I am flying from Edmonton to Detroit in a couple weeks and I want to bring my sticks. I know that all the airline's websites say that you can bring a bag with 14 clubs and a pair of shoes as long as it's in a travel bag, but then they all say it has to be under 62 linear inches. If my driver is 45" and my bag has a diameter of 10" than I'm already at 65 linear inches without the travel case. Am I going to get charged extra?

I'd like input specifically from people who have taken clubs on an Air Canada flight.

I have taken my clubs multple times from Edmonton and have never had a problem or charged any extra (Air Canada or West Jet), I have used two different travel bags one bag is a travel/ golf bag combo (you just take the top off and the bottom section is the bag) I also have a hard case which is just a hair bigger then my other bag. SK8 is a really good bag thay did thier home work and you even get club insurance when you purchase the bag.

I have never had any experience with Air Canada, but I have flown British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, Emirates and a slew of other airlines with a golf bag in a hard travel case. In my experience, the people at the check in counter don't really know the rules regarding golf bags and such all too well. Every single time I've flown, they just looked at the case and slapped a tag on without actually measuring it. In fact, a lot of times I've had to convince the person checking me in that golf bags do in fact count as a free piece (on international flights at least).

Also I have always traveled with 15 or 16 clubs and have never been harassed once.

Hope this helps.

EDIT: I don't know if you've ever traveled with a golf bag before, but often times your bag will not show up on the baggage carousel for being awkwardly shaped (I forget what the term they actually use is). In that case they have usually already put it aside somewhere close by, all you have to do is ask one of the airline employees on the floor.

Just got back from NY last night on AC. Nobody mentioned my clubs, or my extra carry on bag. Played Bethpage Black and it was awesome!

Travel on AC all the time with my OGIO travel bag and never had a problem...lost it once but they found it.

Ken

Surprisingly, most do know the rules, but some of the rules are vague and open to interpretation. Training might teach us one thing, but a customer complaint goes a long way...



In part, the rule states that a golf bag can include a set, clothes, and shoes. It doesn't state what a set is and you don't have to have anything golf related in the bag! FYI, some people have one bag and put most of what they need in there all for free. The only stipulation is the weight which is different than the regular baggage (at least for my carrier).



It mainly depends on the airport or the carrier's way of handling things. Oversize or Irregular shaped bags are sometimes handled separately. The Atlanta airport handles items in that way as they are so busy and it helps the loaders immensely. Also, some conveyor system's corners won't allow for such a long item as it will clog the belt. They are normally screened separately too.

Never had an issue.... standard golf travel bag loaded with everything but the kitchen sink.