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Surfers lose out as BA snub boards
by Howard Swanwick
23/10/2007:// Taking surfboards on trips abroad has always been something of a lottery. Airlines have traditionally frowned upon any special items which involve specialist carriage and procedures.
Most surfers who regularly make the dash to warmer climates have been subject to heavy charges, although these vary from airline to airline.
It remains a mystery to most surfers how the airlines can justify these heavy penalties, and no clear explanation has ever been given by the airline industry.
However British Airways have now taken these restrictions one step further and imposed a complete ban on surf boards, as well as some other bulky items, enforced from the 6th November 2007.
We quote directly from BA's web site:
"Due to the large size and handling complexities, some sporting equipment cannot be accommodated through the airport baggage system or within the aircraft hold. Therefore we no longer accept the following equipment at check-in as part of your sporting equipment allowance.
hang gliders windsurfing boards and sails surfboards kayaks or canoes pole vaults javelins
Please contact your local freight company to arrange carriage for any items that exceed the permitted weight and size."
Perhaps this can be seen as good news for some surfers, as the heavy charges imposed upon travellers comes with the most unreasonable of terms. Most airlines refuse point blank to accept any responsibility for damage to your board, even after charging a fee, one would think, to take special care of it.
Ultimately, this could be seen as BA's loss, not the surfer's, as luckily most destinations are covered by other airlines. It seems the surfer will be returning the snub squarely back to BA.
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