BA has banned its passengers from checking in surfboards. Kayak, canoe, windsurf, pole vault, javelin, and hang glide enthusiasts should be equally dismayed as their kit is now vetoed from the hold too.
Surfers have been so incensed by this decision that they’ve flocked online from as far afield as the USA, South Africa, Australia, Canada, Costa Rica, Russia and Abu Dhabi to leave messages of disgust and concern. Tough break.
It’s the surfers in Jersey and Thurso (where the O'Neill Highland Open is hosted) though that should be getting the most sympathy. BA is the only airline that flies abroad from their nearby airports, and they’ll be stranded in more senses than one if the airline doesn’t revoke its decision. Surfers will have to hope that Virgin, the airline that “has come to the aid of sports travellers”, will announce new domestic routes to the Channel Islands and Scotland and come to their rescue.
The British Surfing Association is supporting a petition to change the policy and disgruntled surfers, pole vaulters, kayakers etc can go online and follow their recommended action steps. The BSA is planning to deliver the petition to BA next week, alongside the supportive statements from other organisations.
Concerned surfers can visit this site for a full list of airlines that allow boards on board and their charges. Surfers with cash to splash can have boards air freighted by one of these services:
You have to be organised though, it can take up to two weeks to send things ahead to those exotic surf meccas.
