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British Airways

Now we're all for carbon tip-toes but sometimes needs must when it's cold and howling over here and warm and barrelling over there. Imagine our dismay, therefore, when we heard that British Airways, formerly the most surfer-friendly of all the airlines, are going all anti-surfboard on our ass.

From the 6 November, BA intends to ban the carriage of surfboards on both internal and international flights, due to their large size and handling complexity. A BA spokesperson told Stranger, "We have recently reviewed our hold baggage policy and as a result we have taken the decision not to accept certain larger items (namely surfboards - oh and snowboards too the meanies). The redefined list of sports equipment takes into account a number of factors such as limitations of airport baggage systems and size and weight restrictions in the aircraft hold. Some items are simply not suitable for airport baggage systems to handle or travel in the aircraft hold due to size and weight restrictions."

The British Surfing Association is outraged. "Hundreds of our members have contacted us about BA's decision, expressing their disbelief and anger at what they see as a marginalisation of the sport and everyone within the surfing community," says BSA director Karen Walton, "on top of the limits it will put on international travel, a large number of the BSA's members are based on outlying British islands where BA is the only flight carrier. The new ban will mean they will no longer be able to fly to mainland Britain with their boards. We feel completely let down and angered that our national airline is banning surfboards rather than simply charging a supplementary fee like some of their competitors."

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