Starting today, in response to California making surfing the official state sport, passengers traveling with a surfboard, wakeboard, or paddleboard on direct United Airlines or United Express itineraires that begin or end at any California airport will no longer be required to pay the service fee associated with these items. Regular checked-bag fees will still apply. Previously, United charged $150 to $200 to check these items.
“California made it official: surfing is our state sport. We want to make it easier for customers to surf our beautiful beaches, whether they’re visiting or call the Golden State home,” said Janet Lamkin, United’s president for California. “This partnership continues our commitment to the environment by supporting an organization like Sustainable Surf, which helps keep our beaches beautiful.”
To help preserve California’s coast and oceans, United is donating $50,000 to Sustainable Surf, a California-based environmental nonprofit that operates as an innovation lab using surfing as a force for good—to solve the ocean health crisis by 2050.
“Sustainable Surf is thrilled to receive support from United Airlines to help us protect and regenerate ocean health,” said Sustainable Surf co-founder Michael Stewart. “We see a very close alignment between our own work and United’s Eco-Skies sustainability program. We are looking forward to partnering with United to better enable our shared goals and values of keeping the world clean.”
Through United’s donation, Sustainable Surf will continue to focus on a variety of programs that address environmental impacts on the ocean by educating local and global communities.
