Miami - Nassau American Airlines boardbag policies

[romian]

Hi there!

I'll travel from Miami to Nassau in January 2022 with American Airlines, and I'm a bit worried about the carrier's sports baggage policies.

https://www.aa.com/i18n/travel-info/bag ... sports.jsp

Under "Watersports boards", there´s an "Allowance and requirements" section that says "1 bag or case can contain multiple boards and will count as 1 checked item.", and another section named "Costs" that says "Standard checked baggage fees apply for your destination up to 50lbs/23kgs and 126in/320cm (length + width + height) or a $150 fee from 51lbs/23kgs up to 70lbs/32kgs".

So, it seems that we can take a boardbag and check it as regular baggage at regular baggage rate if it does not exceed 126in/320cm (length x width x height) and 50lbs/23kgs. Bigger or heavier that that means a USD 150 fee.

Up on the page, under the general title "Sports equipment", it says "If the equipment bag contains any other item that is not approved, it will be charged as a regular checked bag, and additional oversize and overweight fees may apply."

Does this mean that we can't fit a couple of kites and a harness in the boardbag (as long as we don't exceed 50 lbs / 23 kg)?

Do you know if they are strict about this?

[Greenturtle]

Fit whatever you want, it's part of the equipment. For 150 USD extra they should kiss your butt.

[romian]

For 150 USD extra they should kiss your butt.

They should, but I´m expecting to pay the regular suitcase fee (USD 30), because the boardbag does not exceed 23 kg and 320 cm total.

My ass will be ok with that rate and them not breaking my balls.

[Toby]

Then it should be ok.

Also the golf bag trick can work ... Big difference in price...as I remember it

[StellaBlu]

I just flew American from the Bahamas a week ago (Marsh Harbor, not Nassau). Wing foil setup and two wings. Bag weighed exactly 50 lbs (maybe 51). They didn't ask what was in it. I'm Priority, so no charges, but it would have been a standard (not oversize) charge otherwise. My bag was significantly bigger than what it would have been with a kite setup.

[romian]

Good to know, @StellaBlu , thank you!

I own a "golf" labelled bag, which saved me some money many times, but I think we´ll eventually pack foilboard + foil setup + twintip in my foilbag, and 3 kites + 2 harnesses + split TT in a regular suitcase.