Flying (WITH) Discs

Dave Mourad · Post by **Dave Mourad** » Sun May 03, 2009 9:11 pm

I've got some Q's for folks who have travelled on an airline and brought their disc wares with them...

Any advice for those who want to bring their bag o' discs on an airline when traveling?

Does anyone know if a Revolution Dual Pack (Backpack) is small enough to fit as carry-on luggage or should I look into something smaller for the trip?

Any horror stories about chequing in DG bags as luggage or is that an acceptable measure?

Sean Healy · Post by **Sean Healy** » Sun May 03, 2009 9:21 pm

I used my Revo Dual Pack as a carry-on once and it fit fine in the overhead compartment.

The security guy in Kentucky was actually really cool and knew what disc golf was.

Shane Peters · Post by **Shane Peters** » Sun May 03, 2009 9:32 pm

I took my dual pack as carry on to Vegas and to South Carolina and it was fine.

Eric Kevorkian · Post by **Eric Kevorkian** » Sun May 03, 2009 10:49 pm

Carry it on.

Rob Tatro · Post by **Rob Tatro** » Sun May 03, 2009 10:57 pm

Never a problem with me carrying it on except for a couple of things

Kinda funny one first, I once had the airline x-ray person ask me what kind of plate collection I had in my bag ... it took me a second to for me to figure out he was talking about my discs.

Not so funny one ... I accidentally left a pocket knife in one of the pockets of my bag. When the screener called his supervisor over, it dawned on my what they were looking at ... oh bleep :oops:

Dave Mourad · Post by **Dave Mourad** » Mon May 04, 2009 6:06 am

RobT wrote:Not so funny one ... I accidentally left a pocket knife in one of the pockets of my bag. When the screener called his supervisor over, it dawned on my what they were looking at ... oh bleep

Wow - my leatherman sits within mine - I didn't even think of it :shock:

. Thanks for sharing. :!:

Dave McHale · Post by **Dave McHale** » Mon May 04, 2009 6:46 am

yeah I had a lighter in my bag once when flying and got harassed over even that. :roll:

Was only annoying because I had flown round-trip 3 times within 2 weeks with the bag (lighter was there the whole time), and got "busted" on my last flight which just happened to be the one time we were running late for our plane.

Jeff Wiechowski · Post by **Jeff Wiechowski** » Mon May 04, 2009 6:46 am

Yes make sure the bag has nothing but discs in it and you should be all good. 8-)

Jim Bobka · Post by **Jim Bobka** » Mon May 04, 2009 6:53 am

A year after 9/11 my cousin and I went to FLA to visit/play. My dg bag was zipped up when it went through, then they called me over and started the questions. One guy asked me if I knew what C-4 was. I knew they were thinking my discs were plastic explosives, and I started to get a little nervous.

The woman checking us said to unzip the bag to allow them to get a visual right away. I started to argue her point, saying "Does everyone bringing a carry on have to do that?" Which of course they don't.

She then dumped my bag out onto the conveyor and stated "our xrays determined these to be plastic explosives, you need to have them available for viewing, so put some in the tray before it goes through to allow for a visual." OK, you win.

Luckily like Rob some xray person behind us knew about the game, so we got on without anymore incidents.

I'd recommend tossing a couple into the tray and open your bag.

Shane Peters · Post by **Shane Peters** » Mon May 04, 2009 7:59 am

Dealing with airport personnel is like dealing with a state trooper. Don't argue.

Paul Oechsli · Post by **Paul Oechsli** » Mon May 04, 2009 8:14 am

Never had a problem with a Revolution bag through either airport security or overhead bins.

Jeff Zipkin · Post by **Jeff Zipkin** » Mon May 04, 2009 2:26 pm

i too had an slight issue with my discs going through x-ray.

we were heading down to south carolina and instead of bringing my bag i chose 6 of my favorite discs and put them in my messenger bag which i was using as my carry-on. unfortunately, in the pocket right in front of the discs i has all my chargers and cables for my various electronics. you see where this is going. well, it took emptying the bag, a few minutes of explanation, and finally one of those swabs, but they eventually let me through.

this leads to an interesting question, if you could just bring 6 discs to play a course you were entirely unfamiliar with, what would they be?

Ben Parker · Post by **Ben Parker** » Mon May 04, 2009 3:04 pm

Wizard
Comet
Buzzz
TL
Wraith
Monster

Steve Guiliotis · Post by **Steve Guiliotis** » Mon May 04, 2009 3:07 pm

Airline security and golf discs that might just be C4 explosives pretty much helped write the Tournament 54 conspiracy post from last year.

Chris Webb · Post by **Chris Webb** » Mon May 04, 2009 3:07 pm

I usually throw in 4 discs in my luggage when traveling on business.

Usually some beat up driver, XL or Inferno. A midrange Wasp, or roc. And a putter usually under stable, XD. Then the most overstable disc I don't mind losing blaze or firebird.

Should be able to hit most of the needed shots for any course unless its really long.

Heading down to Charleston SC in a few weeks. Now you got me thinking. 8-)

-webb

Jesse Carrieri · Post by **Jesse Carrieri** » Mon May 04, 2009 4:05 pm

went to San Diego in march and took a glow avair, z-buzzz, Champ TL and Champ Boss

X-ray tech at airport was staring at my bag until she finally asked " Did you get to play Morley field? I've been playing for 20 years."

I was nervous the discs would be viewed as weapons and taken.

Jim Wills · Post by **Jim Wills** » Mon May 04, 2009 4:17 pm

Yeah that happened to me at Logan. Brought my small bag and 6 discs to NJ on business so I could check out Tinicum while I was there.

Security pulled me aside and made me open the bag as they thought the big circles were plastic explosives and wouldnt touch it :roll:

After that I just made sure to pull them out and put in a bin...

Matt Stroika · Post by **Matt Stroika** » Mon May 04, 2009 5:47 pm

Shane-O wrote:Dealing with airport personnel is like dealing with a state trooper. Don't argue.

Except that the trooper is probably not retarded.

Phil Kennedy · Post by **Phil Kennedy** » Mon May 04, 2009 6:17 pm

Doc Strange wrote:...discs that might just be C4 explosives...

...which begs the questions: How grippy would they feel and would they be PDGA legal? :lol:

Next up from Innova: Pack "The Bomb" in your bag? :bom:

Dave Mourad · Post by **Dave Mourad** » Mon May 04, 2009 7:18 pm

Looks like Discwing has a military connection...

http://www.defensetech.org/archives/002723.html

AND...

I thought Ching made "the bomb"...or is "Ching" an offshoot of Innova?

Phil Kennedy · Post by **Phil Kennedy** » Mon May 04, 2009 7:30 pm

DM wrote:I thought Ching made "the bomb"...or is "Ching" an offshoot of Innova?

Yer right, of course...chalk it up to a chink in my memory. :oops:

I once packed a carry-on with rare collectible discs totaling 8 grand. I implored the inspector to handle them with extreme caution as plastic scratches when you look at it wrong. Fortunately she complied.

David Gipson · Post by **David Gipson** » Mon May 04, 2009 8:30 pm

DM wrote:Looks like Discwing has a military connection...

http://www.defensetech.org/archives/002723.html

AND...

I thought Ching made "the bomb"...or is "Ching" an offshoot of Innova?

Ching used to own by Innova and yes they did make the Bomb,Sniper,Tank what the rhyno is made after Tank is a beadless or micro bead rhyno

Jeff Zipkin · Post by **Jeff Zipkin** » Mon May 04, 2009 9:41 pm

CWebb wrote:
Heading down to Charleston SC in a few weeks. Now you got me thinking.

-webb

that's where we went. not much disc going on in the charleston area tho. you'll prolly end up playing trophy lakes. it's sorta weird. the land is owned by a waterski company and the course plays around, and sometimes over, one of their ski lakes. the current owners aren't players, but apparently the previous ones were. small pro shop. otherwise the place was rather uninspiring.

Tim_Griskus · Post by **Tim_Griskus** » Mon May 04, 2009 11:02 pm

I just went to Florida in October with my family, packed a small Innova bag with 6 discs in it inside my large suitcase and checked it. No problems at all until my wife found it when we got to the hotel :lol:

She said and I quote "Even on vacation this sport haunts me!!" :shock:

I still played a round early in the morning the day before we left.

CraftyGolfWidow · Post by **CraftyGolfWidow** » Tue May 05, 2009 12:53 am

Red Beard- Funny your wife didn't know you packed discs until you got there...in our home the luggage is out and discs are painstakingly chosen for travel days before!

I know DitterMan had a weird flight once to Worlds when trying to carry on...lots of security (at retarded Bradley) gawking and thinking he was trying to blow up the airport. So, unless we are flying to a tourney, we pack 3-4 discs each and a small bag (in our check in luggage). This worked well for our March trip to Florida, and it makes you really know your discs. Of course, we were lucky to stop at Clearwater Disc Golf Store to get new plastic and replace any lost discs (ahem, not me...). This is how I discovered my new favorite putter, the Dart :lol:

Have a good trip, DM!

Dave Mourad · Post by **Dave Mourad** » Tue May 05, 2009 6:22 am

Maybe it wouldn't hurt to bring a scorecard with a pic of the game on it, or perhaps an old issue of DGWN.

So I've decided to choose my discs for air travel based on their names...

No to : bombs, destroyers, wraiths, avengers or beasts

Yes to : gazzelle, whippet, aviar, aeros, or glides

Dave McHale · Post by **Dave McHale** » Tue May 05, 2009 8:13 am

wouldn't the wraith technically be very appropriate for flying? Perhaps no Reaper though

Jc vermynck · Post by **Jc vermynck** » Tue May 05, 2009 8:31 am

I went through providence and had the whole xray team come and look at the loose discs in my checked bag.
they thanked me for the test of their skill and thought it was kind of a fun test :?:

Mark Sherwood · Post by **Mark Sherwood** » Tue May 05, 2009 8:42 am

Nothing much to add except to agree that the most straight forward way to go is to just bring your bag and discs and carry them on, one time I did just put maybe 8 or 10 discs in my suitcase and check it, no real problems but I did have a little note in my suitcase saying it had been searched.

Jeff Wiechowski · Post by **Jeff Wiechowski** » Tue May 05, 2009 9:18 am

I took my golf bag to the airport a few days prior and walked up the the checkpoint and asked them "can i carry this bag of frisbees on with me?"
They looked in it and said yes.......... 2 days later i flew out with no probs