This isn't really snowboard related, but it is related to board sports. I personally think everyone who enjoys board related sports should sign up and voice their opinion on the BA ban.
Since British Airways (BA) announced a ban on surfboards on all flights
(effective from 6th Nov), the surf community across the world has been reacting
to the shock new position and taking decisive action to push for a reversal on
the decision.
In hoards, surfers from across the globe, including the
World Number One, Mick Fanning, have been signing up to a global petition
created by the British Surfing Association (BSA) and international governing
bodies, key surf brands and thousands of individuals have been issuing
statements and joining a group on the social networking site, Facebook.
Until now BA has had a reputation for being one of the most surfer friendly
airlines but last weekend their new ruling stated that surfboards, alongside
other items such as hang gliders, windsurfing boards and sails, kayaks or
canoes, pole vaults or javelins, will no longer be accepted as baggage on any
flights on the extensive BA network.
At the same time, BA proudly
announced that it would be loosening any restrictions on their carriage of skis,
snowboards, cycles, diving equipment and even guns, amongst other items. At the
recent Ski and Snowboard Show in London, BA was advertising its allegiance to
snow sports and pushing its free carriage of snow related equipment on all
flights.
They have also just stated that they ‘will continue to accept
items by special arrangement when bookings are made through one of the
specialist tour operators (they) work with.' Further to this BA has attempted to
justify its surfboard decision with some extremely brief statements saying that
it is ‘working with a number of freight forwarders to find an alternative way
for customers to carry surfboards and other larger items. Until this solution
is in place, (they) will continue to honour bookings.'
However when pushed by journalists on the fact that they will still carry
skis and golf clubs, which can be as heavy and cumbersome as surf boards, they
said, "We carry significantly more items such as golf bags and skis, which means
we are able to put more robust processes in place to handle them."
The announcement and subsequent statements have caused uproar amongst surfers
who see the new decision as a marginalisation of the sport and of all those
within the global surf community. The UK has over 500,000 regular surfers and
nations such as South Africa, France, Australia and the USA have a much larger
surf scene.
Hundreds of thousands of global surfers travel each year to
enjoy and develop their pastime and in response to the ban, a group of motivated
British surfers immediately started a Facebook group which now has over 7,500
members. Additionally a global petition, created by the BSA currently has over
4,500 signatures from all over the world.
World Number One surfer Mick Fanning of New South Wales, Australia, has
backed the campaign and signed the petition. He says, "As a British Airways
‘Platinum One World Frequent Flyer' and an athlete on the World Professional
Surfer's tour, it's really hard to understand why people who have been so loyal,
and spent so much money with BA have been dealt this blow.
I personally
travel only with BA through Europe because of the friendly staff and quality of
this service. If BA continues to go ahead with their policy not to carry
surfboards from the beginning of November 07, I will not be able to compete in
my World Tour Events."
Newly crowned European longboard champion and English champion Ben Skinner is
also behind the campaign saying, "As part of the British team I have always
traveled with BA. I think it's a disgrace that they have thrown this ban back
at us. BA seems to have totally underestimated the amount of business they stand
to lose. I feel that as our national airline they should support British
surfing."
Surfers from as far a field as Australia, USA, South Africa, Canada,
Singapore, Abu Dhabi, Russia, Costa Rica and all over Europe have been signing
up and leaving messages of concern, surprise and in many cases, disgust. Across
the UK there has also been concern from tourist boards and local councils where
surf tourism forms a key part of the local economy.
If the ban goes
ahead, hardest hit could be Jersey where surfers, wishing to travel abroad,
currently only have the option of flying directly to foreign destinations with
BA. Assistant Economic Minister for Jersey said the ban was a blow to a small
but important sector of the internal tourism industry as well as residents who
pursued their hobbies abroad.
Regular Jersey surfer Andy Cummins said, "I have a trip planned to Barbados
in November, I have had quotes from freight companies to get my boards there for
between £400 and £700 pounds which is absolutely ridiculous. BA has obviously
not thought the policy through and don't seem to realise how many people this
will effect. It means that I simply will not be flying with BA for any reason
again unless the ban is lifted."
Other British surfers will now be effectively ‘stranded' if they want to fly
with their boards as some, such as those based on the outlying islands, are
mainly serviced by BA flights. Rodney Jamieson from Stornoway on the Isle of
Lewis off Scotland said, "From an islanders perspective this ban is ludicrous.
British Airways is the only main airline to service these islands, which
means surfers wanting to travel to and from the islands will now have very
little choice but to take a car on the ferry. Then once they get to the
mainland they then have to drive to one of the mainland airports such as
Inverness, Glasgow or Edinburgh and pay for parking, adding more expense and at
least half a day traveling time to their trip each way.
I have a trip
planned to Indonesia in February and since news of the ban I have no idea how I
am going to get there with my surfboards." Surfing is ever growing throughout
Scotland and many others will now find themselves in this frustrating position.
Karen Walton, National Director, at the Newquay-based BSA, says, "In the last
week, news about the ban has spread though the global surf community by
word-of-mouth, through the Internet and through the international media.
Without a doubt, the reaction has been one of disbelief, shock and anger.
From BA's scant statements and comments to journalists it appears that
they think that the surf community is just a tiny part of their customer base,
and that therefore these hundreds of thousands of traveling surfers don't
matter. We think that they have seriously underestimated how large the surf
community actually is.
We also think they have underestimated the
invaluable spend that the global surf traveling community provides for their
airline and for all of the surf communities that they service. Mick Fanning is
one of just many of the surfers who are members of the BA loyalty scheme and
they stand to lose considerable business if they proceed with the ban."
Mrs Walton continues, "They are saying that there are alternative freight
companies that can ship people's boards instead, however this just isn't a
viable option. We checked with TNT as an example and to get a board from
Newquay to Hossegor in France it would cost in excess of £200 each way and take
six days to get there and another six to get back.
This type of
situation will just not work for leisure or professional surfers who simply will
not travel without their boards. It is essential that BA realises just how
strongly they are alienating the global surf industry and reverses this ban and
it is critical that other airlines understand that this is not an example they
can consider following."
Dave Hitchins part for the group who set up the Facebook ‘BA Surfboard Ban
Group' says, "I honestly think that the Facebook group and the BSA petition are
the tip of the iceberg. The Facebook group has grown by almost a thousand people
a day over the last week.
Most members are from the English speaking
world - every part of the UK, US, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand, but
there are people from places as diverse as Morocco, Israel, Japan and Chile. The
common theme is anger, disbelief and confusion about how the ban will be
implemented."
Dave continues, "It just seems that BA is out of touch with tomorrow's
market. Surfing is an aspirational sport, it is a pastime that all manner of
brands have sought to associate themselves with - from that great Guinness
advert to major car manufactures like Renault and Vauxhall and even the BBC. Why
is BA going the other way?
"Surfers are young and old, male and female. They are professional athletes,
students, teachers and businessmen. They all love their sport though, and the
ability to escape to a far off country with their boards is a huge part of that
love. I hope that we can make BA see that and change their minds."
The BSA is continuing to urge everyone who surfs to take five minutes to go
online and follow their recommended action steps. The BSA is planning to
deliver the petition to the management of BA in person next week, alongside the
supportive statements from other organisations.
Surfer action steps
1) Go onto www.britsurf.co.uk and click
the ‘SIGN ONLINE PETITION OF PROTEST IN THE NEWS SECTION
ON THE HOME PAGE'.
2) If you have a Facebook account, join the
Facebook ‘British Airways Surfboard Ban' group
3) Click this link http://www.britishairways.com/travel/custrelform/public/en_gb
and register a complaint with BA directly
4) Encourage all other surfers to
follow these steps
www.britsurf.co.uk
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