British Airways and surfboards don’t go

Surfing is one of the fastest growing sports for British people, whether heading down to Cornwall and the west of England, the west of Ireland or getting on a plane and setting off for more exotic locations such as Bali, Australia or South Africa. If you’ve really picked up the surfing bug and gone and bought your own board, you’re going to be out of luck with British Airways because they’ve just announced that they’ve banned all surfboards from their flights.

No boards will be allowed to be checked onto BA flights from 6 November because they say surfboards along with windsurfing boards, kayaks and javelins are all to big. BA is quoted as saying ‘the redefined list of sports equipment takes into account a number of factors such as limitations of airport baggage systems and size and weight restrictions in the aircraft hold’, but it sounds like they are just trying not have to deal with the hassle any more. Surfboards are pretty light and it can’t be beyond BA’s baggage handlers to fit them in the aircraft’s hold. If you’re planning a surfing trip to or from the UK check with the airline to make sure they’ll take your board.