Flying with oversized sporting equipment has always been a pain. Most airlines charge an increased fee when travelers check oversized or irregular sporting equipment. Delta Air Lines is changing its policies to make sending these pieces of luggage easier.

In the past, Delta passengers with golf clubs, surfboards, skis and other pieces of sports equipment were charged a $150 specialty sports bag fee. The airline killed the fee July 17.

Delta Air Lines’ new rules now associate specialized sporting equipment with regular checked bags. For passengers, this means those golf clubs and skis can travel at standard rates.

Delta Air Lines is the most recent major airline to change baggage policies, but others, including United Airlines, offer options for travelers as well. United Airlines celebrates California’s declaration of surfing as the official state sport by allowing California-originating and -bound travelers to bring surfboards, wakeboards and paddleboards with no oversized fee.

The rest of United’s sports equipment rules vary by type of equipment. For instance, bicycles weighing less than 50 pounds only rack up standard baggage fees, while bigger bikes carry the standard fees of $150 and $200 for domestic and international travel, respectively.

American Airlines is in line with Delta’s new policies. Most equipment can be checked as standard pieces of luggage, unless it is oversized or passengers are traveling to destinations with restricted rules. 

When is the last time you traveled with special sports equipment? What was it? Did the airline’s rules mean paying more to send golf clubs and skis? Tell us. Email us at letters@globaltravelerusa.com. Please include your full name and location.