Shipping a surfboard

[teosickrider]

Anybody knows how i can ship a shortboard(or 2) from California to Italy?how much will it cost me?I've calculated that takin it with me will cost me about 200$ wanna know if i can spend less...

[tarkman1]

Shipping a surfboard from Cali to Italy sounds like a losing proposition. For $200, I might expect the board to show up in 16 pieces.

[teosickrider]

You think???Umm yeah that's what i was figuring...But i don't think they'd receive a better treatment on airplanes...i'll have to pack them veeery well!

[peterslovo]

Try this maybe? Don't know if they ship internationally.

http://www.sportsexpress.com/

I have shipped a longboard from CA-PA via UPS ground for $80; no idea how UPS handles stuff like that internationally.

I've found airlines (even with policies against big bags) can be accomodating if you find the right person to deal with (and maybe throw a $20 their way).
But with the newer restrictions on oversized, flying with your board is tougher.

Make sure you account for any smaller flight(s) you may have to take after arriving - I got hit with a much higher fee by the smaller airline in a flight from Madrid - Fuerteventura than I did from JFK-Madrid (which I talked into being free).

[Superstar Punani]

What airline are you flying? $200 is a rip off. I bet shipping it won't make much of a difference.

Fucks:
BA, United, Cuntinental

Good:
Qantas, Cathay

[teosickrider]

I'll be flying Continental from San Diego to NY(95$ for the board).Then KLM from NY to Amsterdam(should be 60 euros) and Alitalia/KLM from Amsterdam to Milan(30 more euros...)
I hope i can negotiate a little bit with the girls at the check in..but i don't know!Do you guys suggest i do so?

[Superstar Punani]

I'll be flying Continental from San Diego to NY(95$ for the board).Then KLM from NY to Amsterdam(should be 60 euros) and Alitalia/KLM from Amsterdam to Milan(30 more euros...)
I hope i can negotiate a little bit with the girls at the check in..but i don't know!Do you guys suggest i do so?

For starters, get there early and beat the crowds.

Do some quick profiling on the check-in lineup. Pick the person most likely to be "cool" based on ther looks. If you're up next and the cool person is not available, wave the person behind you through and keep waiting for the cool person

Cool people:
1) Young chicks. Flirt with them, make pleasant conversation. They're likely be in a stressful situation, so anything you can do to put them at ease, make them laugh, etc, scores you points.

2) The gay guys. Flirt with them, make pleathant converthation, thpeak with a thlight lithp. They're likely be in a thtrethful thituation, tho anything you can do to put them at eathe, make them laugh, etc, thcoreth you pointh.

3) Anyone who looks like a rookie or trainee. They are more likely to succumb to the jedi mind trick that boards travel free.

4) Anyone else who looks under 35.

AVOID:
1) Anyone who has a supervisor hovering around them

2) Crusty old bitter women who look like they haven't been laid since the Reagan Administration. They will take out their frustrations on you by using their power to fleece you of money because they can.

Ok. Once you've picked yout mark, make sure you have all your shit together when you walk up to them- ID, passport, ticket info etc. If you have to rummage for it you will piss them off.


Keep smiling and engaging them in pleasant conversation.

Eventually they will ask how many bags you've got to check. Just say "1 bag" or "2 bags" or whatever. Make no mention that you have a board until after they've printed out the luggage barcode tags. Usually when this has happened, it's too late for them to enter the info in the computer or charge you, and you're done.

If you do get charged, always negotiate. Or better yet, have some "paperwork" printed from the airline website that says sporting goods are part of the baggage allowance.


This shit works. I've been in situations where I got my boards on for free and the chump one counter over has had to fork out $100 per board.

[teosickrider]

Thanks Punani!!!You're the mang....i'll follow your advices for sure!
And i've got a good weapon by my side for young etero guys:my girlfriend!!!