Although Surfline publishes that Cathay Pacific lets you
bring surfboards for free, the official new policy is $600 each way.
Pass this information along, publish it on other forums, etc. Point
being, warn
others not to fly Cathay Pacific and maybe they will change this
despicable
policy. If you know someone at Surfline, write them as well. Their
“Summer
2011” list of surfboard charges is apparently about as wrong as it could
possibly be, and unfortunately I’m sure people are relying upon it.
So if you surfed you would fly this airlines because...why?..........
That’s my point. Don’t fly them.
They used to have decent policies and I thought they got even better recently. Reason being - Surfline posted an article stating surfboards were free as of summer 2011:
http://www.surfline.com/travel/boardbag_charges.cfm?id=15425
Unfortunately I believed that Surfline actually did the research and that the information was correct, but apparently Surfline didn’t (my fault for relying on other people, I guess). It doesn’t help that Cathay obscures the policy fairly well. I just confirmed with them over the phone, though, that the airline does indeed charge $600 per way.
Now I’m stuck trying to figure out if I can switch airlines. I already bought my tickets.
Obviously they don't want surfers flying Cathay Airlines. Sounds like a 2nd class airlines anyway.. Round trip to SFO to Quichang Valley $5.8K?
Sorry...but I think it is a business class airlines, not a surfer airlines.
Surfers are cheap bastards anyway. if they can't afford a 600$ board fee, they certainly can't afford the 4 Seasons Hotel on the island of Bangyourmama, or the bar tab at the Likugrlfrendhineo bar and grill.
I didn't realize you bought tickets.....That sucks. Maybe you can say they are golfclubs.
I bet they don't charge for golf clubs.
Business man and all.
Matt, wasn't poking fun at you...poking fun at the class act cathy airlines is. Sticking it to surfers and the leisure traveler.
No worries. No offense taken.
Just pissed and frustrated because I really could have booked an airline where surfboards are checked free (Singapore Airlines).
I relied on Surfline’s piece of “well-researched” journalism though, and now I’m scrambling. And, no the airline didn’t change the policy after Surfline posted the chart. Cathay changed in December 2010 apparently, and the Surline article is identified as a Summer 2011 update.
haha!! Thats good, there’s too many people in Indo now anyway, stay home and surf mexico, just don’t bring your camera and tell surfline to F’off!! You guys get rimmed for surfboards on planes haha!!
http://www.swellnet.com.au/news/2581-tough-justice-mexican-style
My co-worker is there now. Right before he left on a flight from NY, he discovered the policy change. His plan was to try curb side check-in with a big tip and hope the guy let it slide. I’ll find out how it worked when he returns next week.
I once gave a big tip to the curb side check-in guy in Atlanta. The guy was so appreaciative, he jumped from behind the curb side counter and took my bag inside the terminal, jumped behind the counter on a spare computer, and personally checked my surfboard in for free.
Might it be a lot cheaper to package the boards up and air freight them to your destination ahead of you if you are not able to change airlines or sneak them on with a nice tip to the check in. Just a thought.
Ask if 'sporting equipment' is free. I got around fees a few times because of being a(n ex-)professional surf(boardmak)er!
I would consider this option, but I’m pretty sure you can’t check baggage at the curb for an international flight (though I could be wrong). Plus, if I show up and it doesn’t work, I’m either stuck paying six hundred dollars or giving the board(s) away (arguably more cost effective given the roundtrip cost).
I’m going to look into this option today. Not that I appreciate all the time I have to waste trying to figure out a work-around, but I’m not sure what other choice I have other than leaving them behind.
One big goal right now is to make sure the surfboard fee lists (like those on Surfline, Surfermag, etc.) get updated. I made the mistake of relying on them to huge detriment (stupid me, I guess). I absolutely could have booked another airline. Better yet, I’m hoping I can get Cathay on one of those boycott lists that people maintain related to surfboard baggage fees. As far as I can tell, they are now the highest fee airline BY FAR (many people complain that 200 dollars each way is outrageous) and if people know this, they can “vote with their dollars” and travel on other airlines.
I had a long talk with the airline, and they’ve specifically eliminated this sort of exception (as of December 2010).
Incidentally, Cathay Pacific’s own cargo department thinks the new $600 per way rate is outrageous.
Oh now that is rich.
They (Cathay Pacific cargo) will ship as cargo for $200, but the boards could get stuck in customs. As a result, this might not be a viable option either.
The challenge with shipping cargo, is you “can’t” as an individual on any airline, unless you pay the fee to become an approved shipper and are vetted. This new rule came about after 9-11. This forces you to use a surf shop who’s already done this, to act as your agent, or you hire a 3rd party shipping agent who is on the approved list.
I wrote to customer service at Cathay Pacific, and this is their totally useless reply (referring me to the very rate/policy I questioned them about):
I was thinking more along the lines of UPS or similar freight. If you’re stuck with Cathay, might be cheaper to just buy a board there and then sell it when you’re done.