Whether it’s hauling lots of technical gear, booking a complicated itinerary to a far-flung destination, or deciding to travel at the last minute because the swell or snowfall just happens to be epic—adventure travelers are always willing to go the extra mile (or much more) for that unforgettable trip.
But traveling with adventure in mind means that you most likely have a different set of priorities when deciding which airline to book with. Whether you’re a surfer, mountain biker, or scuba diver, you may find yourself navigating complicated baggage policies, struggling to to stay within your chosen frequent flier program for a multi-leg trip, or searching for an airline that flies to that niche destination on your bucket list.
As Eric Larsen, a polar adventurer based in Crested Butte, Colorado, put it: “I’ve had so many crazy experiences with baggage—baggage check is one of the most stressful aspects of travel for me … especially when I’m flying solo and I have five or six bags in the airport. Usually, I’m working so hard, I’m sweating.”
So how does Larsen manage to keep his cool when he’s lugging polar sleds through the airport on his way to an Arctic expedition?
“I try to stick with one airline [alliance] or group so that I accumulate points and status, which not only makes checking in with a lot of bags easier, but it means that my bags are also offloaded first. With ‘status’ you also get extra bags and even extra heavy bags.”
As Larsen suggests, what travelers bound for adventure tourism destinations really need is customization and flexibility, whether it be in their airline’s baggage policies and route map, or their travel insurance provider’s a la carte policy benefits.
As the leading provider of insurance for travelers going to adventure destinations, battleface ranked the top 25 most adventure friendly airlines to help travelers find the carriers that best suit their needs, looking at adventure destinations served (those best known for adventure sports and activities), baggage policies, alliance membership, and more.
Here’s a peek at the 25 adventure travel airlines that made the list. Read on for a deeper look at why the top 10 airlines on the list came out on top.
1 Etihad Airways
Etihad flies to nearly all the top destinations in the world for adventure sports including ski/snowboarding, mountaineering, scuba diving, kitesurfing, sailing, kayaking, surfing, sailing, and mountain biking. It also has one of the most generous baggage policies, with two free checked bags and allows for a range of sports equipment—including bikes, kayaks, skis, and snowboards—in its standard baggage allowance, making it the best airline for bikes, among other activities.
2 Qatar Airways
Qatar services the top destinations for all nine sports and activities included in the survey, including golf, the one which Etihad lacks. It also allows for a generous baggage allowance of two checked bags per passenger on an economy ticket. As part of the OneWorld Alliance, it’s an attractive option for frequent fliers within that network.
3 Japan Airlines
Japan Airlines also generously allows a range of sports equipment—bikes, kayaks, skis/snowboards, scuba gear etc—to be included as part of its standard free baggage policy. Plus, it flies to all but one of the top destinations for the nine sports on the list.
4 Singapore Airlines
Part of the Star Alliance network, Singapore Airlines has a generous weight-based baggage policy—versus one defined by individual items—which means you can apply any sports or adventure equipment you’re checking in towards your overall baggage weight allowance.
5 Qantas
One of the airlines in the top ten that are part of the OneWorld alliance, Qantas allows for two free checked bags on an economy ticket, and serves eight of the nine destinations for the chosen sports and activities. It’s another airline on the list that allows you to check a bike as part of your free baggage allowance, too.
6 LOT Polish Airlines
Like Etihad, LOT Polish Airlines is another carrier that includes equipment like bikes, kayaks, scuba gear and skis/snowboards in its free checked baggage allowance, making it an attractive option for adventure travelers who are hauling gear. It’s also part of the expansive Star Alliance network.
7 Lufthansa
Lufthansa is another airline on the list that services the top destinations for all nine included sports and activities. It ranks number two on the list for airlines that are friendly to golfers, and is also part of the Star Alliance network.
8 All Nippon Airways
ANA – All Nippon Airways – is the largest airline in Japan and scored well for both Winter Sports and Cycling, alongside having a generous baggage allowance for adventure sports enthusiasts. ANA is a member of the Star Alliance network and is renowned for attentive service.
9 Air France
The flag carrier of France, Air France is a founding member of the SkyTeam global alliance, and has codeshares with a number of other airlines, making destinations around the world easier for travelers to fly to. It has attractive baggage allowances for those heading to the slopes – with skis being free as part of your baggage allowance.
10 Delta Air Lines
Also referred to as Delta, Delta Air Lines is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, and is one the world’s oldest airlines in operation. Delta scores highly for both golf and cycling, is a member of Skyteam Alliance, and has codeshare agreements with a number of quality airlines, including LATAM, Aeroméxico, Garuda Indonesia and Aerolíneas Argentinas, allowing for easier connections for more far-flung adventure friendly destinations.
Read more below on the specific approach and methodology.
The world’s most adventure friendly airlines study was created with a rigorous methodology.
Then airline data pulled included the following:
FOR RESIDENTS OF ALL STATES OTHER THAN THOSE LISTED BELOW: Any person who knowingly presents a false or fraudulent claim for payment of a loss or benefit or knowingly presents false information in an application for insurance is guilty of a crime and may be subject to fines and confinement in prison.
ALASKA: A person who knowingly and with intent to injure, defraud, or deceive an insurance company files a claim containing false, incomplete, or misleading information may be prosecuted under state law.
ARIZONA: For your protection Arizona law requires the following statement to appear on this form. Any person who knowingly presents a false or fraudulent claim for payment of a loss is subject to criminal and civil penalties.
CALIFORNIA: For your protection California law requires the following to appear on this form: Any person who knowingly presents false or fraudulent information to obtain or amend insurance coverage or to make a claim for the payment of a loss is guilty of a crime and may be subject to fines and confinement in state prison.
COLORADO: It is unlawful to knowingly provide false, incomplete, or misleading facts or information to an insurance company for the purpose of defrauding or attempting to defraud the company. Penalties may include imprisonment, fines, denial of insurance and civil damages. Any insurance company or agent of an insurance company who knowingly provides false, incomplete, or misleading facts or information to a policyholder or claimant for the purpose of defrauding or attempting to defraud the policyholder or claimant with regard to a settlement or award payable from insurance proceeds shall be reported to the Colorado division of insurance within the department of regulatory agencies.
DELAWARE: Any person who knowingly, and with intent to injure, defraud or deceive any insurer, files a statement of claim containing any false, incomplete or misleading information is guilty of a felony.
FLORIDA: Any person who knowingly and with intent to injure, defraud, or deceive any insurer files a statement of claim or an application containing any false, incomplete, or misleading information is guilty of a felony of the third degree.
IDAHO: Any person who knowingly, and with intent to defraud or deceive any insurance company, files a statement of claim containing any false, incomplete, or misleading information is guilty of a felony.
INDIANA: A person who knowingly and with intent to defraud an insurer files a statement of claim containing any false, incomplete, or misleading information commits a felony.
KANSAS: A “fraudulent insurance act” means an act committed by any person who, knowingly and with intent to defraud, presents, causes to be presented or prepares with knowledge or belief that it will be presented to or by an insurer, purported insurer, broker or any agent thereof, any written, electronic, electronic impulse, facsimile, magnetic, oral, or telephonic communication or statement as part of, or in support of, an application for the issuance of, or the rating of an insurance policy for personal or commercial insurance, or a claim for payment or other benefit pursuant to an insurance policy for commercial or personal insurance which such person knows to contain materially false information concerning any fact material thereto; or conceals, for the purpose of misleading, information concerning any fact material thereto.
KENTUCKY:
Application: Any person who knowingly and with intent to defraud any insurance company or other person files an application for insurance containing any materially false information or conceals, for the purpose of misleading, information concerning any fact material thereto commits a fraudulent insurance act, which is a crime.
Claim Form: Any person who knowingly and with intent to defraud any insurance company or other person files a statement of claim containing any materially false information or conceals, for the purpose of misleading, information concerning any fact material thereto commits a fraudulent insurance act, which is a crime.
MAINE: It is a crime to knowingly provide false, incomplete or misleading information to an insurance company for the purpose of defrauding the company. Penalties may include imprisonment, fines or a denial of insurance benefits.
MARYLAND: Any person who knowingly or willfully presents a false or fraudulent claim for payment of a loss or benefit or who knowingly or willfully presents false information in an application for insurance is guilty of a crime and may be subject to fines and confinement in prison.
MINNESOTA: A person who files a claim with intent to defraud or helps commit a fraud against an insurer is guilty of a crime.
NEW HAMPSHIRE: Any person who, with a purpose to injure, defraud, or deceive any insurance company, files a statement of claim containing any false, incomplete, or misleading information is subject to prosecution and punishment for insurance fraud, as provided in RSA 638:20.
NEW JERSEY:
Application: Any person who includes any false or misleading information on an application for an insurance policy is subject to criminal and civil penalties.
Claim Form: Any person who knowingly files a statement of claim containing any false or misleading information is subject to criminal and civil penalties.
PENNSYLVANIA: Any person who knowingly and with intent to defraud any insurance company or other person files an application for insurance or statement of claim containing any materially false information or conceals for the purpose of misleading, information concerning any fact material thereto commits a fraudulent insurance act, which is a crime and subjects such person to criminal and civil penalties.
NEW MEXICO: ANY PERSON WHO KNOWINGLY PRESENTS A FALSE OR FRAUDULENT CLAIM FOR PAYMENT OF A LOSS OR BENEFIT OR KNOWINGLY PRESENTS FALSE INFORMATION IN AN APPLICATION FOR INSURANCE IS GUILTY OF A CRIME AND MAY BE SUBJECT TO CIVIL FINES AND CRIMINAL PENALTIES.
OHIO: Any person who, with intent to defraud or knowing that he is facilitating a fraud against an insurer, submits an application or files a claim containing a false or deceptive statement is guilty of insurance fraud.
OKLAHOMA: Any person who knowingly, and with intent to injure, defraud or deceive any insurer, makes any claim for the proceeds of an insurance policy containing any false, incomplete or misleading information is guilty of a felony.
OREGON: IMPORTANT NOTE: Any person who knowingly presents a false or fraudulent claim for payment of a loss or benefit or knowingly presents false information in an application for insurance may be guilty of a crime and may be subject to fines and confinement in prison.
TENNESSEE: It is a crime to knowingly provide false, incomplete or misleading information to an insurance company for the purpose of defrauding the company. Penalties include imprisonment, fines and denial of insurance benefit.
TEXAS: Any person who knowingly presents a false or fraudulent claim for payment of a loss is guilty of a crime and may be subject to fines and confinement in state prison.
VIRGINIA: It is a crime to knowingly provide false, incomplete or misleading information to an insurance company for the purpose of defrauding the company. Penalties include imprisonment, fines and denial of insurance benefits.
WASHINGTON: It is a crime to knowingly provide false, incomplete or misleading information to an insurance company for the purpose of defrauding the company. Penalties include imprisonment, fines and denial of insurance benefits.
NEW YORK*: Any person who knowingly and with intent to defraud any insurance company or other person files an application for insurance or statement of claim containing any materially false information, or conceals for the purpose of misleading, information concerning any fact material thereto, commits a fraudulent insurance act, which is a crime, and shall also be subject to a civil penalty not to exceed five thousand dollars and the stated value of the claim for each such violation.