United Airlines is getting on board – on the surfboard – and doing away with surfboard service fees for passengers traveling to or from California. This is all to celebrate the fact that California named surfing as the state’s official sport.
And 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.
Effective October 5, customers traveling with a surfboard, wakeboard, or paddleboard on direct United Airlines or United Express itineraries that originate or end at any California airport will not have to pay the previous $150 or $200 service fee to check these items. The regular checked-bag fee will still apply.
“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.”
“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.
United has operated in California for more than 90 years and connects almost 18 million annual passengers through its hubs in Los Angeles and San Francisco. United brings the world to California and Californians to the world, flying to more California, U.S. and international destinations than any other airline.
