How much do airlines check what is in the golf travel bag??

[Panteradon]

Are any of you charged extra fir a SKB hard case weighing less than 50 pounds? We will be flying United to Mexico next week..

Don

[I_HATE_SNOW]

No. YOu might want to check with the airline first.

[BHB1]

I have flown Hamburg, Germany to Spain (Malaga and Sevillia) with an organised vacation and the two golf club pros. Each time the flight was with Air Berlin (a medium quality budget airline). Normal baggage allowance is 23kg and golf clubs are charged at about €140 (US$191) round trip. Depending on the package, the golf bag can weigh 23 or up to 30kg. Normal baggage is checked at the desk, while golf bags are checked in at oversize. I always wait until the bag has passed through the X-Ray security check and given the OK (if it is done at the bag drop area). The clubs must travel in a golf travel bag and I wrap the heads in bubble wrap with the rain cover on the bag.

I haven't noticed that the golf travel bag has been opened (I don't use a TSA approved lock with back door key). My golf stuff weighed about 21kg last time, but I don't put shoes or clothes in there, as I just don't trust airlines to deliver it in tact and on time. Last trip, the golf bags arrived two days after we arrived home. Just as well there were no problems on the outbound leg. (I had an African Safari holiday absolutely ruined a year back when my wife's and my own suitcases were delayed three days in Hamburg and were delivered to us in Tanzania eight days later. No clothes, no charger for cameras, no anti malaria medicine or repellents, etc. etc. A lot of stuff was stolen from my bag (I would guess in Hamburg) but getting Ethiopian Airlines (the end carrier) to accept responsibility is an impossible task without legal action. No where in the bush to even buy emergency replacements either!

I wouldn't dream of putting cameras, GPS or Laser Range Finders, etc. in checked luggage.

Air Berlin don't care how many golf clubs you have in the bag or the number of golf balls, clothes, etc. Only the weight is important to them. Haven't had the fertiliser test done on my clubs or shoes, as far as I know, but have had a portable radio swabbed down in Heathrow when bombs in radios were in vogue.

I can't say that flying is a pleasure, but it is more of a necessary evil.

BHB1

[AGraz]

My father-in-law is a TSA rep in Myrtle Beach. For the longest time, they had to inspect just about every bag as something in the heads of clubs triggered an alarm. Apparently there's new machinery that's made it easier. I know from personal experience just about every time I flew in/out, I'd get find a little card inside the bag from TSA stating it was "randomly" searched.

[Shemp]

The weight restriction is all I worry about. I bring a light carry bag and pack: Two pairs of shoes, one gore tex rain suit, two dozen balls (golf balls are stooped expensive in the UK. If I'm under the weight I'll often stick my toiletries bag in there as well.

[cristphoto]

The last two times I traveled (Southwest both times) my golf bag was not opened. I know this because I don't have locks on the zippers on my travel bag- I tie them closed with cord and it wasn't removed. The towel I had wrapped through my club heads was also intact. Both times I did have a tag on my bag that said TSA checked. Both trips were domestic flights.