE*!
EASY JET: Classes surfboards and surfboard bags as “large sports equipment” with a weight allowance of 32 kg per surfboard bag max. Reserve your oversize luggage online for 49€ (or £35) or at the airport for 63€ (or £45). Still a really good price for this budget airline as they don’t have any size restrictions, yeehaa!
AIR BERLIN: This German airline keeps their surf travelers guessing until the very last minute, literally until you’re at the airport ready to check in. Depending on your location, anything from 50€ to 115€ will be charged. Pffff.
RYANAIR: Might be the cheapest option when it comes to your surf holiday flights, but is NOT surfer friendly in terms of their surf/ general sports equipment oversize luggage policies: Up to 100€ per bag with a 20 kg limit! Buuuhhh.
IBERIA: Better to avoid this one if you’re thinking about taking your surfboard on your surfing holidays. Not only are their fees ridiculously high – 150€!!! – but they might even charge you extra for the luggage belts. Say what?! Grrrr!
AIR EUROPA: Same as Iberia. 150€ for all kinds of surf/ sporting equipment. A “dislike button” would be useful here.
JET AIR FLY: Another airline charging way too much. £150. Thank you, but no thank you.
Surfers all around Europe! Come on to Fuerteventura & join us for an ultimate surfing adventure this winter.
Surf’s up.
Your Star Surf Camps Team
