All,

Trying to get a grasp on the current checked baggage situation at many of our fine Air travel providers. I have a trip booked to Tampa in a few weeks on Continental, they (as well as most other airlines) have a 62" checked baggage limitation (length + height + width), I'd obviously like to bring my clubs. I've done my job of searching the forums and have found myriad of threads posting rave reviews of the normal stiff arm/last bag and/or burst proof cover recommendations; that's all well and good, however all of the currently produced hard and soft sided travel bags all exceed 62" by at least a foot, not something I can fudge on check-in.

Anyone have thoughts on the situation? I'm of normal Continental status (no Elite or other status yet), so I have no gimmes from the desk agents; paying the $100 oversize fee is absurd to a point.

I have the option to ship the clubs down ahead of time, of course, but i'm thinking forward to the next time I travel when shipping ahead won't be an option. Does anyone have a < 62" checked baggage solution for a partial/full set of clubs? Even travelling without a driver would be an option, if necessary.

The Nike Skinny Range bag is a possible solution, I checked it out at Golfsmith earlier today. If it could be hacked with some 4" wide flexible tubing to prevent crushing and a stiff arm solution, it may work out dimension-wise; but i'm not sure if I want to monkey with it off the bat.

TIA, Justin

AIRLINES SUCKKKKKK!!!! I havent traveled by plane with my clubs in probably a year or so, but back then i had no problem with my bag boy, this was on southwest... I wish you luck, 62" doesnt give you much room

I think that most airlines will wave the size restrictions for a golf bag. I don't know about Continental for sure, but I am flying Spirit Air to Myrtle Beach in a couple months and I know they make an exception for golf bags.

@bucky; I agree. It seems there is a niche for a 62" bag that no manufacturer has filled yet.

@daheels; I thought CO might waive the fees as well; on FlyerTalk people say sometimes they get in with a stand bag + club glove and sometimes they don't. CO expressly says on their website in the 'sporting goods' section of checked baggage that any golf bag over the 62" requirement will be charged as oversized. Not a chance I wanted to take on the first trip of the season.

I think most airlines are more concerned with weight, than actual size, when it comes to clubs. I flew Spirit and Continental within the past 2 months and I had no problem with my bag. I had my bag (Sun Mountain 3.5) in a soft ClubGlove and they didn't blink an eye. I think you'll be fine unless you have a tour size bag.

i have the Nike range bag and I wouldn't recommend using that. it just barely fits your driver, length-wise, you really have to cram it down to get the top zipper shut. it's really slim and with adding support to the sides, you wouldn't fit your full set.

i'm flying Jet Blue to FLA in a week and they allow, without size or weight restriction, your full golf bag (plus 1 dozen balls and pair of shoes) to count as your free checked bag. love it.

I ship mine ups in a hard case and it costs like $40 and they are there waiting for me

Simp, thats good to know, i'll give CO a call and see what they say as well.

Marrk, do you like the Nike range bag otherwise? I'll need to look into JetBlue going forward for outings....

Getin, I may just do that, looks like it may be the cheapest option.

i do like the Nike range bag. i don't think it's any better/worse quality than others, but it was the lightest i could find and took up the smallest amount of space while still accommodating all 14 clubs. that was my main concern. also, the strap is in a nice position and it has a really good price, especially at golfsmith (where i got it on sale).

i have traveled with it on trains, buses, and cars and such, but i would not use it for air travel.

Marrk; good to know it fits a full set. I did my best to stuff as many preowned clubs into it at Golfsmith today, but couldn't really get working on it at the time. Its at a nice price point for light travel bag.

You have to sort thru the airline's baggage policy. Many do accept a golf bag as a standard (not oversized) baggage item. You will still have to keep it under 50 (?) pounds.

I found this on Continental.com

"Golf Equipment 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
• 1 pair 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” (157 cm) L+H+W that contain other items in addition to or in place of appropriate golf equipment will be subject to an oversize fee."

tjy; indeed, thats why I came here looking for opinions.

What Club Glove soft bag is the smallest? The Burst Proof? I'm just looking to carry a smaller stand bag (SM 3.5 or Ogio Ozone).

yup, takes some creative maneuvering but they all go in, big driver headcover and all. i live in NYC so i use it a lot for all the pain in the butt train/bus/foot traveling i have to do.

You're all looking at it wrong......

$20 to the skycap guy and you can check your car on the plane. Once it gets a destination tag on it, it never gets measured. If you go inside to the men/women behind the counters, they'll measure it and weight it. But the guys outside aren't afraid of a big bag and a little grease goes a LONG way.

I flew Jet Blue last year. There was a restriction on the weight and also the number of clubs (14?) that they would insure. I remember having to transfer a pair of shoes to another bag to make the weight limit. I fly them all the time to CA and that was the first time I had any issues with making the weight limit.

You know what? You're absolutely 100% correct! $20 will get your bags on the plane and a priority sticker as well. Definitely worth it.

I flew to Phoenix on Northwest earlier this month, and the only thing they were concerned with was weight. I was under the 50 pounds, and I also had a Stiff-Arm. I have a Mizuno travel bag, which worked like a charm. I noticed Spirit had one of those linear requirements(thinking of going to Florida/MB) and I was a litle nervous.

Maybe the skycap idea is a good one. I passed the skycaps because I wasn't sure about the whole checked baggage etc. I arranged when I checked in online to have the bags paid for with my credit card. Could I have gone with a skycap in that case? It's all just so confusing anymore!

I think Continental might be one of the more expensive carriers when it comes to checked baggage though. I had my golf bag and a suitcase and I believe it was $40 each way.

Yeah, CO is $15 for the first bag, $25 for the second bag each way. Quite a racket they've got going.

Or fly first class, they dont weigh anything!

If he were flying first class I doubt that we'd be having a discussion about saving $20 here and there.

Exactly.

Mainly trying to have the right equipment available if a quick trip presents itself and I don't have the chance to ship clubs ahead of time. A good problem to have in its own right, but it still wouldn't be in first class.

i knew about the club restriction but i assumed the sporting goods and specific golf club rules superseded the weight restrictions. so what does your average stand bag with 14 clubs usually weigh?

I always travel with a staff bag so it's going to weigh a little more. I also have 2 pairs of shoes and balls in the bag. I don't remember if it was over 50 or 75 lbs. I just remember being 2 lbs over the limit and having to put a pair of shoes in my other luggage to avoid any extra fees. The strange thing is the bag should have weighed the same on my departing flight, but there were no weight issues brought up then. Maybe it depends on the mood of the travel agent checking you in?