SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- To celebrate California recently naming surfing as the state's official sport, United Airlines, California's global airline, is getting onboard and removing the service fees for surfboards for customers traveling to or from California. 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 apply.

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.

"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.

About United
United Airlines and United Express operate approximately 4,600 flights a day to 357 airports across five continents. In 2017, United and United Express operated more than 1.6 million flights carrying more than 148 million customers. United is proud to have the world's most comprehensive route network, including U.S. mainland hubs in Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Newark/New York, San Francisco and Washington, D.C. United operates 757 mainline aircraft and the airline's United Express carriers operate 551 regional aircraft. The airline is a founding member of Star Alliance, which provides service to 193 countries via 28 member airlines. For more information, visit united.com, follow @United on Twitter or connect on Facebook. The common stock of United's parent, United Continental Holdings, Inc., is traded on the Nasdaq under the symbol "UAL".

About Sustainable Surf
Sustainable Surf is a California-based environmental nonprofit organization – that protects and regenerates ocean health by shifting people to a more ocean friendly, low-carbon, lifestyle. Sustainable Surf operates as an innovation lab in partnership with leading brands, organizations and ambassadors to authentically harness the mass appeal of "surf culture", to inspire and activate people all around the world to start making more sustainable lifestyle choices on a daily basis.

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SOURCE United Airlines