[CFML] Fencing Equipment on Airlines

[Patrick Shannon]

Hey all,

Taking to flight (have done enough driving this year) for
an upcoming CF tournament, and since this is my first time
taking such equipment on flight (and second time flying),
what has been your experiences (and advice) with dealing
with the airlines?

This page has some obvious advice...

http://www.ahfi.org/wmaw2001/travel.htm

....and I certainly don't think it would be a good idea to
take along my bag with a "Warning: Protected by a guy with
a sword" sticker on it :\

--
Patrick Shannon
"Have Foil, Will Travel"

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[Kim Moser]

You should have no problems if you pack all your fencing weapons into your
checked luggage. Just make sure you don't lock it, as ALL luggage is
subject to manual inspection.

When traveling I carry my weapons in a golf case which I check in. During
check-in they often ask how many clubs I'm carrying (probably because they
want to ensure none get stolen) and ask me to sign a waiver to absolve them
of responsibility for damage. It doesn't raise any eyebrows when I tell
them it's fencing equipment, not golf clubs, and that it's not particularly
fragile.

I often pack my mask and inline skates into a carry-on bag, and I've found
that security tends to scrutinize my inline skates heavily, but doesn't
give my fencing mask a second look. Go figure!

--K

At 09:33 AM 9/17/2003 -0400, "Patrick Shannon" <patrickshannon@charter.net>
wrote:
>Hey all,
>
>Taking to flight (have done enough driving this year) for
>an upcoming CF tournament, and since this is my first time
>taking such equipment on flight (and second time flying),
>what has been your experiences (and advice) with dealing
>with the airlines?
>
>This page has some obvious advice...
>
>http://www.ahfi.org/wmaw2001/travel.htm
>
>...and I certainly don't think it would be a good idea to
>take along my bag with a "Warning: Protected by a guy with
>a sword" sticker on it :\
>
>--
>Patrick Shannon
>"Have Foil, Will Travel"


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[zebee@zip.com.au]

On Wed, Sep 17, 2003 at 04:50:48PM -0400, Kim Moser wrote:
>
> When traveling I carry my weapons in a golf case which I check in. During
> check-in they often ask how many clubs I'm carrying (probably because they
> want to ensure none get stolen) and ask me to sign a waiver to absolve them
> of responsibility for damage. It doesn't raise any eyebrows when I tell
> them it's fencing equipment, not golf clubs, and that it's not particularly
> fragile.

I note that it's best not to say "swords"

I have done fine moving my rapiers about - dissassembled because that's
easier with blades in a PVC tube and furniture and masks and such in a
bag - by telling them the tube contained "metal rods".

When we made the mistake of saying "sporting equipment, fencing" and
when asked "what's that", replying "Swords", we had to fill out various
forms, make declarations, and so on.

Still got the stuff back at the end of the flight, but it was much more
of a hassle.

Zebee

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[Aaron Chusid]

I've always been impressed by the traveling golf club hard cases; you can
find a good one for relatively cheep, they're sturdy, they don't scream
"WEAPONS", and many have wheels. Check it through, and don't mention it to
anyone other than the baggage checker, and then only if asked.


At 09:33 AM 9/17/2003 -0400, Patrick Shannon wrote:
>Hey all,
>
>Taking to flight (have done enough driving this year) for
>an upcoming CF tournament, and since this is my first time
>taking such equipment on flight (and second time flying),
>what has been your experiences (and advice) with dealing
>with the airlines?
>
>This page has some obvious advice...
>
>http://www.ahfi.org/wmaw2001/travel.htm
>
>...and I certainly don't think it would be a good idea to
>take along my bag with a "Warning: Protected by a guy with
>a sword" sticker on it :\
>
>--
>Patrick Shannon
>"Have Foil, Will Travel"
>
>
>----------------------------------------------------------------------
>The CFML is sponsored in part by Purpleheart Armoury, now carrying rapier
>blunts and leather gorgets. http://www.woodenswords.com
>----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
>Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>
>


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[Axel B. Corlu]

I just traveled with a rapier and 4 foils, NYC-Izmir
(Turkey) via Istanbul; even with the increased
security on overseas flights, there were no problems.
I had them in a long golf bag, they weren't damaged.
The masks were in my hardcase suitcase, stuffed with
things so they don't get too much pressure, they came
out OK, too. Airline security at JFK was quite OK with
the blades, and other parts of the rapier, foils, etc.
They actually checked them in as sports equipment and
"fragile."

On the way back, some Turkish security people were
curious at the entrance of the airport in Istanbul,
but there were no problems there either. Spent maybe 5
minutes answering questions like "so, do these hurt?",
"could you use the sharp ones?" or "are they steel?
wow!"

So, apparently there are no problems with them in
overseas flights. I carried a letter from my maestro,
just in case. At the Istanbul airport, some security
officer looked at it and liked the slogan by the
letterhead -from a famous letter to Nadi, I believe?-
"the duel is ours," and nodded in a friendly way!

Oh, and I strongly suggest that everyone try fencing
next to an olive grove and vineyard one day

Axel Corlu

--- Kim Moser <kmoser@kmoser.com> wrote:
> You should have no problems if you pack all your
> fencing weapons into your
> checked luggage. Just make sure you don't lock it,
> as ALL luggage is
> subject to manual inspection.
>
> When traveling I carry my weapons in a golf case
> which I check in. During
> check-in they often ask how many clubs I'm carrying
> (probably because they
> want to ensure none get stolen) and ask me to sign a
> waiver to absolve them
> of responsibility for damage. It doesn't raise any
> eyebrows when I tell
> them it's fencing equipment, not golf clubs, and
> that it's not particularly
> fragile.
>
> I often pack my mask and inline skates into a
> carry-on bag, and I've found
> that security tends to scrutinize my inline skates
> heavily, but doesn't
> give my fencing mask a second look. Go figure!
>
> --K
>
> At 09:33 AM 9/17/2003 -0400, "Patrick Shannon"
> <patrickshannon@charter.net>
> wrote:
> >Hey all,
> >
> >Taking to flight (have done enough driving this
> year) for
> >an upcoming CF tournament, and since this is my
> first time
> >taking such equipment on flight (and second time
> flying),
> >what has been your experiences (and advice) with
> dealing
> >with the airlines?
> >
> >This page has some obvious advice...
> >
> >http://www.ahfi.org/wmaw2001/travel.htm
> >
> >...and I certainly don't think it would be a good
> idea to
> >take along my bag with a "Warning: Protected by a
> guy with
> >a sword" sticker on it :\
> >
> >--
> >Patrick Shannon
> >"Have Foil, Will Travel"
>
>


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----------------------------------------------------------------------
The CFML is sponsored in part by Purpleheart Armoury, now carrying rapier blunts and leather gorgets. http://www.woodenswords.com
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