air travel with your fencing equipment

[scarlet_woman156k]

OK, this will be the first time I'll have to load my fencing equipment onto a plane (for the DivII/III in Utah). I'm going to purchase (it's about time anyway!) a hard golf case and labeling it like crazy! However, I've got a connecting flight, and I'm just wondering does anyone do anything special (insurance, specific labeling, etc) with their fencing bags to ensure proper delivery?

Any horror stories? I'm a bit worried about the connecting flight and the potential hell it might cause.

[Purple Fencer]

Well...I tend to fly direct, so I've no experience with connecting flights. The only thing I can suggest would be to have a complete inventory of the contents of the bag, including replacement costs. That way, if you arrive and the bag is lost, the airline has to buy you new stuff. Happened to a guy from my division a year or so ago. He arrived in South Bend, but his gear did not, and the airline had to buy him all brand new stuff at the event...and it was all FIE gear that was lost. Ca-ching

[Mergs]

Have traveled quite a bit with my bag and haven't had any trouble at all. Even with connecting flights. Or with changing flights at the last minute. Should not be a problem. Normal minimum time between flights is 40 minutes and unless your first flight is late there shouldn't be a problem. Enjoy the NAC and fence well.

[scarlet_woman156k]

Sam:
Thanks! I just did an inventory of what is in my bag and replacement costs...GOD! It's a lot of money, and I didn't even add the fencing gear that WON'T be in there.

I'm going to keep the list with me at all times, just in case.

[Purple Fencer]

Yeah...well...I've been afraid to inventory my own bag 'cause I REALLY don;t wanna know how much the replacement costs would be...and I'd have to figure a retail price for the customized bag also.

Note to self...buckle down & do it!

[Zelda]

Havent had a trouble BUT get travel insurance with specific gear cover (thats the list everyone is talking about). That way if something goes missing while in your hotel room or at the venue you are still covered.

[swordsen]

Be aware that when you get there your fencing bag will probably not come rolling out on the baggage carrosel. but will in all probability be stacked in a corner with other oddly shaped and sized stuff. Usually guitar cases, skis, and of course, golf clubs.

[neevel]

One common approach is to pack your mask, uniform, lame, shoes, and body cords in a carry-on bag. That way, if your equipment bag winds up in Ulan Bator, you only have to buy or borrow weapons.

BTW, one member of my club at Nationals this year did have his gear go to New York (there was a last minute gate change at O'Hare). The airline got it to Sacramento the second day after he arrived, but he had to buy & borrow equipment to fence his first event.

-Dave

[Inquartata]

I have even known people to be permitted to take their weapons as carry-ons! I wouldn't care to chance a surly gate inspection-guard panicking and having me arrested, myself...

I have not had my fencing stuff lost, but have friends who had theirs go on extended trips without them---and be missing long enough to make their owners buy all new equipment at an event, then show up. ( "Hey, now you've got a "practice" set AND a "competition" set! ) So taking as much as you can as carry-on is good advice, methinks.

Labelling a hard golf case well is wise, too: I understand that golfing equipment is now of some interest to luggage thieves both within the airlines and without. Imagining their chagrin when they find not expensive, easily saleable clubs but battered foils would probably be of small comfort to you if your bag vanishes...

[ 09-06-2001: Message edited by: Inquartata ]

[Event Horizon]

If you take your gear (blades included) as a carry-on do the bags fit in the overhead compartments? I've wondered about that. How much trouble do the x-ray guards give you guys?

[Cyranox11]

A humorous anecdote:
In 1999 my fiancee and I were going from Johannesburg to Cape Town for the inter-varsity championships.
Due to my fathers' ilness, I had to miss the first 2 days of competition and my fiancee therefore left 3 days before me and had to take all our kit with her. I went to the airport with her and suggested that she may want to try and take her fencing bag on board as carry on luggage. At the check in, she asked the clerk if it would be possible to take a bag of that size on board. The clerk asked her what was in it where upon my fiancee said, 'Oh just my weapons'.
Thats when the clerk called security...

[Zelda]

Reading Cryanox's story reminded me of one of my own. When my Dad went to the UK a couple of years ago I sent him with a shopping list. He wanted to get the VAT back at the airport. When they asked what the VAT was on and her replied "My daughters weapons" he suddenly had an armed guard to escort him to the VAT refund booth. He wasnt even allowed to carry the bag!!!!

[Craig]

Never, ever say "weapons" in an airport. I always just say "sports equipment".

I've always checked my bag and never had a problem with it. The only time that I had an issue was leaving Russia via St. Petersburg - the customs officials were interested in what was in the bag and were okay with everything when they saw that the mask and uniform were not Russian. (They were looking to impose some fines for undeclared goods.)

I'm just happy they didn't look under the uniform at the 50 or so maraging foil blades that I had brought back with me for my university team.

Anyway - that's my big hassle with fencing equipment and that was just a 5 minute converstation with the guards. They even knew what fencing was.

The advice about having an inventory is good though. I'll have to start doing that, just in case Delta screws up in the future.

Cheers,
Craig

[Event Horizon]

Which airline do you think is best when you had to travel with your fencing gear?