Surfboard policy · QF
Flying with a surfboard on Qantas
Qantas takes surfboards with no board fee.
The fine print
Only accepted enclosed in a surfboard bag. Fins must be removed where possible and placed in an enclosed compartment or taped to the board; paddles taped to board. At check-in a fragile tag must be attached and the limited release portion of the baggage tag signed. Carriage above the free allowance is subject to space; some equipment may not travel on the same aircraft as the customer. QantasLink Dash 8 (Q200/300): max bag dimensions 240cm. Applies to Australian domestic and international routes.
Will your bag clear it?
Qantas publishes a length figure rather than a linear cap, so the comparison depends on your bag's own numbers. Check your exact bag: we hold the measured dimensions of 128 board bags and print a verdict per airline.
Fair questions
Does Qantas charge for surfboards?
No board-specific fee. Sporting equipment can be included as part of the checked baggage allowance; each item checked in is one piece. Additional bags beyond allowance assessed at airport excess baggage rates (AUD amounts not listed on the sporting-equipment page); pre-purchased additional allowance is cheaper. Boards over 277cm (240cm on Dash 8) must go as freight, charges apply.
What is Qantas's surfboard size limit?
277cm (109in) in length (pure length); 240cm maximum bag dimensions on QantasLink Dash 8 (Q200/300).
Does a board bag count as a checked bag on Qantas?
Yes. The board bag takes one of your checked-bag allowances, so standard checked bag pricing applies.
Airline policies change without notice, and the operating carrier's policy is the one that counts, not the airline that sold the ticket. Confirm on the airline's baggage page before you fly. Fees across all 59 carriers: which airlines charge for a board. Size math: every bag against every limit.
The fee is half the cost. The fare is the other half.
BarrelFare watches round-trip fares to 97 surf breaks against the forecast, and can hide the flights that will not take your board. The board fee only hurts when the fare was already bad.
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