hi im planing a trip out west and never taken a rod on board a plane before is there a lenght limit i have a 9 ft. 4 pcs. but thinking of building a 9 ft. 3 pcs. and a 8 ft. 3 pcs. would they be to long to carry on board any info would be most appreciated thanks Jon

Best thing to do is check with the airline. The regulations vary from carrier to carrier and seem to change daily. You might have to check even the shortest rod.

Jon--Bob's advice is good, so please take this as a general observation. Most of our customers on the G&L FlyCraft end have not had issues with 3- or 4-pc rods, but I have heard of some having to check either/both. I've also heard of fly fishers having to check aluminum tubes but not cordura tubes!

Hi Jon,

In October I drove out to Seattle and flew back into Denver. I packed my 9' 4 piece with it's cordura bag right in my duffle bag. The 2" PVC tube with my 2 piece rods had to be checked as a seperate item. When I got back the tube didn't show up at baggage check so I filled out a form and two days later a van with the airline logo pulled up and dropped off my rods. They all survived the trip just fine.

Then in January my brother and I flew out to Seattle. Same deal: 2 piece rods in the PVC tube, 4 piece in the duffle bag. At Sea-Tac our rods showed up at the baggage claim sooner than our luggage. Coming back home to DIA the second time we actually got PVC tube that night, just about an hour after our other bags had come. Oh well, we landed at 2a.m. so we had to wake up and wait for a ride anyway. But in all 3 flights the rods came out just fine in checked baggage.

If you are really concerned I would call the airline and if the person you talk to can't give you a clear answer ask for the supervisor. I think most airlines allow you to have 1 "cary on" and one "personal item." I believe the only size requirement for the airlines I flew on was that both your items either fit under the seat in front of you or completely in the overhead.

Good Luck,

Mark

thanks guys i will check with the airlines and maybe get a bigger duffle bag

If you have an address you can have the rods sent befor you go and have them delivered to the address. I did that when I went to Florida.They were there wating for me. Used a hard adjustable case.

Jon,

Pre-9/11 I used to carry on 9' 2pc with no problems. Summer 2002 I had to check it (Dulles airport) - fine by me until I get to Minneapolis and everybody (and their siblings) is walking through the terminal with 2 piece tubes. 2004 I check the 2 pc, but carry-on 9' 5pc and 7' 2pc - 2 pc gets lost in transit, even with 2 1/2 hr layover??? By the time it arrives 4 days later, I'm already on the road to Yellowstone (Airline: "Would you like to have it delivered to you?", me: "If you're willing to bring it to the Pebble Creek campground from Bozeman, I'm all for it", Airline: "Er..."). Bottom line - 9' 3 pc is no bigger than the 7' 2pc I carried on, but, based on recent experience with TSA, who knows? Best of luck.

Regards,
Scott Patterson

I think Bill has the best idea. If you don't have someone to send it to check with the USPS and see if you could send it to yourself @ the nearest post office to where you are going general delivery. If they do allow it send it priority mail and be sure to insure it. The airlines are getting to be a pain to deal with.

Just a thought??

At that time I had used Fed x. Check with all of them