You arrive at your golf destination and proceed to the baggage claim area to pick up your clubs, you find that they were not on the plane or worse they were seriously damaged in transit.
Every travelers knows that when you pack your bags for your vacation or business trip that if your are going to fly, your bags are going to be thrown around and handled roughly by the baggage handlers at the airport. Do you remember the old American Tourister ad where they showed a gorilla working in the luggage area of the airport throwing luggage around? Well they may not be hiring gorillas anymore but if you have traveled lately you know how much damage can be done to your luggage.
It is one thing to have your shirts and slacks tossed around and tipped upside down, it is another thing to do it with a new set of clubs. Traveling to golf destination I have had a chance to watch the baggage handlers at work loading and unloading the luggage and particularly golf clubs. Because of their inherent size and clumsiness they are subject to being dropped off the carts, slid off the ramps and bumped, banged, and abused. It is gut wrenching, especially when you see your bag being subjected to this kind of treatment. Your immediate thought is to open the bag as soon as you can to see what damage has been done.
As much as this is the reality of traveling by air you can do some things to protect your investment. The following is an excerpt from an article titled Traveling with Golf Clubs; it outlines the types of golf travel bags available and will even provide you with a link to where you can purchase these bags. www.golftravelhints.com.
Kinds of Golf Travel Bags
The major types of golf travel bags are soft shell, hard shell, and hybrid. Many of them have wheels so you don't have to carry them. Most airlines will make you sign a damage waiver if you travel with a soft shell bag. You need a hard shell or good hybrid golf travel bag if you plan to fly. Consider these points when choosing a golf bag for air travel.
Be sure to ask about the weight rating of a golf bag if traveling by air. This is the amount of direct pressure a bag can handle without crushing or cracking. It should be able to withstand at least 500 pounds of direct pressure.
Make sure the method for closing the bag will comply with TSA requirements. Basically, make sure it can latch securely WITHOUT locking. TSA requires that checked luggage be available for a physical search, so you don't want a busted lock or to find out that your bags didn't make it on the plane.
Another important decision has to do with size. Most airlines allow you to substitute a golf bag for one of your checked bags at no extra cost. Hybrid bags are generally allowed in place of one piece of luggage without an additional charge. Be prepared for the possibility of an upcharge if you opt for a Hardsided coffin case.
Research the warranty on the golf travel bag you choose. Airline abuse is common for all luggage. Some golf travel bags offer warranties that protect you partially from airline damage.
Things to Know Before you Go!
Before you buy your ticket and make your plans, check out the following airline rules and fees for carrying your golf clubs with you.
American Airlines
One golf bag containing no more than 14 golf clubs, 20 golf balls and one pair of golf, you will be charged the applicable checked bag charge for the 1st or 2nd checked bag. When in excess each item will be subject to the baggage charge for a single piece ($80 USD per piece for the first three additional pieces) In addition, overweight and oversized baggage incurs additional fees, if your item is overweight and oversized, they add the fees together. Maximum free weight on golf clubs is 70 lb. Size is limited to the size of a hard-sided golf case. Swingless golf club load strips are considered dangerous goods and are not allowed in checked or carry-on baggage.
Continental Airlines
Continental accepts one item of golf equipment per customer as checked baggage. An item of golf equipment consists of 1 golf bag containing 1 set of golf clubs, golf balls, and a pair of golf shoes. All items must be properly encased in a suitable container. The golf bag must be covered or enclosed in a heavy, rigid carrying case. Continental is not liable for damage to golf equipment that is not contained in a hard-sided case. Excess valuation may not be purchased for golf equipment that is not contained in a hard-sided case. If applicable, the first ($15) or second fee ($25) applies to golf equipment. Golfing equipment containers measuring over 62” (L+H+W) that contain other items in addition to or in place of appropriate golf equipment will be subject to an oversize fee.
Delta Airlines
One golf bag is acceptable up to 50 pounds as a checked bag. If the bag exceeds 50 pounds, excess baggage fees will apply. The outside linear dimensions may exceed 80 inches and no excess baggage fees will apply. All other standard baggage charges apply. One item of golfing equipment is defined as one golf bag so long as the golf bag is packaged within a hardshell case. If the golf bag is packaged within a soft sided golf club travel bag the customer must sign a limited release to be considered a checked bag under the definition of golf equipment.
Frontier Airlines
One bag which may include golf clubs and shoes is considered golf equipment, excess and overweight charges apply if applicable, oversized charges do not apply. You are limited to two pieces of luggage; each of the two pieces you check can't exceed 62 linear inches (length + width + depth) or weigh more than 50 pounds. There is a $75 fee for bags exceeding these weight limitations and a $75 fee for exceeding dimension parameters. There is a $15 charge for the first checked bag and $25 for the second on all flights when you purchase a coach class ticket.
Northwest Airlines
Each ticketed passenger is allowed one (1) piece of checked luggage for a fee of USD $15 each-way and a second pieced of checked luggage for a fee of USD $25 each-way. Third and subsequent pieces will be assessed a fee of USD $100 per piece each-way. Checked luggage including golf equipment is measured by adding length, width and height to determine the total number of linear inches. Northwest will accept luggage up to a maximum of 50 pounds and a total linear dimension of 62 inches per piece at no charge. Additional charges may apply for luggage weighing more than 50 pounds or with a total linear dimension of more than 62 inches.
United Airlines
United accepts 1 standard-sized golf bag with clubs and 1 pair of shoes in lieu of one checked bag up to 50 pounds. The golf bag must be enclosed in full-length protective cover (vinyl/cloth/nylon/or hard-sided case). Passengers who purchase Coach Cabin tickets will be assessed a first bag fee of $15 each way and a second bag fee of $25 each way; each bag is not to exceed 62 linear inches (length plus width plus height) and/or 50 pounds. Sun Country Airlines One (1) item of golfing equipment consists of: one (1) golf bag containing not more than 20 golf clubs and one (1) pair of golf shoes. Passengers who purchase Coach Cabin tickets will be assessed a first bag fee of $15 each way and a second bag fee of $25 each way; each bag is not to exceed 62 linear inches (length plus width plus height) and/or 50 pounds.
Summary
If all of these regulations are wearing you down and you are concerned about your clubs getting to your destination on time and in one piece, we may have a solution for you. Several companies including, Sports Express, Luggage Free, and Luggage Forward, provide what is called luggage shipping service. While airlines can charge as much as $75 per bag each way for exceeding their free baggage allowance the cost for some of these companies can be as low as $39 one way for a standard set of golf clubs.