Traveling with fencing gear

[DBGlazer]

(Disclaimer: I did try to search previous posts for this topic, but got a lot of irrelevant stuff, instead. So, please bear with me.)

Does anyone have advice about flying with fencing gear (in checked baggage, of course). For instance, do the airlines try to get you with additional fees? Have you had damage to your equipment? (I do have my blades protected by PVC tubes; I'm wondering about whether I'm risking the guards getting mashed, or maybe my mask.) I'd be flying either United or Southwest.

Thanks for any insights.

[Morion]

Most people recommend using a hard golf case for ailrline travel.

[fixxmyweapon]

And for the love of god, when they ask you what's in there, your response should be SPORTING EQUIPMENT. Catch yourself on saying 'weapons' out of habbit. :P

[needle]

Originally Posted by Morion

Most people recommend using a hard golf case for ailrline travel.

Hard golf case is definitely the way to go.
Standing in line for check-in with my case, couple of other passengers next to me; one of them turns, looks at the case and asks: "Clubs?". I reply back: "No, swords," and watch him back away very, very slowly
Wouldn't call them that when speaking to airline people, or worse, airport security.

[Jay Kominek]

Originally Posted by needle

Standing in line for check-in with my case, couple of other passengers next to me; one of them turns, looks at the case and asks: "Clubs?". I reply back: "No, swords," and watch him back away very, very slowly
Wouldn't call them that when speaking to airline people, or worse, airport security.

In the US, your checked baggage can have firearms in it if you pack them properly and sign a slip of paper. The airline people aren't going to care even a little bit about EVIL DEATH NINJA swords, let alone fencing equipment, so long as they're not in a carry on.

[Poulet]

Originally Posted by needle

"Clubs?" "No, swords"

The obvious comeback to that is, "You must have a hell of a slice."

[mlr2fence]

If possible, carry on your mask, jacket, plastron, glove, lame and knickers (shoes too, if not wearing running type shoes on the plane that in a pinch can be used for fencing). In other words, any thing that would be difficult to borrow from someone. Its much easier to find a blade/body cord to borrow than it is the uniform. We all know the horrors of lost luggage. We've flown many times with both hard case and soft bag with no damage. Just be aware if renting a car, that a hard case is harder to fit into some cars. We've had to stuff them in the back seat on passengers laps.

[bigdawg2121]

Find midsize rental vehicles that can fit the cases, there are several. Fly with a hard case, the PVC tubes or really just anything long enough to carry your blades. If you're an epee fencer that likes to set their contact springs close to the edge of legality and don't want a lot of work to do then protect more, same for a foilist with german tips, if you're a saber fencer then throw them in a bag and throw the bag on the plane b/c sabers are hard to damage and really if you do they're cheap as dirt. As far as security most airport workers seem to not be as surprised by it as they were a few years ago so it's cool. You'll just have fewer cool stories to tell about fencing bag travel experiences.

[Morion]

Originally Posted by Jay Kominek

In the US, your checked baggage can have firearms in it if you pack them properly and sign a slip of paper. The airline people aren't going to care even a little bit about EVIL DEATH NINJA swords, let alone fencing equipment, so long as they're not in a carry on.

You still don't call them weapons because then you have to jump through all sorts of hoops and do all sorts of extra paper work. Not to mention you will then guarantee that the security gorrillas will be rumaging through your case.

[Inquartata]

No, the people at the check-in counter will only require the extra paperwork for firearms. Once they know you've none of those it's business as usual. The worst that may happen is that the counter person has never checked in a firearm before and has to call a supervisor to show them what to do. However, that doesn't mean you are wrong about eschewing the words anyway.

You DON'T want to use the word "weapon" at any security checkpoint or around any TSA employee or airport police officer. Which means it's a habit best gotten into, and so you might as well follow it everywhere.

[Dr. Pfleschbach]

I always carry my uniform, mask, shoes, socks, glove, cables and anything that will get past security in my carry-on bag. That way I control how they are handled and don't have to worry as much about lost luggage. Only my weapons, tools and street clothes get checked. I put my street clothes in the fencing bag which helps to pad the weapons, but even then sometimes they get squished. If the fencing bag gets lost by the airlines, I can borrow or buy a couple of weapons at the venue.

[Lil'PinkLaces]

Recently I found that after I got my fencing bag (normal fencing bag, not golf case) off the plane, I found that one of the blades had gotten damaged. The blade had smashed into the guard and part of the pistol grip had broken off. The guard and the grip were ruined but the blade was fine because it had been in a PVC pipe. That was the only time that any of my fencing equipment had ever been damaged from being checked on an airplane.