Fishing Travel Lessons from Other Expensive and Oversized Sports Luggage

If you’re old like me, you may recall the old American Tourister commercials, where a suitcase was put through its paces by a wild and aggravated gorilla and emerged no worse for wear.

“Sure, you may pay more in the beginning,” the narrator advised us, “But it’ll sure pay in the end.”

We’ve offered you lots of pieces about how to choose the best rod tubes, how to pack them, and how to protect and preserve your other valuable fishing gear for air travel. For the most part we’ve been lucky about getting it home unscathed.

We’d like to think that most baggage handlers do their job conscientiously, but even if they try their best you still have to be extra-vigilant to protect fragile or otherwise breakable goodies.

Still, we’re always on the lookout for more advice, and the well has pretty much run dry from the fishing media – so we’ve turned to some other sports. Check out the following links, which may scare, inspire or otherwise get you thinking about how to transport your tackle on your next long-distance fishing trip:

SURFING GEAR LUGGAGE LINKS

• Surfboard Baggage Fees For EVERY Airline In The World (2024)

• The Ins & Outs Of Taking Surfboards On Planes

• Surf’s Up, Wheels Up: Your Guide to Airlines’ Surfboard Fees

• United Airlines: Serial Surfboard Abusers

• Qantas customer's fury after $4000 luggage 'completely destroyed'

• The 8 best surfboard travel bags for 2023

SKIING GEAR LUGGAGE LINKS

• How to Fly with Skis, Snowboards for Cheap

• Easy Guide To Flying With Skis & Boots on a Plane (Travel Tips To Save Money)

• 15 ski and snowboard travel bags that will keep your gear safe while in transit this winter

• Everything you need to know about packing for a ski trip

• The best way to travel with a snowboard or skis affordably

A FEW VIDEOS THAT SHOULD SCARE YOU

• Airline Demolishes Jeremy Flores’ Surfboards

• Airport Baggage Handler Caught on Camera Dropping Surfboard to Certain Death

• Worst Airlines Baggage Handlers all over the world compilation

• Baggage Handlers Caught on Tape Damaging Luggage

MISCELLANEOUS BAGGAGE LINKS

• A Guide To Flying With Bicycles

• Flying The Adventure Friendly Skies: 10 Of The (Proven) Friendliest Airlines For The Adventure Seeking Traveler

• Travel Insurance For Sports Equipment

• Can You Take A Double Bass On A Plane?

• What should I do if my luggage is delayed, lost or damaged?

• These Airlines Are the Most (or Least) Likely to Damage Your Luggage

NOTES ON OVERSIZED LUGGAGE

• Because many of these items are more common or more commonly-recognized than fishing gear, use them as points of comparison with desk agents or other airline employees who may have trouble understanding what you’re checking.

• At larger international baggage claim areas, like the one we frequent at DFW, look for surfers or skiers to figure out where the oversized gear typically emerges. If you see something too big for the regular carousel come out through that chute, position yourself there to grab your rod tube ASAP.

• When searching for “fishing luggage,” don’t just limit yourself to items marketed to anglers. Items developed for other sports may cross over well.

• Prepare for the possibility that your oversized bags will be lost, misplaced or never make it to the plane at all. Air tags are an increasingly valuable option.

• Be aware of whether your airline, your credit card, or any trip protection plan you have purchased will cover, in whole or in part, lost or damaged gear.

• Above all, stay calm, stay polite, and don’t forget to bring a printed version of the airline’s baggage policy to buttress your case if there are any disagreements.