Being a surfer, I know how frustrating it can be negotiating the rising and often restrictive baggage policies of major airlines. The so-called handling fees for your surfboards, snowboards, musical instruments can be annoying and at times preposterously high. In the wake of competition, rising fuel costs airlines are hitting the adventure seekers firsts. For most, it doesn’t matter. Most travel with just a carry-on and a check in and the savvy backpackers can get away with just a carry on by shedding weight. But any kayak or orbitz search for flights should be tendered with a search of baggage policies to see what kind of tariffs are placed on you equipment.

So for your convenience I have made a comparison of current fees for all the international carriers routing through Europe and the US. All flights to Ecuador will pass through these airlines either directly or via codeshares. Connecting legs to the airlines particular hub might be coded with a different airline so you will have to do more research. For code shared flights(a flight that is booked under one airline, but actual operates with another airline) you might be subject for the “hidden” airline fee. I recently booked a multistop flight with LAN via orbitz.com. The flight went Quito to Guayaquil and Guayaquil to San Salvador. Now while I booked the flight because LAN is the sole airline operating out of Ecuador that DOESN’T charge for surfboards, the GUA to SAL portion actually turned out to be coded with Taca/Avianca. So I got hit with $150 fee! My bad for not checking up!

Many airlines allow extra baggage for their business and frequent flyer member. Some airlines measure baggage weight limit by the number of pieces, weight, dimension or any combination of the three. Some airlines charge extra for surfboards, some don’t(LAN). Some will allow you to include it with the aggregate of your other bags if you’ve not yet reached the limit. But some heinous airlines will charge you per board and some evil airlines won’t allow any at all. The all important thing is to check the policy before you book because if you show up and refuse to pay the fee, well then they will simply refuse your boards.

The savvy travelers only weapon besides solid research? Charm. Show up early, show up lightly packed and show up prepared to brown nose that over worked and under paid airline representative. The check in agent is the key. I tend to spend my time in that “Disneyland” waiting line checking out the agents. Who is grumpy, who is bubbly, who is the most flirtatious and likely the most single. These are the ones that I wait for, even going so far as to let others pass me by so I can check-in with them. Then a little bit of charm and viola! I have maybe paid board fees 20% of the time on average over the years.

So here’s a breakdown of airlines by region, the hubs, policy and fee. Note: any flight originating outside Europe or the US must route through these airlines eventually. Check your originating airlines policies for their restrictions and fees.

 

Airline	Hub	Free allowance:	Business	TourTourist	Economy	excess baggage fee	surfboard fee
Europe		all airlines have same policy
		32kg max. total business/Tourist
		economy23 kg max per item
		dimension: total l/w/h 158 cm
Air Europa	Madrid,Spain		3	2	1	60-100 euro	150 euro
Iberia	Madrid,Spain		3	2	1	60 euro	150 euro
AirFrance	Paris, France		3	2	2	55-200 euro	< 2m= 200 euro
Lufthansa	Cologne, Germany		3	2	1	50-550 euro	< 2m= 300 euro
KLM	Amsterdam, Holland		2	2	1	55-200 euro	<2m=75 euro
North America
American Airline	Dallas, TX Chicago, IL		1		1	100-200$	$150.00
Continental/ Copa	Houston, TX/ PanamaCity, Panama	,	3		2	100-200$	$200.00
Avianca/TACA	Bogata, Colombia; San Salvador, El Slavador		2		1	55-175$	$100-125
LAN	Santiago, Chile		3		2	50-200$	free

 

I hope this is helpful.  Remember that these prices are subject change.  Please check out this other post as well.

Cheap Flights and Reduced Fares to Ecuador

Related posts:

• Cheap Flights and Reduced Fares to Ecuador
• Discount Prices on Airfare to Quito and Guayaquil, Ecuador
• Getting to Vilcabamba Valley
• Sending money to Ecuador–Convenience is king in the automated age
• Bringing Your Pets to Ecuador

Tags: cheap flights to Ecuador, Ecuador Flights, excess baggage fees, surfboard fee