TAP Air Portugal kitesurf equipment: fees, weight limits and how to pack
TAP Air Portugal names kitesurfing in its sports equipment rules. A kite bag can count as a checked bag in your fare if it stays within 32kg and 158cm; otherwise you pay from €45 online or a surcharge at the airport.
TAP Air Portugal carries kitesurf equipment: its sports equipment rules have a separate Surf / Kitesurf / Windsurf section. A kite bag can count towards your checked baggage allowance as long as it stays within 32kg and 158cm (length + width + height combined). If your fare has no checked bag or the kite bag is an extra item, it costs from €45 online.
The rules and fees below are from TAP's website on 25 October 2026. "From" prices vary with route, date and how early you buy, and the booking shows the exact amount.
For how other airlines compare, see flying with kitesurf equipment.
TAP sports equipment at a glance
| What | According to TAP |
|---|---|
| Category | Surf / Kitesurf / Windsurf, named explicitly |
| Within your allowance | yes, if the bag meets the limits and your fare includes a checked bag |
| Extra item online | from €45 |
| Charged per | the site doesn't say whether per flight or per trip |
| Weight | max 32kg; over 32kg only as cargo |
| Size | max 158cm (length + width + height) |
| Advance notice | add at least 24 hours before the flight, subject to availability |
| How to add | when booking, in Manage your Booking, at online check-in, at the airport, via the Contact Center or a travel agency |
| Paperwork | mandatory Declaration of Transport |
| Refunds | non-refundable |
What your fare gives you
With TAP, your fare decides whether the kite bag can travel "for free" instead of a suitcase.
| Fare | Europe and Morocco | Intercontinental |
|---|---|---|
| Discount | no checked bag | no checked bag |
| Basic | no checked bag | 1 x 23kg |
| Classic | 1 x 23kg | 1 x 23kg (Africa 2 x 23kg) |
| Plus | 1 x 23kg | 1 x 23kg (Africa 2 x 23kg) |
| Executive | 2 x 32kg | 2 x 32kg |
The catch: 158cm
TAP gives a maximum of 158cm for sports equipment, measured as length + width + height. A 138cm twintip fits a 140cm board bag, as I explain in the board bag guide, which leaves just 18cm for width and height combined. A board bag with a twintip will practically never fit within 158cm.
TAP says extra charges apply at the airport when you go over the limits. Its oversized baggage table lists these for flights between Portugal and Europe:
| Portugal - Europe flights | Low season | High season |
|---|---|---|
| Oversized (over 158cm) | €75 | €90 |
| Excess weight 23-32kg | €75 | €90 |
| Both | €150 | €180 |
TAP's high season runs 11 December 2026 - 4 January 2027, 19 March - 5 April 2027 and 1 July - 31 August 2027. The table is split by route; the site doesn't say outright whether each flight is charged separately, or whether the 23-32kg excess weight fee applies to sports equipment, which has a 32kg limit.
Get it confirmed
What it costs for a return trip
TAP doesn't publish one fixed price for a kite bag; it depends on fare, route and season. For a return trip from Prague to Lisbon, the fee tables work out roughly like this:
| Option | What you pay |
|---|---|
| Classic or Plus, kite bag as your checked bag within 158cm and 23kg | nothing extra |
| The same, bag longer than 158cm | airport surcharge, €75 off-season, €90 in high season; if each flight is charged, 2 x €75 = €150 return, 2 x €90 = €180 in high season |
| Discount or Basic, kite bag as an extra item | from €45 online; if each flight is charged, from €90 return, exact price in the booking |
| Suitcase on top of the kite bag | from €30 per extra piece online |
What's different about TAP
The Declaration of Transport
For surf, kitesurf and windsurf gear, TAP requires a completed Declaration of Transport. Without it, carriage may be refused. In it, you confirm you packed the gear yourself and that TAP's liability under the Montreal Convention may be limited if damage comes from defective packing. Download the form from TAP's sports equipment page, fill it in before you go and bring it with you.
Only flights operated by TAP
TAP offers sports equipment carriage only on flights it operates, flights operated on its behalf, and TAP Express. If your itinerary includes a leg with another airline, follow that airline's rules too. On combined tickets, the baggage allowance is set by a carrier chosen according to the route and the flight code on the ticket.
Batteries and valuable gear
- Power banks: maximum 2 per passenger, up to 100Wh, carry-on only; they can't be used or charged on board.
- Spare batteries: carry-on only, with terminals protected against short circuits; 100-160Wh maximum 2 and with approval.
- Higher baggage value: you can only declare it at the airport check-in counter, at least 3 hours before departure, up to USD 2,500, for a fee of 15% of the declared value. For what your policy should cover, see kitesurfing travel insurance.
Where kiters fly with TAP
TAP flies from Prague to Lisbon; on 25 October 2026 its site showed return fares from 5,250 CZK. From Prague it also offers Porto, Ponta Delgada in the Azores, Marrakech and cities in Brazil.
From Marrakech, people drive on to Essaouira; see kitesurfing in Morocco. Brazil is among the destinations in the best kitesurfing spots in the world.
Practical tips
- Measure the bag: length + width + height. Include the result and the weight when you contact TAP.
- Declaration of Transport: have it filled in and printed.
- Avoid high season if you can: airport surcharges are higher then.
- Packing: fins off the board, kites fully deflated, bar in its cover. More in kite board bags and flying with your gear.
On the kite safari in Egypt I go on, there are pumps and a compressor on board and you can rent a twintip for €60 for 6 days (2026 prices). If you'd rather skip the long board bag, kites, bar and harness are enough. The kite safari packing list covers the rest.
Questions
Does TAP Air Portugal accept kitesurf equipment?
Yes. TAP's sports equipment rules have a separate Surf / Kitesurf / Windsurf section. Boards must be packed in proper bags and you have to complete the Declaration of Transport, otherwise TAP may refuse to carry them.
How much does TAP charge for sports equipment?
If your kite bag fits within your checked allowance and the 32kg and 158cm limits, there's no extra charge. The allowance on Classic and Plus is 1 piece up to 23kg, though, and TAP's site doesn't say outright whether the 23-32kg excess weight fee applies to sports equipment. As an extra item it costs from €45 online (25 October 2026); the booking shows the exact price for your route, date and purchase time.
What if my kite bag is longer than 158cm on TAP?
TAP says extra charges apply at the airport when you exceed the limits. Its fee table lists €75 off-season and €90 in high season for oversized bags on flights between Portugal and Europe. A board bag with a twintip is usually longer, so get carriage confirmed by TAP in advance.
Do TAP's sports equipment rules apply on codeshare flights?
TAP offers sports equipment carriage only on flights operated by TAP, on its behalf, or by TAP Express. On a leg with another airline, check that airline's rules too.
Sources and fact checks (7)
- TAP: Surf / Kitesurf / Windsurf section in sports equipment rules; boards must be packed in appropriate bags or carriage may be refused; completing the Declaration of Transport is mandatory; sports equipment can be included in the free hold allowance within limits; max 32kg and 158cm (height + length + width); free allowance depends on fare, destination and status; book up to 24 hours before the flight, subject to availability; from 45 EUR online; price varies by channel, advance purchase, date and route; non-refundable; only on flights operated by TAP, on its behalf, and TAP Express; some aircraft have space limitations, contact the Contact Center or a TAP counter to ensure registration; extra charges at the airport if limits are exceeded www.flytap.com (checked 25 October 2026)
- TAP Declaration of Transport: the passenger acknowledges TAP's liability for surf equipment may be wholly or partly exonerated under the Montreal Convention for inherent defect or defective packing, and that the equipment was packed by the passenger; flight, itinerary, date and bag weight are recorded publish-p133109-e1368204.adobeaemcloud.com (checked 25 October 2026)
- TAP: checked bag max 23kg in Economy, 32kg in Business, 158cm; over 32kg only as cargo; Europe and Morocco: Discount and Basic no checked bag, Classic and Plus 1 x 23kg, Executive 2 x 32kg; intercontinental: Basic, Classic and Plus 1 x 23kg (Africa Classic and Plus 2 x 23kg), Discount none; extra bag online from 30 EUR; airport charges for oversize over 158cm, Portugal/Morocco - Europe 75 EUR low season, 90 EUR high season, weight and size 150 / 180 EUR; Brazil - Europe 130 / 150 EUR; high season 11 Dec 2026 - 4 Jan 2027, 19 Mar - 5 Apr 2027, 1 Jul - 31 Aug 2027; special value declaration up to 2,500 USD, 15% fee, at the airport counter at least 3 hours before departure; with several airlines the allowance is set by carrier according to route and flight code www.flytap.com (checked 25 October 2026)
- TAP: max 2 power banks per passenger, up to 100Wh, carry-on only, not to be used or charged on board; spare batteries carry-on only, protected against short circuits; spare batteries 100-160Wh max 2 with approval www.flytap.com (checked 25 October 2026)
- TAP: flights from Prague to Lisbon, return from 5,250 CZK (25 October 2026) www.flytap.com (checked 25 October 2026)
- TAP: destinations from Prague include Porto, Ponta Delgada, Marrakech and Brazilian cities (Sao Paulo, Brasilia, Belo Horizonte) www.flytap.com (checked 25 October 2026)
- Safari 2026: compressor and pumps on board; twintip rental €60 / 6 days paradisekitesurf.cz (checked 25 October 2026)
