Air Travel

[ViperJQ]

I need help some help gathering information on airline policies. My team is going the the Narch Finals in Florida this year and we've decided to fly instead of drive down from PA. I was just wondering if anyone has flown as a team before. We need information about bringing hockey equiptment and sticks with us and if it will cost us any extra or any other things we should know. I'm sure each airline has different policies but we havent choosen one yet. We're just looking for any general information that anyone has.

Thanks,

Jesse Quinn

[mcchockey9]

Depending on where you go, Southwest is a good airline to fly and cheap. Just make sure everyone checks in online 24 hours ahead so you can get registered for the flight. With no assigned seating, you are in one of three lines A,B,C for boarding. Anyway, they allow equipment to be loaded on the plane, but they make you sign a waiver saying they won't insure your sticks. Northwest also will take it as well (i haven't flown them in 4 years). Make sure you guys are there early to get in line for checking your bags. Also, make sure you have your sticks covered in bags or such, so that they are some what protected. Good luck, and hope that i was of some help.

[patb16]

What teams I've been on in the past is we've bundle all the sticks together and checked it as one luggage item. There are also services that will ship luggage right to your hotel for you so you don't have to check it w/the airline. You should be allowed to check 2 bags each so you can prob just check your hockey equipment and a suitcase. Hope that helps

[Drexel63]

Yea most airlines have a $50 charge per item for checking more than two pieces of luggage. For NCRHA nats, each player checked a hockey bag and a suitcase, and our coach checked his suitcase, and the enormous bundle of 30+ hockey sticks. It worked fine this way. If you don't have a coach, get someone with a large bag to check their hockey bag with the suitcase inside, and there you go...

Good luck in Florida

[ECHOHockey]

MOST airlines allow 2 checked bags with a max weight of 50 lbs each for domestic flights. One advantage with Southwest is that they allow 3 checked bags. This is great because it allows each player to bring the gear, stick bag and suitcase with personal items.

Each airlines website should have a "luggage" section on their FAQ page.

We have never had to sign a waiver as a previous poster mentioned, perhaps that was an isolated incident, or perhaps that only applies to sticks that are not in stick bags?

NOTE: Make sure everyones bag is zipped up good and that all loose items are secured in a small pouch (or something similar). You would be surprised at how many kid's bags have broken zippers and it isn't a problem bringing your gear from the car to the locker room, but on the airport conveyor, laying upside down and then getting thrown around...you could loose wrenches, bearings, wheels, etc. Small items in particular, but big items could be at risk as well.

[rlyon35]

Last week my son (goalie) flew and when he was directed to a kiosk to check in for his flight he marked off three bags to check in (his equipment bag, stick bag, and travel bag) -since it was 3 bags they tried to charge him an extra $80- so be careful of checking in with kiosks-
On his return he avoided the kiosks, but one of the agents tried to charge him for oversize bag (his goalie bag) which would have been another $100- he managed to talk his way out of that charge-make sure your weight is under 50 pounds as well, that can sometime be a problem if equipment is not dried out-
Normally with teams it is a lot easier, but be careful out there if you are a goalie travelling by yourself!!!