Air
Travel Rules: Traveling with Sports
Equipment
Are you an avid
sports fan? If so, there is a good
chance that you will try and incorporate sports into your next vacation or
business trip. If you are planning on enjoying a game of golf or a game of
baseball, it is likely that you will want to bring along some sporting
equipment with you. However, did you
know there are certain restrictions on those items? If you are planning on traveling with sports
equipment, not matter what sport that equipment is for, you are advised to
familiarize yourself with these rules and restrictions.
As previously
mentioned, golf is a sport that many travelers enjoy participating in. If you are planning on traveling with your
golf clubs, you will need to treat them as checked baggage. All airlines
currently have a ban on golf clubs being used as carryon luggage. Due to the cost of most golf club sets, you
will either want to leave your clubs at home or properly protect them. If you are traveling to a golf resort or
other popular vacation destination, there is a good chance that you should be
able to rent a set of golf clubs. Although they will not be your own, it is
nice to know that your set is safe at home.
In addition to golf,
baseball is another sport enjoyed by many.
Like golf clubs, baseball bats are banned from being used as carryon
luggage. If you are planning on enjoying
a game of baseball, on your next vacation or business trip, you will want to
store your baseball bats in a secure bag that can safely be transported through
different airports. While baseball bats
are banned from airplane cabins, there is no mention of other equipment, such
as cleats, helmets, or baseballs. For
your own convenience, you may want to store these other baseball supplies in
the same place as your baseball bats, in your checked baggage.
Of course, if you are
planning on enjoying a hunting excursion, when on vacation or a business trip,
you will need to keep your supplies in your checked baggage. All bows, arrows, and guns are strictly
prohibited from being in airplane cabins. In fact, if you try and pass through
a security checkpoint with these items, is there is a good chance that you will
be detained by airport security, for further questioning. Although you may not
necessarily think about it, bows, arrows, and guns are not only used for
recreational purposes, but they are also used to harm others.
Additional sporting
goods that are banned from being included in your carryon luggage include pool
cues, ski poles, lacrosse sticks, or hockey sticks. As with all other items, if you are concerned
with the safety of your sporting equipment, you are advised to rethink your
decision to bring that equipment along.
You can help to protect your equipment by making sure that everything is
properly and safely packaged; however, there are no guarantees. You are also advised against relying on
compensation from the airlines if and when your sports equipment suffers
damage.
As previously
mentioned, there are some sporting goods that are outright banned, but other
rules are not so clear. If you are
trying to decide whether or not you can pack other equipment in your carryon
luggage, such as masks or other protective gear, you are advised to ask before
heading out to the airport. In the event that these items are banned, you may
have to make additional arrangements. Regardless of whether you choose to
return the items to your car or mail them to your home, you may end up wasting
unnecessary time and money.
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