Airlines and Golf Bags

[InTheTwenties]

Hello all, what is the best way to travel with your gear?

Do you put it in general cargo and risk loss or theft? Or do you carry it on? What about those combo bags/kits with the hard plastic body? Any thoughts and hindsight would be appreciated because I'm planning a trip to a resort that as a nice golf course.

Anyone have any horror stories?



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[MountainHip]

I've flown 3 times with my clubs, using a plastic shell. Had no problems.
Traveled to Mexico, Australia, and the US. Most airlines let you check them at no extra cost.

[jb1982]

  InTheTwenties said:

Hello all, what is the best way to travel with your gear?

Make sure that you get one that the outter shell is well attached. I just got a travel bag for Xmas and the had shell that covered the club heads was attached with velcro straps and cheesey little plastic clips. On my way back from Grand Cayman, I had to use duct tape to get the lid to stay on when I claimed the bags at customs in Atlanta. When they came off the baggage claim the top had broken off and the clubs came out one at a time!!! They even managed to bend my Scotty Cameron Putter! Delta did have to buy me a new bag and pay to have the putter reshafted.

[renefjr]

I bought the Club Glove Last Bag with the Stiff Arm. I've yet to take it on a trip but will be doing so this summer on a trip to Japan.

[NM Golf]

I have a hard shelled case and have flown 20+ times without a single problem. My buddy bought a soft case and when I met him on a trip his driver arrived in two pieces. I know most airlines now will not guarantee the safe arrival of your clubs unless you have a hard cover case. One downside to hard cases though is they are quite bulky. Mine will not fit into the trunk of a compact car. So my advice would be if you don't mind renting a mid size car on your golf vacations, go with a hard shell case.

[mybloodinvt]

unfortunately, traveling with your sticks is a crap shoot, no matter what type of travel bag you use. you will not be able to carry them onboard, so they will have to be checked. most of the touring pros use the club glove, and they are probably not compensated to do so. if you want to travel with them, you will have to check them, and say a prayer that they are in the same condition when you arrive at your destination.

[Fourputt]

I have a heavyweight nylon travel bag that is padded on the top 1/3 to protect the clubs. I also wrap and tape the clubs in bubble wrap where they stick out of the bag, and snap the rain hood that came with my bag over the top of that. I've only traveled once so far and had no problems.

But there are no guarantees. Delta had me fill out a special form because I was checking golf clubs., but I'm not all that sure just what that was supposed to mean.

[Billbill13]

Traveled one time round trip on Southwest with a soft sided bag, SW made me sign a wiaver because o fhte soft bag...no issues and everything arrived fine even this 65-75 year old wooden putter that my Dad gave me to bring back home but I worried the whole flight from Vegas to Chicago and back...my thoughts next time I am buying a hard shell case.

[13Marino]

I ordered this one from rbg http://www.rockbottomgolf.com/02bbythc306.html
Looks nice and sturdy, and it also comes apart to fit easily into a rental car's trunk. Haven't used it yet though, but will for my trip to Hawaii in Sep. This was the best deal I found, good luck shopping.

[jb1982]

http://www.tgw.com/customer/category...TEGORY_ID=7148

This is the one I got. It is a great idea since it's small and actually looks somewhat like a normal bag when the cover is off. The problem is that the airlines broke the headcover off so my clubs arrived one at a time!! I've only used it twice. And I spent my evening last night epoxying this baby back together so maybe it'll make it to Maui in May. So I wouldn't reccomend this one.

[NM Golf]

Here is a link to the travel bag I have. Like I said before I have traveled over 20 times all over the U.S. and into Canada, Jamaica, and Mexico without ever having a single thing happen to my clubs. My father has one just like it and has traveled quite a bit with his as well, with no issues. The only thing I did add to my travel bag was two straps to make sure it never popped open on accident. I STRONGLY suggest if you are going to travel with your clubs that you get a hard case for them. Like I said before most airlines will only cover the loss of a club during a flight if you have a hard case.

[AMGfan]

  NM Golf said:

Here is a link to the travel bag I have.

+1 on the hard case advice...I travel to the Philippines at least twice a year and when I didn't have second bag there I used to lug a carry case with me. You wouldn't believe the abuse luggage gets and a hard case definitely helps. I haven't had any trouble with lost golf bags, but I didn't want to push my luck so I ended up getting a second set to leave there.

[flap]

The Mrs and I both have staff size SBK hardsiders.They roll well and not even Spirit air can break them or my clubs.We allways rent a midsize car and they fit in the backseat just fine.

[Philfest]

  InTheTwenties said:

Hello all, what is the best way to travel with your gear?

Do you put it in general cargo and risk loss or theft? Or do you carry it on? What about those combo bags/kits with the hard plastic body? Any thoughts and hindsight would be appreciated because I'm planning a trip to a resort that as a nice golf course.

Anyone have any horror stories? Which resort are you going to?

[RoyHotPower]

food for though: I was recently in the market for a travel bag and read a review after the fact (already made a soft shell purchase) by a bloke who used a soft shell, experienced damage in transit, only to have the carrier flat out refuse to consider liability because his clubs were not packed in a hard shell/case.

I did some research on the four airlines I most frequently use (two majors and two mid-majors), and three of the four specify hard shell/case only in their policies.

[BuckeyeNut]

Most airlines won't guarantee clubs arrive in 1 piece if you use a soft case.  I'm pretty sure golfers with soft-cases are required to sign a waiver at check-in......With that said, I always use a soft case anyway.  I prefer a soft case because it takes up less space and is lighter. IE...when taking a family vacation, we need all the cargo space we have for the trip to the airport.

I have a backup set that flies with me so I it's no big deal if anything breaks.  My clubs have flown many times, and nothing has ever been damaged.  I even started taking my primary set on trips last year.   I went to St. Croix, but my clubs went to Texas!!!  LOL...my primary set of clubs did finally arrive, but that will probably be the last time they fly with me!!!

[KrazyTrain18]

When my dad and I were flying down to Palm Springs last year, we basically watched an inspection agent snap my dad's Callaway FT-5 ! Then he tried to explain that the club was laready broken ! Bad situation in all and no reimbursment.  Luckily the course had a demo R9 still out that he could use.

[David in FL]

Forgive me for this slight stray from golf.....but I think that it's at least vaguely on topic.....and, one of the funniest (true story*) things you'll ever see! [VIDEO]http://youtube.com/watch?v=5YGc4zOqozo[/VIDEO] * United airlines now uses it as part of their customer service training.....