Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Airtravel Infos - Traveling with Sports Equipment

By Tanja Martens

Are you an avid sports fan? If so, there is a good chance that they try to incorporate sport into their next vacation or business trip. If you are about to enjoy a game of golf or a game of baseball, it is likely that you want to bring with you some sports teams. But did you know that there are certain restrictions on those items? If you plan to travel with sports equipment, no matter what sport it is for the team, you may want to familiarize themselves 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 prohibited from being used as carryon luggage. If you are about to enjoy a baseball game, your next vacation or business trip, you will want to save your baseball bats in a bag to ensure security conditions that can be transported across different airports. While baseball bats are banned from aircraft cabins, there is no mention of other teams, such as detachable, helmets, or baseball. For your convenience, you might want to store these supplies baseball in the same place as their baseball bats in their checked baggage.

Of course, if you are planning to enjoy hunting, when on vacation or a business trip, you will have to keep their supplies in your checked baggage. All bows, arrows, and firearms are strictly prohibited from being in aircraft cabins. In fact, if you try to pass through a security checkpoint with these items, it is an excellent opportunity to be stopped by airport security, for further interrogation. Although it may not necessarily think, bows, arrows, and firearms are not only used for recreational purposes, but also are used to harm others.

Sports items which are prohibited extra to be included in carryon luggage include pool cues, ski poles, lacrosse sticks, or hockey sticks. As with all other issues, if you are concerned about the security of your sports equipment, it is advisable to reconsider your decision to make this equipment long. You can help protect your equipment, making sure that everything is packaged properly and safely, but there are no guarantees. You are also advised against relying on compensation by the airlines, if and when your sports equipment was severely damaged.

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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