Traveling with Equipment

[roxiered]

Any tips for traveling with equipment on an airplane? I would imagine airlines don't let you 'carry on' your equipment bag so how do most fencers protect their equipment? I have PVC piping for all blades but what else? Tips appreciated...

[Ordway]

I am sure someone will post telling you to do a search... but honestly, I have trouble with coming up with useful results in the search function, so I won't be that person

No, the airlines will not let you carry on your weapons (which you will NEVER refer to as "weapons" in the airport; they are "sports equipment" or "fencing gear.") You'll need to check your fencing bag.

Personally, I have a hardshell case that I use for flying (I use a soft-sided bag to haul to regular practices and local tournaments), but others have done OK with soft-sided bags being checked in, though of course the potential for squashage is significantly higher.

I pack a few things in my carry-on: things that I would *not* be OK with buying again if the airline loses/delays my bag (presumably the airline would compensate, of course). These generally include my shoes (not something you want to use brand-new in an event), ankle braces, and maybe some items of clothing, like the spandex stuff I wear under my fencing clothes.

Everything else goes in the hardshell case, packed so that it doesn't get smushed. Some people like to carry on their mask; I don't. I put my sabres in PVC tubes (essential in a soft-sided bag, nice in a hardshell case since it protects the clothing from rust, etc.).

Don't forget to bring sports drinks/snacks from home. An important away tournament is not the time to try a new brand of sports drink or food...

[daveappr]

travelling with fencing equipment
here's a link from the search for ya.

[twisterfencing]

Originally Posted by roxiered

Any tips for traveling with equipment on an airplane? I would imagine airlines don't let you 'carry on' your equipment bag so how do most fencers protect their equipment? I have PVC piping for all blades but what else? Tips appreciated...

This is the 24 million dollar question.


OK,

I can only gather/assume this is your first Nats.

Just a couple of quick notes:

1st: Pack you uniform, knickers, shoes, socks and mask and carry them on the plane with you. Do not check these items with the airline for any reason. If they loose your checked items (the airlines) you will only have to worry about weapons and body cords. Makes life so much easier.

2nd: Hardshells (golf bags) seem to work best with airlines. For some reason, the baggage handelers seem to be used to them? Make sure you watch them turn the bag over to TSA (security) and watch the guy take the bag to the luggage belt to be sent to the handelers. I know this is a lot to remember, but you would not belive how many folks show up at Nats and they're equipments is somewhere else (meaning= lost). Once you get to Atlanta, you will need to find out where "over sized" luggage is to pick up your weapons. They don't tell you this, they assume you can figure it out on your own???

Most airlines allow= check two items & carry one. Or,,,,,check one and carry one + a purse or backpack. Make sure what you are checking with the airlines is under 50 lbs for each bag. It gets expensive over 50 lbs.

Load your uniform in a back pack along with your mask. Pack your street cloths in a seperate bag to check. Pack your body cords and weapons in a seperate bag (prefer a golf bag but a cloth bag will do the same) to check.

Your set.


Have fun and see you in Atlanta.


Gary Spruill

[Dax]

Just letting you guys know(I live in atlanta), the oversize luggage place, when walking in the baggage claim area from the concourses, is all the way down on your right. Thats where all the golf cases come in. =)

[fatfencer]

Mask(s), plastron, jacket, knickers, shoes:insoles; ankle braces; heel cups; non-perishable nutritional supplements, body cords, lame'(s), glove(s), deodorant spray and travel toiletries, a good book, cell phone and Ipod, 4 undershirts, 2 changes of street clothing, sports tape, and jock.

Foils should be PVC'd and inside a shell case.

FF

[downunder]

I've never had any problems with my allstar jumbo bag on international flights all all around the world.

[Zilverzmurfen]

Originally Posted by downunder

I've never had any problems with my allstar jumbo bag on international flights all all around the world.

Neither have I, flying within Europe.

[LUDICROUS]

Perhaps American domestic airlines are more lax.

[twisterfencing]

Originally Posted by fatfencer

Mask(s), plastron, jacket, knickers, shoes:insoles; ankle braces; heel cups; non-perishable nutritional supplements, body cords, lame'(s), glove(s), deodorant spray and travel toiletries, a good book, cell phone and Ipod, 4 undershirts, 2 changes of street clothing, sports tape, and jock.

Foils should be PVC'd and inside a shell case.

FF

fatfencer:

I am going to yeild to your list over mine. I like yours better

Gary Spruill

[mlr2fence]

I think that in some ways the rolling fencing bags that say "fencing" on the sides have less problems than using the golf bags since its then not unexpected to find swords in the bag.
Ditto the carry uniform on the airplane advice. Its much easier to borrow a weapon/body cord than a jacket that just happens to have your name on the back!
If doing the rental car thing be aware that hard shells are a harder fit into some trunks since they are longer.

[JMcC]

I have to add that if you're taking any tools, you'll probably need to put them in your checked luggage as well. Screwdrivers, circuit testers, xacto blades, what-have-you cannot be carried on board.

[CvilleFencer]

Just another thing to point out, but it is a good idea to take any favorite power snacks, sports drink mixes or medication (not just perscriptions either) with you. If you are a power bar and gatorade kind of person no worries. If you prefer more exotic/unusual fencing snacks or sports drinks, you don't want to be rooming around an unfamiliar city looking for the place that sells them. The rule of thumb I use is that if the average 7-11 type store does not carry it, I take it with me. It may seem like a small thing, but at least for me there is a certain amount of comfort in having my familiar favorites to munch and drink in an unfamiliar venue. That and the fact that most venue food is outrageously expensive and tastes like ass...

[El Chucko]

Originally Posted by JMcC

I have to add that if you're taking any tools, you'll probably need to put them in your checked luggage as well. Screwdrivers, circuit testers, xacto blades, what-have-you cannot be carried on board.

I will be going to Coaches College in Colorado Springs in a few weeks, and am taking coaching classes AND armory level 1. This means I will have to fly with my fencing gear, coaching pads, AND tools!

What do I do? I have a hard case for the weapons, but the coaching pads are pretty bulky (and expensive), and the tools cannot be carried on. I get the impression that it is not absolutely necessary to bring a full tool kit, but I would like to bring as much as possible, as I'm sure that will help.

Here's what I was thinking:
carry-on: mask, uniform, fencing shoes, Coaches College manuals, some clothing
hard case: weapons, body cords, extra mask, some clothing, tools
large bag to check: coaching pads, some clothing

Any suggestions?

[Five Rings]

Originally Posted by El Chucko

I will be going to Coaches College in Colorado Springs in a few weeks, and am taking coaching classes AND armory level 1. This means I will have to fly with my fencing gear, coaching pads, AND tools!

I have used UPS or FedEx to deliver stuff to myself before - depends on your accomodation requirements. Its great for books and papers, and cheaper and safer than paying that 50 lb overage at the airport ("Yes sir, I understand that if you had TWO bags they would each be underweight, but because you have ONE bag and are 10 lbs over, we have to charge you. Its to compensate the bagage handler for the extra heavy bag but we can't guaranty that your bag will reach the other airport on the same flight.")

[DieterS]

Originally Posted by Five Rings

I have used UPS or FedEx to deliver stuff to myself before - depends on your accomodation requirements. Its great for books and papers, and cheaper and safer than paying that 50 lb overage at the airport ("Yes sir, I understand that if you had TWO bags they would each be underweight, but because you have ONE bag and are 10 lbs over, we have to charge you. Its to compensate the bagage handler for the extra heavy bag but we can't guaranty that your bag will reach the other airport on the same flight.")

Plus, you won't have to worry about luggage handlers "dipping into" your tools if your flight goes through Chicago. Remember, you can no longer lock your tool boxes.

Dieter

[Inquartata]

You CAN lock them. There are special padlocks widely sold by several manufacturers. These are specially keyed so that master keys used by the TSA can unlock them. This lets inspectors open your bags, but not baggage handlers. This addresses the larger part of the threat, since TSA inspections often go on out in public view rather than in the bowels of the airport. ( Not that locking things will stop the determined thief, who will merely "lose" the entire bag. )

Also, I may be wrong, but I believe that you are permitted to lock things which go inside your actual luggage. That is, you take a chance locking a suitcase, but a toolbox inside your suitcase could be locked. At least, I have flown with firearms in checked luggage, and believe me, they were in well-locked gun cases inside my hard golf case and arrived unmolested...

[PeterGustafsson]

Hi!


Many tools have some hole or another. If one pulls a steel wire through the holes and then locks the wire to the inside of the tool box or luggage, then the baggage inspectors can freely see everything, but they can not steal it short of cutting the wire or breaking the lock.

Does anyone know if this is legal?


Have a nice time!

Peter Gustafsson

[Zilverzmurfen]

Originally Posted by PeterGustafsson

Does anyone know if this is legal?

Why wouldn't it be? Certainly it ought to be more legal than to have someone stealing your equipment.

[Mergs]

Originally Posted by PeterGustafsson

Hi!


Many tools have some hole or another. If one pulls a steel wire through the holes and then locks the wire to the inside of the tool box or luggage, then the baggage inspectors can freely see everything, but they can not steal it short of cutting the wire or breaking the lock.

Good idea, but remember the story of Dan Dechaine going to Brazil and having ALL the wires on the INSIDE of his test boxes cut by inspectors that wanted to make sure that it wasn't a bomb! I say that because it demonstrates that they do have the capability of being able to cut wires, cables, etc.

As for traveling to Coaches College with your tools, I went last summer and had no problem with checking my tools inside my luggage. Just remember, they are heavy, so spread the weight around if you are checking multiple bags.