Delta charged us 200 extra for a wakeboard 1 way!

We had a crew go down to surf expo in Orlando and we checked 2 wakeboard bags. I flew Airtran and they charged me the standard bag fee of $20. They asked what was in it and I said a wakeboard. She said no prob when I flew there and when I flew back.
Our other group flew Delta and told him it would cost $200 to check a wakeboard one way!
I thought that was a little absurd... If they want to tack on a $10 charge or even double the baggage fee because it's twice as long that's one thing. But $200 is ridiculous!

Time to invest in a golf deceiver bag.

http://www.wakeworld.com/news/blogs/...ll-travel.html

It's easier to fedex it back.

Ronix Links bag is one of the best. I have a normal board bag and when I fly with it on American Airlines its $25 each way for it.

You never say wakeboard to an airline. The first thing they think is surfboard and charge a crazy fee. Always tell them waterskis or pick up a new board bag that has the word golf on it.

Definitely not easier to fedex. I have a LF "golf" bag and have never even been asked what was in it. Most of the time shipping it will take multiple days to arive and is about the same price as a checked "golf" bag. I have never lied to anyone about what it was, they see the word golf and assume. If I was asked I would tell them that it was water ski equiptment though. Some airlines will charge the fee per board even when in the same bag.

I am also a Kiteboarder and travel all over with a board, harness, 2-3 kites, pump and wetsuits. I recommend the Litewave Designs Golf Bag or the Best Kiteboarding Golf bag. Some of the other bags out there are heavy to start with so you eat up a bunch of you 50lbs weight just on the bag. The Best and Litewave bags are pretty light. I also always toss in a bag of plastic practice golfballs or a super light junk putter . So when they ask me what is in it I can say "Golf equipment". It is the biggest bunch of BS that Golf clubs fly free BUT say any word that ends in board and they slap a big premium on your tab. Same size same weight. What gives?! Anyway I have never been charged yet. Fingers crosses..... knock on wood. Oh and another tip I always use Skycap and get a $20 tip ready, in my hand and showing.

next time say its a snowboard

Ski or Snowboard Equipment
If you are hitting the slopes, you can bring your ski and snowboard equipment as checked baggage. One ski/pole bag or one snowboard bag, and one boot bag is accepted per person. The combined weight of the ski/snowboard bag and the boot bag may not exceed 50 lbs. or excess baggage fees will apply. The linear dimension may exceed 80 inches (203 cm).

Another reason to Fly Soutwest

Each airline has different restrictions. If you fly United, no matter what you say it is, if it's over their size limit (which a wakeboard is) it's automatically $100.

I've found it's so much easier just to Fed Ex it. When two buddies & I flew out to Texas for our trip to Wakesport Ranch, we just shipped everything to our hotel. We had two boards per box & it cost $18 one way. The hotel was happy to hold them for the day. It was also much easier not having to deal with checked bags and not dealing with a board bag walking through the airport. :Last but certainly not least, we could not have fit all our chit in the bitchin Kia we rented so it saved us there too.

I fly multiple times a year for snowboarding on all kinds of various airlines and I have never been charged anything other than the standard bag fee most airlines are charging these days. Usually $15-25. $200 is effing ridiculous.

yup - golf bag with tip in hand is the only way to fly - and like trio said below - always have that tip showing. cheap insurance to avoid those extra baggage fees!