Flying with Rods

PurEvl · 03-20-2008, 09:02 PM

After a quick glance searching through goggle I couldn't find anything about restrictions on rods being a carry on item. Those of you that fly out and bring your gear with you, how do you normally do it? Ksong said he took a rod on as carry on and no one bothered him. I'll check with my airline when I can but just wanted to get some input from you guys first.

mcgolfer · 03-20-2008, 09:43 PM

one of the main reasons we developed our 7 1/2ft rod was that it would break down and you would be able to travel with it and be way under the airlines 7ft length maximum. get yourself a hard case for your rods and pack them with care and you should be good to go. just remember that your 7ft rod that doesn't break down may not be allowed to fly with you. each airline has its own little quirks...rick

PurEvl · 03-20-2008, 10:01 PM

I'm sure I can get it through check in but am wondering about carry on. Is that what your talking about?

Ragman · 03-20-2008, 10:03 PM

I just flew American Airlines for the Miami Boat show and carried on our
7 1/2' two-piece rod. Zip tied it together in its soft case and as I boarded the plane, placed it in the coat closet just as you step on the plane.

No problems, not even any questions going or coming home.

When I travel with multiple rods, I pack them in a holder but keep it below 7' and check it. Counts as one checked piece.

I mainly travel AA, Delta, and Continental.

PurEvl · 03-20-2008, 10:05 PM

What if I ziptie both rods I plan to take, would that count as one piece? What kind of holder do you put them in?

Ragman · 03-20-2008, 10:07 PM

Probably be o.k. with just two rods.

I had it in its O.T.I. rod sock that comes with each rod.

MrBill · 03-20-2008, 10:23 PM

Fishing Rods are permitted as carryon and checked baggage. Check with your air carrier to confirm that it fits within their size limitations for carryon items. It's the carrier's decision as to whether or not it can be transported as carryon baggage. Some tackle equipment can be considered sharp and dangerous such a jigs and poppers.

Expensive reels or fragile tackle such as fly's should be packed in your carryon baggage.
Put a TSA lock on your checked bag, Always print out the TSA page and carry it with you at check in with the fishing/hunting equipment regulations, in case they mess with you. Carry your expensive reels as carry on. Some TSA's give a hard time about line being on them. No hooks on carry on. It's best to print out the policy on the airline and bring it with you. Any other items such as rods, lures, lines are checked (and insured) with hopes that they will be at your destinations. Just be sure to secure ample bubble wraps (with tapes) around your rods to ensure rod breakage. … Insure it and hope for the best.

Here are some policies of some major airlines.

USAir/AmericaWest's policy
Fishing equipment
Fishing equipment will be accepted in the normal free baggage allowance in lieu of a piece of baggage. One item of fishing equipment consists of:
Two rods
One reel
One landing net
One pair of waders (properly encased)
One tackle box

United's policy
Fishing Allowance/Requirements
2 rods
1 reel
1 pair of boots
1 tackle box
1 landing net

Cost*
Free in place of one checked bag.
Maximum size/weight
50 pounds/62 linear inches

Maximum length
109 inches

Other information:
None

Continental's policy
Fishing Equipment
Continental accepts one item of fishing equipment per customer in lieu of one piece of free baggage. An item of fishing equipment consists of the following:
rods
reel
1 landing net
1 pair of fishing boots
1 tackle box.
All items must be properly encased in a suitable container not to exceed a total of 115 linear inches (L + W + H)..
Fishing equipment over 80 inches in length will not be accepted as checked baggage on any itinerary involving a Continental Express* or Continental Connection flight.
Fishing equipment carried in addition to the free baggage allowance will be assessed at the current excess baggage charge for a single piece, whether or not it is presented as a single piece.

Alaska's Policy
Fishing Equipment
The following items may be checked free as a third bag: Two rods, two reels, and one tackle box encased in a proper hard case or Alaska Airlines box. Fishing equipment is authorized to exceed 62 inches. However, if the item is excess or overweight it is subject to applicable fee.
Note: Fishing rods must be inside a single case. Cases may not be taped together.

American's Policy

FishingRods and reels contained in a case and one bag with fishing tackle, landing net, and fishing boots.Two pieces - Fishing rod case and fishing equipment bag are free in place of one 62 inch bag

Fishing rod case 50 lbs. 115 inches
Equipment bag 50 lbs. 62 inches
For purposes of excess baggage, two pieces count as 1 item

American's policy is the most explicit, specifying the exact size and weight of the allowed pieces. Continental's is the most poorly written, seeming to require that the rods and tackle bag go into a single container, but that is not true. United's and USAir's do not explicitly state that you can exceed the 62 inch rule with the rod tube.

Yes, you may get stopped at the check-in counter, but that is because the counter agent is not aware of the rule. As with the TSA rules, you should have the rules printed out with the date and web address in the footer. This will allow then to look up the policy. If you are forced to pay an excess baggage charge, make them write down specifically what they are charging you for. When you complete your flight, you can contact customer service, explain the situation and get your money back.

PurEvl · 03-20-2008, 10:35 PM

I plan to fly US Air so that's perfect, I can bring all my fishing gear on board with me without risk losing it!

PM'd MrBill.

PurEvl · 03-20-2008, 10:38 PM

Thanks for the info. Tom/MrBill

gman · 03-21-2008, 07:24 AM

Your best bet is to check the rods, I will tell you why. I fly a lot, if you attempt to carry on the rods in a soft case and they decided for whatever reason to decline you once aboard that means you will need to check you rods at the gate in a t case which means they will be broken. In addition if you carry them on you most likely will need to put them above you in the overhead which is a lose lose proposition.

Check them and be safe or do what I do ship them ahead of time so atleast if they lose it they will have time t find them

03-20-2008, 09:02 PM	#1 (permalink)
PurEvl Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 541	Flying with Rods After a quick glance searching through goggle I couldn't find anything about restrictions on rods being a carry on item. Those of you that fly out and bring your gear with you, how do you normally do it? Ksong said he took a rod on as carry on and no one bothered him. I'll check with my airline when I can but just wanted to get some input from you guys first. Last edited by PurEvl : 03-20-2008 at 09:08 PM.

03-20-2008, 09:43 PM	#2 (permalink)
mcgolfer Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: antlers oklahoma Posts: 383	one of the main reasons we developed our 7 1/2ft rod was that it would break down and you would be able to travel with it and be way under the airlines 7ft length maximum. get yourself a hard case for your rods and pack them with care and you should be good to go. just remember that your 7ft rod that doesn't break down may not be allowed to fly with you. each airline has its own little quirks...rick __________________ there is no limit on tackle

03-20-2008, 10:03 PM	#4 (permalink)
Ragman Moderator Join Date: May 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 924	I just flew American Airlines for the Miami Boat show and carried on our 7 1/2' two-piece rod. Zip tied it together in its soft case and as I boarded the plane, placed it in the coat closet just as you step on the plane. No problems, not even any questions going or coming home. When I travel with multiple rods, I pack them in a holder but keep it below 7' and check it. Counts as one checked piece. I mainly travel AA, Delta, and Continental. __________________ Tom www.oceantackle.net *Go Hard or Go Home!*

03-20-2008, 10:07 PM	#6 (permalink)
Ragman Moderator Join Date: May 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 924	Probably be o.k. with just two rods. I had it in its O.T.I. rod sock that comes with each rod. __________________ Tom www.oceantackle.net *Go Hard or Go Home!*

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

03-20-2008, 10:01 PM	#3 (permalink)
PurEvl Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 541	I'm sure I can get it through check in but am wondering about carry on. Is that what your talking about?

03-20-2008, 10:05 PM	#5 (permalink)
PurEvl Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 541	What if I ziptie both rods I plan to take, would that count as one piece? What kind of holder do you put them in?

03-20-2008, 10:23 PM	#7 (permalink)
MrBill Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 1,024	Fishing Rods are permitted as carryon and checked baggage. Check with your air carrier to confirm that it fits within their size limitations for carryon items. It's the carrier's decision as to whether or not it can be transported as carryon baggage. Some tackle equipment can be considered sharp and dangerous such a jigs and poppers. Expensive reels or fragile tackle such as fly's should be packed in your carryon baggage. Put a TSA lock on your checked bag, Always print out the TSA page and carry it with you at check in with the fishing/hunting equipment regulations, in case they mess with you. Carry your expensive reels as carry on. Some TSA's give a hard time about line being on them. No hooks on carry on. It's best to print out the policy on the airline and bring it with you. Any other items such as rods, lures, lines are checked (and insured) with hopes that they will be at your destinations. Just be sure to secure ample bubble wraps (with tapes) around your rods to ensure rod breakage. … Insure it and hope for the best. Here are some policies of some major airlines. USAir/AmericaWest's policy Fishing equipment Fishing equipment will be accepted in the normal free baggage allowance in lieu of a piece of baggage. One item of fishing equipment consists of: Two rods One reel One landing net One pair of waders (properly encased) One tackle box United's policy Fishing Allowance/Requirements 2 rods 1 reel 1 pair of boots 1 tackle box 1 landing net Cost* Free in place of one checked bag. Maximum size/weight 50 pounds/62 linear inches Maximum length 109 inches Other information: None Continental's policy Fishing Equipment Continental accepts one item of fishing equipment per customer in lieu of one piece of free baggage. An item of fishing equipment consists of the following: rods reel 1 landing net 1 pair of fishing boots 1 tackle box. All items must be properly encased in a suitable container not to exceed a total of 115 linear inches (L + W + H).. Fishing equipment over 80 inches in length will not be accepted as checked baggage on any itinerary involving a Continental Express* or Continental Connection flight. Fishing equipment carried in addition to the free baggage allowance will be assessed at the current excess baggage charge for a single piece, whether or not it is presented as a single piece. Alaska's Policy Fishing Equipment The following items may be checked free as a third bag: Two rods, two reels, and one tackle box encased in a proper hard case or Alaska Airlines box. Fishing equipment is authorized to exceed 62 inches. However, if the item is excess or overweight it is subject to applicable fee. Note: Fishing rods must be inside a single case. Cases may not be taped together. American's Policy FishingRods and reels contained in a case and one bag with fishing tackle, landing net, and fishing boots.Two pieces - Fishing rod case and fishing equipment bag are free in place of one 62 inch bag Fishing rod case 50 lbs. 115 inches Equipment bag 50 lbs. 62 inches For purposes of excess baggage, two pieces count as 1 item American's policy is the most explicit, specifying the exact size and weight of the allowed pieces. Continental's is the most poorly written, seeming to require that the rods and tackle bag go into a single container, but that is not true. United's and USAir's do not explicitly state that you can exceed the 62 inch rule with the rod tube. Yes, you may get stopped at the check-in counter, but that is because the counter agent is not aware of the rule. As with the TSA rules, you should have the rules printed out with the date and web address in the footer. This will allow then to look up the policy. If you are forced to pay an excess baggage charge, make them write down specifically what they are charging you for. When you complete your flight, you can contact customer service, explain the situation and get your money back.

03-20-2008, 10:35 PM	#8 (permalink)
PurEvl Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 541	I plan to fly US Air so that's perfect, I can bring all my fishing gear on board with me without risk losing it! PM'd MrBill.

03-20-2008, 10:38 PM	#9 (permalink)
PurEvl Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 541	Thanks for the info. Tom/MrBill

03-21-2008, 07:24 AM	#10 (permalink)
gman Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 976	Your best bet is to check the rods, I will tell you why. I fly a lot, if you attempt to carry on the rods in a soft case and they decided for whatever reason to decline you once aboard that means you will need to check you rods at the gate in a t case which means they will be broken. In addition if you carry them on you most likely will need to put them above you in the overhead which is a lose lose proposition. Check them and be safe or do what I do ship them ahead of time so atleast if they lose it they will have time t find them

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)