tackle on the plane?

[malsbloke]

Hiya all,are there any general rules regarding taking your gear overseas?For example most other sports seem to have a weight allowance of their own, does ours? What restrictions are there for tackle on the aircraft-it would seem reasonable not to allow certain things in the cabin such as hooks, knives and some tools for security reasons?!How do manage your packing yet avoid problems with regs-any pointers? I am thinking of taking all the hooks off my lures and putting them in my main luggage along with other hooks,spare line and lures whose hooks i cannot remove.The lure bodies along with anything soft and `non-pointy` will go into the hand luggage in a see through plastic box.What do you folks think? Tips please!

[steve pitts]

Some airlines give an additional 20kg luggage allowance for sports gear such as scuba and angling equipment - depends on the airline and destination.

Airlines should allow travel rods in the cabin, as long as they fit in the overheads, but you have to get them past the airport security first, which could be problematic, depending on the attitude of the security staff.

I've been packing my reels in my hand luggage, since the tightened boarding security procedures were introduced, with the spools loaded up with braid and / or fly lines and although they sometimes get checked, I have had no problems, even on US-bound flights.

[marktheshark]

Ullo matey

Travel on fishy hols 3-4 times a year; here's what I do.

1) Check airline regs on luggage/handluggage. Not just weight but max size, additional sporting gear etc. Most airlines carry small print online. If this is for the Maldives or Seychelles, and you're going to a resort by air taxi, check on max luggage allowance for that, and whether it needs to be soft-sided (bags are often squeezed into tight spaces).

2) Handluggage. Varies hugely. Continental allow 15kg, but charter airlines can be strict on both size and weight (T Cook are draconian on the 5kg limit on some of the Cuba flights). Don't travel with anything sharp in the cabin: knives, hooks, lures, baiting needles, flies; and don't assume you can hide anything from the scanners, whether it be sharps, baits, or liquids.
I carry my most valuable reels in my handluggage. Some people have said the line is a problem with security but I've never had probs, even when I've been stopped and intensively searched going through USA. I do cover the line with masking tape so it's not visible.
Note that most multipart rods will fail the maximum height limit on handluggage, so make sure they're in a sturdy case if you're asked to put them in the hold.
I also carry my lead weights on me in a clear Ziploc bag and when I go through X-ray, take them out and tell the officers what they are. It's never been a problem, even in US, and also helps your weight allowance. Previously they went in the hold, but my luggage was forced and the locks damaged twice in succession when carrying lead weights. Coincidence? Hasn't happened since.
If travelling on charters, weight is critical, and they usually charge for excess. So I buy stuff like toiletries, books, magazines, batteries and even extra clothes airside once I've gone through check-in. I also wear a fishing waistcoat that holds a few extras such as camera, torches etc.

3) Hold luggage
Some airlines have a maximum size and that can rule out long rod carriers etc. I have a couple of cordura rod carriers, one Penn, 5ft 6in and one Sage 4ft long; both are 11cm wide and will fit 4 rods or so if carefully packed. I also take travel rods in my main bag: these are a Greys Missionary 4-part heavy spinning rod; a Sage 4-part fly rod; and a couple of Shimano Exage boat rods. The tubes all fit comfortably inside a 32in carrier. If you're looking to buy a travel rod it helps if you can find the carry dimensions of the rod case (this may differ from the length of the rod divided in 4 or however many parts). You can also fit two rods in one case on some models - the Shimano and Greys tubes are wide enough.
If weight is an issue, it's worth checking how much your bag weighs empty. Most cases are between 3-6kg, which is a lot if your limit is 15kg. For Cuba on TC, I use a 34in sports bag which weighs less than 1kg. Yup, it's a nuisance to carry and doesn't have wheels, but it means I can bring loads more gear, which is fine by me. I use my flippers and a couple of the travel rod tubes to brace the outsides and make sure any breakable stuff is well protected in the middle.

Now you know ...

[malsbloke]

Thanks for the tips guys. Mark, fella you must have the bug bad going on that many trips-that or a fab job you lucky so and so! I was surprised that neither of you had any problems with a reel/reels in hand luggage . If that is the norm my missus will be happier. Does the waistcoat not get hot and heavy? Are there any things you no longer put in your handluggage as they may have caused difficulties in the recent past? Do hard bodied lures cause probs in your experience?

[marktheshark]

No, I don't actually wear the waistcoat, it clips onto my backpack. It's purely for extra storage on charter flights (well, women are allowed a handbag in addition to carry-on handluggage ....). And yes, I've started carrying my plugs and heavy lures in it (another 1kg saved), with the hooks taken off, with no probs.
The only time I've ever been asked to put handluggage in the hold was when I stupidly put my saltwater flies in my cabin bag - that was my fault. And I always carry a spare combi padlock in my handluggage in case I am asked to put it in the hold, but it's not happened since the flies. I've always made it quite clear to security that I've got fishing stuff in my handluggage, and shown them the weights, and they've always been either reasonable, or fascinated.
I've been intensively searched three times, once in Malaysia, twice in the US, by security officers who were only interested in what gear I had, what I used it for, was it any good, what sort of fish I caught on it etc; in other words, fellow anglers!

[daikent]

I do very much the same as MarktheShark, but I dont put my travel rods in their hard carry-cases and then into the suitcase. I find that each carry-case builds up the weight. I wrap the rods carefully in my fishing clothes and pack them in the centre of the suitcase or sports bag.
I too always carry my reels in my carry-on. They always get extra attention from Security, particularly if they are in an empty livebait bucket, complete with battery operated aerator!
I never had a problem with line on the reels all over the World until an internal Italian flight from Naples to Sardinia the year before last, when some Security woman was adamant they weren't going on the plane. Bizarrissimo!! So I had to go back and re-check them into the hold in a spare cool-bag. Fortunately they arrived safely.
Also, don't be tempted to put the fragile tips of your travel rods in your longer rod carry-case. On a 2-week trip to Mexico my suitcase arrived with 2 travel rods (minus the tips) while my rod case remained at Gatwick for the fortnight!!