Flying with Golf Clubs

[GolfSpy_KFT]

My wife and I will be heading to Jacksonville at the end of October for golf and a Packers game. We have never flown with clubs before. I’ve got travel bags for us, but I am wondering everyone’s opinions/experiences with different airlines? We’ve flown Southwest in the past and they are an option. Another option that isn’t horribly expensive is American Airlines, but I’ve never flown with them. 

What are your experiences, spies? Hoping to keep it under $1000 round trip which seems ever challenging

[Erin B]

I fly all of them, but I like southwest the most because you get two bags for free. We travel with them for hockey for that reason.

[rkj427]

Flew a couple times with my bag in a Club Glove travel case. Pay the fee as a checked bag and haven't had an issue.

Airlines used were American and Spirit out of DTW.

As long as you pack everything securely, should have no issues other than waiting for baggage at the end of the flights.

[William P]

10 minutes ago, GolfSpy_KFT said:

My wife and I will be heading to Jacksonville at the end of October for golf and a Packers game. We have never flown with clubs before. I’ve got travel bags for us, but I am wondering everyone’s opinions/experiences with different airlines? We’ve flown Southwest in the past and they are an option. Another option that isn’t horribly expensive is American Airlines, but I’ve never flown with them. 

What are your experiences, spies? Hoping to keep it under $1000 round trip which seems ever challenging

I have flown with American for the most part. As Rob, @rkj427 said, as long as they are securely packed in a good travel bag there should be no problem.  I would definitely recommend direct flights if available.

[Erin B]

With Southwest you should be able to keep it under $1K. I've never had any hockey sticks broken or any other issues with late bags. United I have had issues, all the others no issues, except added costs. Southwest, two bags fly free, even club bags. I would pack clothes around the club heads to keep them tight. I have traveled with soft and hard cases, no problems.

[GolfSpy_KFT]

Just now, Erin B said:

With Southwest you should be able to keep it under $1K. I've never had any hockey sticks broken or any other issues with late bags. United I have had issues, all the others no issues, except added costs. Southwest, two bags fly free, even club bags. I would pack clothes around the club heads to keep them tight. I have traveled with soft and hard cases, no problems.

Prices have viciously fluctuated so far day to day, so right now it’s looking just about at $1k with Southwest. Wondering if I should play the waiting game at this point. They are cheaper now than over the weekend, but more than when I looked last week

[Erin B]

Just now, GolfSpy_KFT said:

Prices have viciously fluctuated so far day to day, so right now it’s looking just about at $1k with Southwest. Wondering if I should play the waiting game at this point. They are cheaper now than over the weekend, but more than when I looked last week

Tuesdays my spousal unit buys tickets. She swears they are cheaper on Tuesdays.

 

[RwsGolf1]

I have flown with clubs for over 40 years. Much more expensive today than in the past. Most times you should be able to get by with a max of $60-80 per bag. As others stated, you may be able to get part or all free but, you need to abide by the 50lb limit. I have used American, Delta and Southwest without any issues.

Do not use ShipSticks. They lost my clubs in June (first time I ever used them). I could have just shipped them personally through UPS cheaper and better security.

[Off Map Oscar]

Delta here. 

Get a bucket to out over the top of the bag if using a soft bag. I have a separate set of clubs for traveling and I always assume they are going to open the case so I try to ensure nothing is loose inside. 

[PrayingForPar]

I always fly Alaska due to points and being on the West Coast. With my Alaska credit card clubs are free for both me and my wife plus carry on and personal bag. We shove extra clothes in our soft cases for extra support and to not need another checked bag. Haven't had an issue ever with Alaska. Plus, the companion fare is awesome...

I always check flights on google.flights.com, it will track your dates and notify you if they are cheaper on a specific day....

[Erin B]

3 minutes ago, PrayingForPar said:

I always check flights on google.flights.com, it will track your dates and notify you if they are cheaper on a specific day....

This is good information to know, thanks!

[The TXBexar]

Depending on if you are using a soft bag, you can use pipe insulation foam tubes to place your clubs in if your worried about the clubs banging around in the fight. Can also cut pieces to go in between the heads of the clubs above the bag divider to add extra padding to avoid the clubs getting banged up.

You can easily re-use them all for your return flights as well, and they don't add too much weight to a bag so shouldn't push you over the with limit for checking a bag.

If you're using a hard case though, then you probably don't need to use this trick.

[cksurfdude]

I've both flown with clubs and used Ship Sticks* - and fortunately, so far, no problem with either. Also am partial to using a hard case - I've seen first hand (plus some YT vids) what happens to luggage...

I'm more worried about graphite shafts getting dinged and damaged, vs club heads getting hurt .. so a hard case works better for that imho. Plus it's easy to throw extra shoes, etc into case (again being careful of the total weight limit - I got a cheap hanging luggage scale I use in the garage).

Will also echo the comments about getting a direct flight whenever possible, and about using a fare tracker like Google Flights.

...

* Ship Sticks fyi - they use FedEx as their carrier; they've negotiated bulk commercial rates so it's cheaper than walking into a storefront on your own. Additionally I was clued in by a fellow forum member to a competitor called Ship Pup that uses UPS .. and appears to be about half(!) of Ship Sticks .. gonna try them out next time I ship my clubs. 

[Tom the Golf Nut]

I fly often with clubs. Delta, American, and in the past Spirit. My issues were with hard cases. They get damaged easier due to conveyor belt turns. I use the Club Glove Pro. No problems in over 6 years and 5 trips a year which is about 20 flights a year. Not much was direct for me. 

Always get tickets on Tuesdays when possible. That's when the airlines reduce the rates a bit. I just went to Germany my colleagues paid 2k a ticket. I got mine on a Tuesday several weeks after they booked for 1k. 

Always remove driver heads and pack them in a golf bag pocket inside its head cover. Put the shaft in the bag tip down. Use a stiff arm. Then I put iron covers on for travel. Move the putter to the middle of the bag.  Once set put the rain cover on. Then unzip a bit and I add some bubble wrap to fill the space. 

Highly recommend an air tag.  A $20 Investment can save your trip. In case a bag misses a flight you'll  know right where it is an can direct the airlines right to it. I actually just did this coming back from Germany. They lost my luggage and they insisted they didn't have it. I screen shot the map with its location and all the sudden they found it.

[RwsGolf1]

Good information re: the air tag. Will have to look into that!

[RwsGolf1]

! Edited September 24 by RwsGolf1
Dup

[The TXBexar]

1 hour ago, Tom the Golf Nut said:

Highly recommend an air tag.  A $20 Investment can save your trip...

Agreed! This is a must when flying with any checked baggage, I personally believe.

And if you don't have an Apple or iOS device, like myself, getting a Tile brand tracker is a great option as well, that's what I've used in the past.

[johnsomp]

Southwest here.

I fly infrequently with clubs but never have had a problem.  I use a club glove soft case with the stiff arm on the inside.  I take the heads off my woods, put the heads in the bag pocket inside head covers, and stick both ends of a pool float noodle between the clubs to keep them secure.  I then stuff extra towels (and then dirty clothes) between the and around the club heads to keep them from banging into things.

[GolfSpy_KFT]

All great tips, thank you everyone! I will be purchasing some airtags for each of our bags, and will be using soft sided cases with a stiff arm. Definitely will remove heads from woods. I was even thinking of putting those in my carry on bag if I have room, but if not I'll put them in the bag pockets. I'll use towels between irons and then I have bubble wrap I can use for extra padding if needed.

 

[Tom the Golf Nut]

5 minutes ago, GolfSpy_KFT said:Definitely will remove heads from woods. I was even thinking of putting those in my carry on bag if I have room, but if not I'll put them in the bag pockets. I'll use towels between irons and then I have bubble wrap I can use for extra padding if needed.

 

I wouldn’t advise putting the heads in your carry on. I think the metallic hand grenade looking objects in the x-ray just might hold you up going through security.

[GolfSpy_KFT]

49 minutes ago, Tom the Golf Nut said:

I wouldn’t advise putting the heads in your carry on. I think the metallic hand grenade looking objects in the x-ray just might hold you up going through security.

LOL I didn’t even think of this. That’s a great point

[The TXBexar]

5 hours ago, GolfSpy_KFT said:

Definitely will remove heads from woods. I was even thinking of putting those in my carry on bag if I have room, but if not I'll put them in the bag pockets...

 

5 hours ago, Tom the Golf Nut said:

I wouldn’t advise putting the heads in your carry on. I think the metallic hand grenade looking objects in the x-ray just might hold you up going through security.

To add to this, I've actually had a ceremonial gavel (which was all glass separated into 2 pieces, the gavel head & the pommel, in a wooden display case) confiscated through security out of my carry-on bag by TSA as it was considered a weapon. I actually had to talk to a detective to avoid a ticket for trying to take a weapon through airport security before they let me proceed after 2.5hrs of delay. Missed my flight, and had to pay 95$ to ship the damn gavel & case through FedEx to avoid it being surrendered & destroyed. 

So I definitely recommend you do not try and take anything through security that could be consider weapon or weapon-like item, it's not worry the attempt pushing your luck! You're already trusting some 20's something to handle your clubs when they have dozens of bags to get unloaded within 15 mins from the belly of the plane lol.

[GolfSpy_KFT]

So we booked with Southwest today! Direct flights to and from Tampa, so will rent a car to use for travel to Jacksonville. Was very happy to get Southwest since you don't have to pay extra for checked baggage. Now just need our travel bags to arrive in the mail, and I can begin my prep for planning packing for the trip at the end of October. Probably will practice a time or two to make sure I get it exactly how I want it. 

[ClevelandGirl]

I took off my driver head and put it in my backpack (using a padded bra as a cover - multi use Victoria’s Secret!). I read that was suggested against theft (removing the head, not packing it in a bra). Screening didn’t even blink, but you could always pull it out with electronics and your shoes just in case. 
 

Also I used my clothes to protect around the clubs (and stiff arm) and my travel bag was so big, it actually helped secure the golf bag in the case. I was able to shove everything in the case, so all I had to do was take my backpack with a just-in-case change of clothes. I was barely under the 40lb weight limit but it made navigating the airports a lot easier solo.

Edited October 1 by ClevelandGirl

[Dan1247]

On 9/24/2024 at 2:46 PM, GolfSpy_KFT said:

So we booked with Southwest today! Direct flights to and from Tampa, so will rent a car to use for travel to Jacksonville. Was very happy to get Southwest since you don't have to pay extra for checked baggage. Now just need our travel bags to arrive in the mail, and I can begin my prep for planning packing for the trip at the end of October. Probably will practice a time or two to make sure I get it exactly how I want it. 

I'll also be traveling to Tampa at the end of October and have been debating taking my clubs or seeing if there's a course that will rent some. Work makes us wait until 14-21 days before travel to book flights and they won't pay for that checked bag 

[Erin B]

I’m just putting everything together and in the case. It’s a hard case anyway. Southwest will replace anything that’s broken or missing. Fly out on Thursday. 

[GolfSpy_KFT]

22 minutes ago, Erin B said:

I’m just putting everything together and in the case. It’s a hard case anyway. Southwest will replace anything that’s broken or missing. Fly out on Thursday. 

Southwest will replace anything they break and or goes missing?! That's a massive win and another huge plus to why I am glad to fly with them. I went with the Ghost Golf AWOL soft sided case and it came with a stiff arm. Planning on taking heads off and there is a GIANT central cooler pocket that I will put at least the driver head in, inside it's headcover. Others as well if they will fit.

[GaDawg]

On 9/23/2024 at 9:01 PM, Tom the Golf Nut said:

I fly often with clubs. Delta, American, and in the past Spirit. My issues were with hard cases. They get damaged easier due to conveyor belt turns. I use the Club Glove Pro. No problems in over 6 years and 5 trips a year which is about 20 flights a year. Not much was direct for me. 

Always get tickets on Tuesdays when possible. That's when the airlines reduce the rates a bit. I just went to Germany my colleagues paid 2k a ticket. I got mine on a Tuesday several weeks after they booked for 1k. 

Always remove driver heads and pack them in a golf bag pocket inside its head cover. Put the shaft in the bag tip down. Use a stiff arm. Then I put iron covers on for travel. Move the putter to the middle of the bag.  Once set put the rain cover on. Then unzip a bit and I add some bubble wrap to fill the space. 

Highly recommend an air tag.  A $20 Investment can save your trip. In case a bag misses a flight you'll  know right where it is an can direct the airlines right to it. I actually just did this coming back from Germany. They lost my luggage and they insisted they didn't have it. I screen shot the map with its location and all the sudden they found it.

Highly agree on taking heads off and the air tag. If you don't have iron covers, you can wrap a towel all around the irons to make them all snug and tight before putting the cover over the bag.

[Erin B]

5 hours ago, GolfSpy_KFT said:

Southwest will replace anything they break and or goes missing?! That's a massive win and another huge plus to why I am glad to fly with them. I went with the Ghost Golf AWOL soft sided case and it came with a stiff arm. Planning on taking heads off and there is a GIANT central cooler pocket that I will put at least the driver head in, inside it's headcover. Others as well if they will fit.

My buddy flew southwest to Las Vegas for a tournament. Southwest destroyed his clubs by dragging them down the tarmac. That day he had a brand new set, bag included. 

[HardcoreLooper]

Another "an Air Tag saved my golf bag" story...  My daughter and I went to Scotland this summer.  When trying to clear customs in Charlotte, they couldn't find my daughter's bag and actually asked us straight up if we had an Air Tag on the bag.  Within 10 minutes, we tracked it down.  I appreciated the honesty, if nothing else.

The Air Tags were definitely worth it.

Someone mentioned Tiles above, and as an Android user, I almost went with those.  But with Apple's Find My being so ubiquitous and my daughter and wife using iPhones, Air Tags are hard to beat.