As part of their continued integration efforts, Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines have teamed up to reveal a new baggage policy concerning the transportation of surfboards as checked luggage that will apply to both brands' flights. The carriers have noted that their new shared policy is among the most generous currently offered by US airlines in the premium sector.

This milestone marks a key step forward when it comes to the ongoing integration of Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines, given that both carriers have big presences in some of the top surf markets in the US. Indeed, surfers from around the world flock to Hawaii to catch big waves, while the West Coast of the US, where Alaska Airlines has several hubs, is also a veritable hotspot.

Surf's Up!

As confirmed in a statement released yesterday, the wider Alaska Air Group, which includes Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines as well as the former carrier's regional partner Horizon Air, has devised a new surfboard policy. Described as "the most generous among premium US airlines," these newly integrated regulations "allow guests to check multiple surfboards in a single bag."

For the most part, the upper size limit per board remains the same, with 10 feet and five inches (3.18 meters) from nose to tail being the general rule of thumb. The only exception is for flights on Horizon Air's smaller Embraer E175 regional jets, where the maximum length clocks in at nine feet and seven inches (2.92 meters). There are also no extra fees, with Alaska Airlines saying that:

"We treat surfboards as standard checked baggage and offer bag allowances anywhere we fly for guests booking with our branded credit cards and earning points in our new Atmos Rewards loyalty program."

Aiming To Accommodate All Surfers & Avoid Brand Confusion

Yesterday's announcement made by the wider Alaska Air Group is timely. Indeed, the time is now for the surf season in the western United States, with the group's corresponding statement noting that "every fall and into the winter, storms in the North Pacific stir powerful ocean swells that generate world-class waves." These primarily impact the states of Hawaii and California.

Given that these are "two key regions in Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines' combined network," checked baggage policies concerning the transportation of surfboards are now of utmost importance to thrill seekers looking to ride the waves. However, given the ongoing integration efforts involving the two carriers, there was a potential risk for confusion between policies.

After all, Alaska Airlines' branding is increasingly being applied to Hawaiian flights, with the latter's callsign already having been lost to the history books. As such, a generous and unified set of rules for taking surfboards on the group's flights, regardless of the operating airline, will put its guests at ease. The group concludes that it "developed our new policy to accommodate all surfers."

The Two Airlines Recently Integrated Under A Single Operating Certificate

A key part of the new combined baggage policy that has been retained from when Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines were two separate carriers is the fact that the latter allows one free surfboard to residents on interisland flights. This, the Alaska Air Group says, is done "in recognition of surfing's cultural significance in Hawaii (...) through our Huaka'i by Hawaiian program."

However, while this aspect of Hawaiian Airlines' culture and operations has been retained amid its integration with Alaska Airlines, other features are already beginning to disappear. As previously mentioned, the recent integration of the pair under a Single Operating Certificate (SOC) has caused Hawaiian's callsign to cease to exist, and, as noted above, its 'HA' flight code is next.

For now, Alaska Airlines flights operating under the Hawaiian Airlines brand will retain their 'HA' codes on tickets and screens, despite the latter's callsign having already vanished. However, the integration of their operations has forced some flight numbers to change. Going forward, the 'HA' code will disappear altogether, departing in April 2026 amid the move to a shared booking engine.