American Airlines slashes fees on sports and music gear (but not antlers)

Surfboards, skis and bicycles can now fly for less on American Airlines.

The carrier on Tuesday said it would start treating for big sports equipment like regular checked bags. That means on domestic tickets the fee will go from $150 to $30, the cost of a first checked bag for standard coach fares within the U.S. The rule also applies to music gear, and takes effect immediately.

The changes came in response to customer feedback about the high costs of shipping what are to many travelers, essential items.

American’s new rates aren’t likely to dent its big annual haul from baggage fees. These charges generated $1.2 billion for the airline last year, the most of U.S. carriers. Together U.S. airlines brought in a record $4.9 billion in baggage fees in 2018, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation.

The new rules come with a bit of fine print. Items that are overweight will still be subject to additional charges of between $100 and $200 for most routes and up to $450 for trans-Pacific travel. Also, not every bulky item will be exempt from the $150 oversize luggage fee. Hang gliders, scuba tanks and antlers will still be subject to oversize luggage charges.

American isn’t the only airline to reduce the costs of flying with surfboards. Rival United Airlines in October brought fees to travel with surfboards to and from California in line with the price of a first checked bag: $30.