Can You Bring A Skimboard On A Plane?

In this article, we explain the different ways that you can bring a skimboard on a plane. We share tips on how to save money with baggage fees, protect your board from being damaged in transit, and what to say if asked a specific question about your skimboard.

By the end of the article you will be an informed traveler and hopefully, never get stung by excessive or surprising fees for bringing your skimboard on a plane. We give you examples of the costs involved and how to safely pack your board up for the trip.

There is more to it than simply ‘flying with a board’. Becoming aware of the overall end-to-end process of traveling with boards and dealing with airline staff will save you money and stress. You will learn how fees can sometimes be a good thing as well as the best way to save on fees where possible.

How to Avoid Paying Extra Fees When Flying with a Skimboard?

Avoid paying extra fees for taking your skimboard on a plane, by understanding airport rules and policies. Once you understand what you can and can’t carry as well as the size and weight restrictions, you can often avoid paying any extra fees using these tips:

Select Your Airline Carefully

You can avoid extra fees by taking upmarket airlines like British Airways, KLM, Qantas, Singapore Airlines, and so on. With these airlines, skimboards can be part of your included baggage with no extra fees.

Sometimes it’s easier to pay more for the flight and have boards included in your check bag allowance.

Regardless of which airline you take, know the airline’s policies regarding baggage weight and length restrictions. Print out the policies and take them with you.

Pack Your Board in a Box, Not a Bag

When you arrive at an airport with your skimboard in a skimboard bag, most check-in staff will automatically assume it is a surfboard and will not be interested in learning the differences between the two. If you pack your board in a cardboard box with plenty of bubble wrap and fragile tape, you can normally avoid any dispute and rely solely on the airline’s rules about specific dimensions.

When somebody sees a skimboard as the description on a box they do not automatically associate it with a surfboard as they would if they were looking at the board or board bag. You can also be vague with the description of what’s inside by calling it watersports equipment if you would rather take that route.

Prove Your Skimboard Is Not a Surfboard

Skimboards usually do not exceed the length restrictions like a surfboard does. A skimboard is NOT a surfboard, however, sometimes an airline may need reminding of that. Here is a great reference for airline charges for surfboards. Take this with a pinch of salt, because of the reasons above.

Airlines can charge fees for oversize sporting baggage. Skimboards are usually not over the length restrictions for these categories, but you can get resistance from staff if a manager “thinks it’s a surfboard”.

Research how the airline classifies a surfboard such that you have proof your skimboard cannot be classed as a surfboard. The classification is usually just length but if your skimboard is made from wood you could argue that surfboards are different to skimboards because surfboards are not made from wood.

Buy Your Baggage Allowance Online in Advance

Buy your baggage allowance online, not at the airport. It’s an extra effort for them to change your booking at the desk and they may be less inclined to hassle you with extra fees.

If you try and wing it without paying extra fees then they can technically charge whatever they like once you get to the airport. If you already paid the due fee you will likely be paying the minimum amount and not the maximum “on the day” amount.

Weigh Your Board

I use a handheld baggage scale like this. Otherwise, stand on a normal bathroom scale, and note your weight. Then stand on the scale holding your bag and calculate the difference to get your baggage weight.

It’s a good option to go for a kilogram or two under, just in case, because extra kilograms over the limit are often more expensive than buying a whole extra bag!

Be Genuine and Nice to Airport Staff

Being nice goes a long way to avoiding fees and hassles. Particularly on the budget airlines, the check-in staff often become the cabin crew for your flight. They have seen you and your baggage before you even know it.

Put yourself in the check-in staff’s shoes, and imagine the amount of crap they get from passengers. So being nice, smiling, charming, and treating them well, can go a long way and may even influence fee reductions.

Having seen many people at the check-in counter get absolutely nowhere by being over-emotional and getting angry at staff, it really pays off to be the cool and calm person who knows the rules of the airline and can talk about facts rather than argue emotions.

Can Baggage Fees Be a Good Thing?

Extra fees could be a good thing. Controversial statement!

Oversized baggage often gets delayed and put on the next flight. Paid-for baggage is more likely to be prioritized in theory.

Paying for special baggage can give you more leverage that your board will arrive with you. And if it doesn’t, then you have a potential point of compensation. The airlines don’t want this, so they will be more likely to put you and your board on the same flight.

Something to consider…. Is all the time and stress of the research really worth saving that $30, $50, or $100 fee? It can be quite liberating to know that you may take a fee on the chin but there is no work or effort required and you’ll have an easy time through the airport.

How to Protect Your Skimboard When Traveling By Plane?

Protecting your skimboard when traveling by plane is easy and can be done in many ways depending on your time and resources. The advantage of skimboards is they are built to be jumped on. So you can worry less than for a surfboard, for example.

The most common areas for damage are the nose and tail, so have extra padding on these areas.

Remember… at your destination, you must pack again for your return flight so prepare accordingly.

Double Bagging

Double bagging is putting your board in a bag, then putting that bag inside another bag. This is by far the quickest, easiest, and my favorite way (after many international trips) of packing boards.

Use two thick board bags (preferably 10mm or more), with towels or wetsuits near the nose and tail for extra padding. Potentially use cardboard to pad up the rails. You’re done in under 20 mins.

Note that the second bag will need to be longer and bigger. So don’t buy two bags of the same size. And also bear in mind that this may put your baggage length above the limits which could incur extra fees.

Bubble Wrap

A great and cheap option for packing your skimboard is bubble wrap. The bigger the bubbles, the better. Best used in combination with a sheet of cardboard.

Adding cardboard is a great quick-win for packing, especially on the nose/tail.

Golden tip: You can go to a local store which sells big goods (like fridges, washing machines, TVs). They get deliveries of these goods and have waste packing materials you can sometimes get for free or at least cheaper than buying them new.

Clothes and Towels

A great option is using your towels, wetsuits, and clothes (that you are packing anyway) for board protection. Careful here, because towels and wetsuits can be heavy. This may push your bag over the weight limit and be a pain to carry.

Also, realize that towels and wetsuits may be wet on the return journey, making them even heavier. Always try and dry them out as much as possible before flying.

Foam Padding

Foam padding offers great protection, however, is usually the most expensive option and can get heavy quickly. Use with caution. Pool noodles can be a great option here too. Foam padding wrapped in cardboard is always a safe bet.

Protecting The Rails

The rails of a skimboard have a small radius, which means they are quite strong compared to a surfboard. For more rail protection, cut a pool noodle in half across its diameter to get two pieces with a “C” shaped cross-section.

Put these around the rails and tape them down. You can also use cardboard instead.

Packing Multiple Boards

Packing multiple boards in one bundle is ok. Pay attention to the overall weight and make sure it doesn’t go over the limit. Normal limits are around 20kg. But packing materials, clothes, and the board bag itself can quickly add up in weight.

Can You Take a Skimboard on a Plane as Carry-On Luggage?

You cannot take a skimboard on a plane with you as carry-on luggage. Usually, the length limits are around 50-65cm and skimboards are 100+cm. No chance.

You can buy a dedicated seat for items such as guitars and cellos. Skimboards might be included in this list. These seats come with no baggage allowance and it may be cheaper to use this method on a budget airline.

Should You Take a Skimboard on a Plane as Checked Baggage?

Often, the only way to take a skimboard on a plane is through-checked baggage. Anything else and you will be asking for trouble. Arguments and resistance would likely happen, due to the size of a skimboard.

Research the airline baggage limits and ticket rules to take your skimboard in the checked baggage. Airline websites are the most direct way. Search google for options of what other people have done. But always get the final information from the airline itself to be sure.

Do You Need A Skimboard Bag To Take Your Skimboard Abroad?

You do not need a skimboard bag to take your skimboard abroad. It is perfectly fine to be packaged in bubble wrap and a cardboard box.

However, a travel bag offers padding, storage pockets, and convenient carry handles and straps.

Consider that it’s not only the flight, but the journey to the airport, and carrying it around once you’re at the destination.

How Much Does it Cost To Take a Skimboard on a Plane?

The cost to take a skimboard on a plane varies from country to country and airline to airline. You can expect to pay anywhere from $25 – $500 depending on where you are going.

A skimboard is not a surfboard and will usually be under the length restriction. Still, it’s good to know the rules and know-how the airline classifies a surfboard, just in case you have to argue the point at the airport. Here is a link to surfboard charges for airlines in at the time of writing this article.

Usually, skimboards fit within the normal checked baggage rules. So they are no different from a bag of clothes. Thus, no fees.

Adding a skimboard as an additional checked bag with a budget airline will cost between $35-50 domestically and could be up to $100 internationally.

This is just a guideline price range as all airlines are different and baggage prices often change.

image from: bethanysurfshop.net

Is It Better to Buy or Hire a New Skimboard Instead of Traveling With One?

Something to check is that it may be cheaper not to take your board with you. Check out hiring or buying a skimboard at your destination.

This will not always be cheaper, but it’s worth looking into because it can save you from:

lugging your board to and from the airport,
potential fees.
buying a travel bag.

It may even mean you can take a bus or train instead of a taxi, saving more money.

Final Tips for Skimboards and Flights

Know before you go. Get informed of the airline’s policies. Research what has been done before and find out if those methods are still valid (i.e. have the policies changed).

Google search for what’s possible and other people’s experiences.
Look at airline’s websites and read the policies for length restrictions and surfboard categorizations.
Confirm, and get proof, that the airline CANNOT class your skimboard as a surfboard.
Print out the policies/specifications and take them with you.

It’s better not to “chance it” unless you are ok with paying extra fees.

We hope you found this article answered your question of how can you bring a skimboard on a plane. Author JB has done over 17 flights with skimboards, domestic and international, and taken over 67 flights for business.

Can You Bring A Skimboard On A Plane?