HowThere's typically a tense moment before a plane lands that puts some passengers on edge. For surfers, that feeling might be when huddled outside of the Oversized Baggage area following the flight. They're all waiting anxiously for their board bag to appear from behind those dully-colored doors.
One by one, the luggage guy hoists the awkwardly-shaped bags over his shoulder. He hands them to eager passengers, who might be secretly thanking the surf gods. Their precious cargo survived the long trip over. There's nothing worse than showing up to a surf trip destination–without your gear, but it happens.
Surfer parents possibly wait the longest for their boards and baby stuff. They watch as the kid-less crews peel away, one by one, and overhear their plans of going straight to the beach from the airport. And as the lone parents count their family's luggage parcels once more, they rejoice when their final piece of luggage makes its way out.
Before you jet off to somewhere more scenic than this dimly-lit airport, check your boards for damage. Horror stories of boards getting bashed, or dung, in transit aren't totally uncommon. It's the risk surfers take. The worst for us, so far, was a busted board bag zipper. The boards were fine, though, and we fixed the zipper easily. Additionally, check your car seat and stroller when they arrive. Broken wheels? Busted handles?
If you suspect any damage, then file a claim at the airline customer service counter. Take plenty of photos to document damage; framing it to show you're actually at the airport terminal might help. This even applies to travelers going on snow trips with ski equipment or snowboards.
Some airlines do not deal with damage once the luggage leaves the airport. They might even have a clause about not being liable for "unsuitably packed items," which is what surfboards fall under. Hopefully the airline will do the right thing in reimbursing you for damage, but it's not always guaranteed. In that case, file a claim with your travel insurance. You did get travel insurance, right?
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