More on the BA Ban

It is, indeed, official. British Airways, the world's favourite airline (except among surfers), has decided to ban the transportation of surfboards. So, too, windsurfers, hang-gliders, kayaks, canoes, javelins and, er, pole vaults. All of these items can no longer be accommodated due to their "large size and handling complexities."

It is, of course, a complex matter, lifting a 6'0" surfboard in a board bag into the hold. It weighs oh, all of nothing and, laid on top of other luggage (in a fantasy world), takes up barely any room. Highly complex.

Here's to BA, for saying "No" to complexity. It's high time we lived in a simpler world and we should applaud the sterling stand taken by the world's favourite airline.

Ed's note: The Vicki Barr Flight Stewardess series was published by Grosset and Dunlap from 1947 to 1964. Vicki had no problem with surfers or surfboards though she, like most right-thinking people, did object to the wholesale, unfettered stowage of pole vaults. Vicki would never let a mere handling complexity be her undoing and we can only regret the way in which times have changed.

Comments

[Sam]

I guess their loss (surfers) is other airlines gain. The days of flag carriers are numbered anyway (post open skies agreement with the US). Pretty soon they'll all merge into a handful of huge, US or Middle Eastern owned, mega carriers. BA are already cosying up to American airlines in the event of any changes in US regulation regarding foreign ownership of US carriers.

Useful site www.oceansource.net has the details when you're deciding who to now fly with instead.
Interesting that Quantas don't charge for boards yet BA and Quantas code share (through Singapore hub) on Australian routes.

Does this mean if you fly from Oz to UK you can put boards on but on the return trip you can't!!!?

[surfgsd]

Thanks for the update, I will blog about this and hope that BA suffer from all surfers banning flying with them. p.s one of the guys that flew out to join in our algarve surfing trips was not allowed to bring his boards !!! This was with BMI Baby from Birmingham, The Mullins tells me that 'you must ring before ou fly' otherwise they can say NO !!!!

[Pete]

I suspect the large amount of claims for damage to surfboards that they have received may have something to do with. They wrecked my board on a flight from Gatwick to Aberdeen last year (and paid-up). I soon found more than half a dozen other people just in the Brighton area who had their boards damaged & successfully claimed.
I fear other airlines will follow suit.. we even got wacked a big charge on our snowboard bag on a skiing holiday last winter (don't use My Travel/Panorama)!

[alfalderson]

It must be the delicate nature of surfboards and consequent claims for damage that has played a part in the decision.

How else to explain that they are still happy to carry golf clubs? Not exactly easy (or lightweight) for chucking around the hold.

I was once charged for my board on a flight to the Algarve whilst watching scores of golfers load their far heavier toys for free. Go figure...

Still, as I said before, bollocks to BA, they're shite anyway.

[james3d again]

'How else to explain that they are still happy to carry golf clubs? Not exactly easy (or lightweight) for chucking around the hold.'

Golfing is an establishment sport, people dont like surfers and many stereotype them not realising that the serious ones are true athletes.

[alfalderson]

Just been at the Ski Show in London where I espied me a poster sized ad in the men's bogs from BA, advising of their superb abilities in carrying skis and snowboards - for free I believe.

What's going on? These toys weigh far more than boards and ain't necessarily that much shorter...

Still, the toilets - what better place for an ad from the world's shittiest airline?

[East Coast Surf]

My friends & I flew with BA twice last year. I have already booked next years flights with Easyjet so thats £1500 BA have lost just from us. I used to recommend BA to all of our customers for travelling with as boards were free. Not any more I'm afraid. The Worldwide surfing industry is worth £2.8bn - thats an awfull lot of travelling surfers!

Also worth noting they have banned Pole Vaults and Javelins. Possibly not such a smart move with the 2010 Olympics so close.

They really can't have thought this through very well.

[AdamSurfCroyde]

Just booked spring next year to margeret river, undoubtedly some of the best surf of aus' west coast, but soo glad we didnt book with B.A. that would really P*ss me off!
Still taking golf clubs, and snowboards/ski's for free? Flippin ridiculous! B.A have seriously gone wrong with this decison, maybe its one too many? The airlines reputation has already been sliding downhill and this recent news certainly doesnt benifit anyone?! Since when has anyone been sitting waiting for take-off clearence only to hear the anoncement: "Could Mr.Smith please exit the aircraft and collect his lugage as is extremely lightweight asurfboard is taking up extremely too much space in the lugage compartment" (I Think Not!) Bye Bye B.A I Say!