Racquets on Flight

penang

penang

Rookie
Any recommendation bringing racquet on Flight. I carry with me on board one time while flying from NYC to FL. I'm taking a 10 hours+ flight soon. Should I check in with other luggage, the problem is my tennis bag has no cushioning at all. I'm afraid if drop, while transporting to the aircraft and carousel might harm the frame.
 
Never check in your racquet unless it's unstrung and in a hard case. Most airplane cargo areas are not pressurized like the cabins, and if your racquet is strung, it will affect the string and the tension and knock it out of whack. Take it with you as your carry on...
 
I was told that I have to check my racquets because "they could pose a security threat" They were right! How'd they know I was planning on bashing the pilot's head with my Prestige Classic 600? I was also planning on poking the stewardess' eye out with my toothbrush
 
I use my Super Combi as a carry on. It holds lots of rackets as well as other stuff and fits nicely in the overhead compartment.
 
You are no longer allowed to take take tennis racquets on board. (Security threat)

Mines had to be taken (in bubble wrap) to the place where they put the luggage.
 
Cobrien said:
ON BOTH OF THE DAYS OF THE LONDON BOMBINGS.

Thanks, I wont be going on a plane for a while.
Click to expand...

SHUT UP smooth move you forget my dad works down there why do you have to bring up something like this i am actually going to WHACK you soo hard tomorrow
 
reality is we don't know. it's the mood of the day at the gates.
be prepared to have them placed in the cargo, with the luggage.
 
Marius_Hancu said:
reality is we don't know. it's the mood of the day at the gates.
be prepared to have them placed in the cargo, with the luggage.
Click to expand...


CARGO. Thankyou Marcus. That word has been bugging me all day.
 
Rackets on Flight

Penang,

I carried on 4 rackets in a duffle bag with the handles all sticking out. I flew from Newark New Jersey to Cancun the day after Hurricane Emily hit that area. No one stopped me and I did the same the other day when I returned. I thought they might make me open the cans of tennis balls and dispose of the sharp metal lid, but they did not. Maybe because I was with my wife and kids they did not bother me. I have also heard that the racket tensions will be affected in cargo, not to mention the way the baggage handlers throw around the luggage. Definitely carry them on board.
 
It is always up to the people in charge. I just had a long multi planes trip, basically it was Venezuela to Peru, Peru to Colombia, Colomibia to Houston and back to Venezuela. I just took one racket with me and checked it in every time, no harm on the strings nor the frame. I put it in my main bag and used my clothes to make a soft cushion.

New rackets are stronger that one may think, same with the strings, unless we are talking about gut. How do you think they handle your rackets when they ship it from TW tot your house?. I can bet you that they receive more than one bang! on their way to your home.
 
Just carried 2 rackets on board Alaska Airlines. Had them in my backpack with the handles sticking out. No problem at all.
 
In the USA its not really an issue - I have heard American is the only airline that has made folks check in sticks. I take my 6 or 12 pak on a regular basis to France, UK, Belgium, Singapore, Brazil, Argentina, Hong Kong and Dubai and have not had any issues on Air France, Singapore Air, BA, Southwest, Emirates and Continental.

Australia is another matter as the transport authority down there in Oz have deemed tennis racquets as a dangerous weapon and you have to check them in.
 
The weird thing is, while racquets are not on TSA's prohibited item list, and airlines allow them as carry ons provided the bag does not exceed allowable combined linear dimensions, I could never get TSA to confirm that they are OK by either phone or email. The official TSA party line says it is at the discretion of the security checkpoint personnel. Classic double-talk. You just cannot teach that kind of "stupid".
 
Il Mostro said:
The weird thing is, while racquets are not on TSA's prohibited item list, and airlines allow them as carry ons provided the bag does not exceed allowable combined linear dimensions, I could never get TSA to confirm that they are OK by either phone or email. The official TSA party line says it is at the discretion of the security checkpoint personnel. Classic double-talk. You just cannot teach that kind of "stupid".
Click to expand...

Exactly the issue - BUT the airlines do have the right to prohibit something even if TSA says its ok. like I said i never fly American but have friends who said American Airlines at DFW and in Houston have made them check their racquet bags.

I personally have had NO issues on Southwest, Continental, Air Canada in North America - I fly here about 75% on Southwest - and fly with my sticks about every other week.
 
Yeah, I routinely see people traveling with racquets sticking out of their backpacks. My wife & I will be flying Delta on a tennis vacation next month and will be carrying three racquets each. In addition to the AA policy you mentioned, I was told by Philippine Airlines that there is a two racquet limit. So, best to check carefully and assume nothing.
 
armand said:
I was told that I have to check my racquets because "they could pose a security threat" They were right! How'd they know I was planning on bashing the pilot's head with my Prestige Classic 600? I was also planning on poking the stewardess' eye out with my toothbrush
Click to expand...

This happened to me a few years back. I went abroad to a nice hotel with a nice tennis court. I wanted to take my rackets onboard with me but it is seen as dangerous.
 
Cobrien said:
You are no longer allowed to take take tennis racquets on board. (Security threat)

Mines had to be taken (in bubble wrap) to the place where they put the luggage.
Click to expand...

Yeah but i went egypt and this girl had her racket with her. anyways i also need to know if i should take my rackets on board the plane. it says not to but should i??? I was on BA
 
Tofi said:
Yeah but i went egypt and this girl had her racket with her. anyways i also need to know if i should take my rackets on board the plane. it says not to but should i??? I was on BA
Click to expand...

I have not had problems on BA but I haven't flown it a lot. There are some UK people on here who can give you the scoop. But you do need to be discreet (no 12 pack). I was even pulled for the additional screening at LHR where they do the fingerprinting and stuff like that and they did not say anything about the racquets. I was somewhere once though where they said my bag was too big and I whined about how I needed the racquets for my job (!) and they let me go.
 
MLoutch said:
Exactly the issue - BUT the airlines do have the right to prohibit something even if TSA says its ok. like I said i never fly American but have friends who said American Airlines at DFW and in Houston have made them check their racquet bags.

I personally have had NO issues on Southwest, Continental, Air Canada in North America - I fly here about 75% on Southwest - and fly with my sticks about every other week.
Click to expand...

Southwest is great. I haven't had any problems on AA myself. Or on CO. Actually I have never checked my racquets except years ago when I was young and I had one of those huge Prince bags. I wish they still made those but that is another topic...
 
I frequently travel with my racquests and carry them on board without any issues (all airlines). I typically carry them in a 3 pac bag. Just last week I carried them in a 6 pak. (it was stuffed), again no problems. If your bag can fit in the overhead bin there should be no problems. Make sure that if you carry any toiletries in your bag that they are in 2 oz bottles and that they are in a clear plastic bag.
 
When I went on an 8 hour flight, I put my racquet in my backpack (with some padding and my laptop *heavy*).
I was really annoyed when people tried to put their stuff on my backpack in the overhead compartment.
My suggestion: avoid carrying a tennis racquet on long flights/ to the airport.
 
Sorry to revive this thread out of the past, but instead of starting a new one...

What's the current policy of racquets on airplanes, anyone know? Domestic vs. Int'l?

What about string tension? I plan to string my sticks before I travel to the tropics via www.cruise800.com to play a little tennis (not a tennis trip, but I'll probably be able to play a couple times).

Should I string lower than usual to account for cabin pressure (or the possibility of having to check the racquet, so, to account for de-pressurized baggage storage). Anyone?
 
Last edited:
Carried mine on board a few weeks ago with no issue.

Volkl also makes a single hardcase cover with foam inside for traveling.
 
How do you guys handle travelling with racquets when you are on the smaller planes? I have a small jump from Lexington to Ohare next week and I am sure it's on one of those smaller planes. I am sure my 6 pack backpack bag will not fit in the overhead of that plane. I am probably going to be bringing my laptop in that bag to so checking it is out of the question.
 
When I fly, I just take a racquet bag stuffed with 2 racquets in my hold baggage.

No problem so far, except when I flew into the States recently. My bag was delayed and eventually delivered opened , with my racquets on top. I think the roll of lead tape and lead around the hoop caught their attention! LOL!
 
I have been traveling a LOT in the past 4-5 years -- Canada, China, Japan, Korea, Australia, Europe, India, All over the USA, and nowdays all over Europe. I have always carried my sticks with me in either a 6-pack or a Super-6 bag and was questioned only once, in Budapest, about my rackets. They asked me to check them in, I replied: No way! They just looked the other way. This includes all of the US major Airlines, Air France, Lufthansa, British, Emirates, Czech, LOT, Singapore, JAL, ANA, quite a few of Chinese Airlines, Kingfisher...
 
Travelled to Mexico from Toronto recently, on Sunwing, the check in agent informed me that the airline policy is 'no racquets as carry on' (I had two, in a tennis bag pack) but it really is up to the flight crew to allow them or not. WTF?! She put the luggage tags on both of them in case I had to check them in in the end.

Needless to say none of the flight attendants ever bothered me about it. Carried the rackets onboard without any problems.
 
armand said:
I was told that I have to check my racquets because "they could pose a security threat" They were right! How'd they know I was planning on bashing the pilot's head with my Prestige Classic 600? I was also planning on poking the stewardess' eye out with my toothbrush
Click to expand...

That's too funny.

234419932v4_225x225_Front.jpg
 
Another update:
Prague - Frankfurt - Dulles - Orlando - Frankfurt - Prague (Lufthansa/United), Holiday travel, planes extremely full -- carried my Super 6 loaded with rackets and jackets one way, rackets and 20 cans of balls the other way, absolutely no issues walking in on every flight.
As someone mentioned above, due to my status, I was able to board early and was able to find enough room in the overhead... Otherwise, it would have been a pain storing this large full bag...
 
I see nothing wrong about putting them in check in, never have had a problem with broken racquets, just put newspaper for extra padding or something. It saves the effort of having to worry about making sure there's space for your bags and getting in early etc. It also leaves space for the other people that need to put their baggage up in the over heads.

If you bag isn't that tall (when placed horizontally on the ground) you could see if it fits in the cupboard at the front of the where they put coats etc.
 
penang said:
Any recommendation bringing racquet on Flight. I carry with me on board one time while flying from NYC to FL. I'm taking a 10 hours+ flight soon. Should I check in with other luggage, the problem is my tennis bag has no cushioning at all. I'm afraid if drop, while transporting to the aircraft and carousel might harm the frame.
Click to expand...

If you fly internationally, check first , call the airport, the airline, everyone you can, because they are becoming truly crazy. They told me that a tennis racquet is a weapon, thus I could not get it on board (this after I checked in.....) it was a nightmare. Thankfully my family was still inside the airport, and I had the chance of giving them my racquet. Otherwise I would have missed the flight.........
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

D
Anybody have tried to bring 12 tennis bag on a flight?
Replies
45
Views
10K
thelimfactor
T
V
2 pilots fell asleep for 30 minutes during a flight
Replies
7
Views
214
sureshs
S
T
Carrying Racquets on a Plane
Replies
8
Views
1K
Deleted member 6835
D
V
British tennis star was fuming after Jetstar airline damaged her racquets
Replies
47
Views
1K
hereforthepopcorn
H
Back
Top