NSWF: American Airlines did this to me upon arrival for a golf trip in phoenix

[ahelix]

I always remove my driver and 3-wood heads and put in separate suitcase--thank god. I have a SunMountain 14-way divider bag, SunMountain ClubGlider (love it but it is a _soft_ travel bag), AND I used a stiff arm! Wondering if there is something else I should do in the future. 

 

I think I didn't have the stiff arm extended as tall as it could've been--I bet that might have helped, and I'm wondering if I need to re-arrange the clubs around a little more in the 14-way divider bag. Like graphite shafts (Dr, 3w, hybrids) more in the middle near the stiff arm, and irons more on perimeter? Any tips would be appreciated.

 

FYI: American airlines denied the damage claim because it was in a soft bag and not a hard case! Fortunately, my credit card covered the replacement shaft. Also, for 2 of the 3 rounds, the places I played gave me a Mitsubishi 65 gram stiff shaft with Callaway adapter and I was able to play OK (the third spot only had Ping clubs, and I played terribly there).

 

 

 

[mjguzik]

Guessing you had the shaft with the cog up next to the stiff arm.  Put mine down with wider part of the shaft up with the grip.  Wrap a towel around the iron heads and shafts.  Lost a surefit cog once but found it at the bottom of my bag.  Still traveling with a soft bag and stiff arm.

[ahelix]

7 minutes ago, mjguzik said:

Guessing you had the shaft with the cog up next to the stiff arm.  Put mine down with wider part of the shaft up with the grip.  Wrap a towel around the iron heads and shafts.  Lost a surefit cog once but found it at the bottom of my bag.  Still traveling with a soft bag and stiff arm.

did not put cog side down. Just wrapped the golf towel around the iron heads, which prob just fell out. Gonna use a big puffy towel next time and really jam it in there. 

[Minarets]

I take off all heads (that adjust like woods and drivers) apart and put the heads in the head covers and put them in the side of my golf bag.  I take out all irons and flip them upside down and the heads go down in the bag with only the grips being up.   Sometimes you have to be particular when taking them out as they can get caught but if you turn the head the right way they go in and out just fine.  
I then do to the same to the bare shafts (heads are in head covers). Put the grips facing up and where it meets the head down in the bag. I still use a stiff arm.  Putter is all I ever worry about.  I wrapped the head around a towel and put it directly under the stiff arm.  Never had a problem…………yet. 
 

edit: I do use the same Sunmountain case pictured in the OP post.  

Edited February 4 by Minarets

[dbdors]

42 minutes ago, mjguzik said:

Guessing you had the shaft with the cog up next to the stiff arm.  Put mine down with wider part of the shaft up with the grip.  Wrap a towel around the iron heads and shafts.  Lost a surefit cog once but found it at the bottom of my bag.  Still traveling with a soft bag and stiff arm.

I do the same.  

[RoscoeCoaltrain]

I have never considered irons and heads go in first, with the grips sticking out for travel.  That is a good option.

[dbdors]

1 hour ago, ahelix said:

FYI: American airlines denied the damage claim because it was in a soft bag and not a hard case! Fortunately, my credit card covered the replacement shaft.

 

I use the same travel bag and love it.  I'm never going with a hard case.  I fly Southwest a lot and they say the same, i.e. they don't cover soft bag.  I take same precautions, i.e. removing the heads, and sticking the adapters at the bottom of the bag.  I also don't leave my electronics in the bag, i.e. range finder, Arccos Link, etc.

 

Which credit card helped you out?  Was it Amex?  Would be good to know.  I know that Amex covers a lot, but I would not have thought to ask them to cover it.

[ahelix]

Chase sapphire reserve. Wasn’t even that tedious of a process for the claim. 

[AdExec]

The AZ WRX crew could have united to make sure you had proper equipment to play. If anyone is in need you’re welcome to borrow my Titleist or TM shafts while in town. 

[Minarets]

1 hour ago, ahelix said:

Chase sapphire reserve. Wasn’t even that tedious of a process for the claim. 

How does this work? I too carry that card, but did you even buy that on that card?  

[ahelix]

9 minutes ago, Minarets said:

How does this work? I too carry that card, but did you even buy that on that card?  

 

• Lost Luggage Reimbursement: If you or an immediate family member check or carry-on luggage that is damaged or lost by the carrier, you're covered up to $3,000 per passenger.

https://www.chase.com/personal/credit-cards/education/basics/chase-sapphire-travel-insurance-guide

[Nickb333]

Bummer.

 

Curious why folks that fly with clubs regularly don’t like hard cases? 

[st1800e]

38 minutes ago, Nickb333 said:

Curious why folks that fly with clubs regularly don’t like hard cases? 

No room in the rental car.  
 

And a Club Glove does the job. 
 

 

 

Edited February 4 by st1800e

[Nickb333]

16 minutes ago, st1800e said:

No room in the rental car.  
 

And a Club Glove does the job. 
 

 

 

Interesting. This is what I have. Full hard case. TSA locks so I can take my pistol too! 😀
 

 

The dimensions look smaller than the glove, no?
 

 

Thanks.

Edited February 4 by Nickb333

[Nickb333]

PS. Here’s their larger case for full size bags. Dimensions still seem smaller. 
 

 

[jlevitt9]

Welcome to my life!

 

In fall of 2022 I took at trip to Scotland to play the Old Course, Kingsbarns and Carnoustie. Did the same as you...packed everything well + stiff arm. Driver shaft was snapped in exactly the same place as yours. 

 

From then on out...SKB hard case and Ship Sticks domestically. If I need to travel with clubs, like a quick trip to Vegas. I get a car big enough (or Uber XL) to hold the SKB case. Reality is even the best soft case packing job can get ruined with bad TSA or airline baggage handling. Why risk it?

 

Josh

[st1800e]

8 hours ago, Nickb333 said:

Interesting. This is what I have. Full hard case. TSA locks so I can take my pistol too! 😀
 

 

The dimensions look smaller than the glove, no?
 

 

Thanks.

Doesn’t fold up…..to each his own.   I don’t own a gun.   😉

Edited February 4 by st1800e

[italianstallion]

The only tip I can give is to get a hard shell case. I've had an SKB hard case since 2007 and have flown dozens of times, including internationally. Still on the same case, still haven't had a broken club. Yes it doesn't collapse down but there are two workarounds for that: drop a back seat in whatever economy rental car you get and put the case in front to back, or pay just a little more for a bigger rental car. At the end of the day either option is less hassle than 1) worrying about breaking a club every time and 2) having the headache/annoyance of a broken club while on a trip.

[ahelix]

9 hours ago, jlevitt9 said:

Welcome to my life!

 

In fall of 2022 I took at trip to Scotland to play the Old Course, Kingsbarns and Carnoustie. Did the same as you...packed everything well + stiff arm. Driver shaft was snapped in exactly the same place as yours. 

 

From then on out...SKB hard case and Ship Sticks domestically. If I need to travel with clubs, like a quick trip to Vegas. I get a car big enough (or Uber XL) to hold the SKB case. Reality is even the best soft case packing job can get ruined with bad TSA or airline baggage handling. Why risk it?

 

Josh

 

oh boy, that's my nightmare. i have a similar itinerary coming up in the spring and think i might just deal with the bulkiness and heavier weight of the SKB hard case.

[Nickb333]

Depending on the model, SKB is about 4-7 pounds heavier than the Club Glove. Well worth it considering the extra protection. Even the largest version dimensions appear smaller than the Club Glove. So, I don’t see any added bulk. 
 

Again, I don’t see how you beat the hard case. 
 

 

[jlevitt9]

1 hour ago, ahelix said:

 

oh boy, that's my nightmare. i have a similar itinerary coming up in the spring and think i might just deal with the bulkiness and heavier weight of the SKB hard case.

 

Do it. I'd ask, what's your stress worth, ya know? The SKB case is nearly the same weight as a good soft case. Knowing my clubs will be 99.9% safe vs. wondering is worth any extra fee.

 

Photo of my snapped Rogue 125 taken at the old course hotel on arrival day. The last time I used a soft case. Thanks airline! 

Edited February 4 by jlevitt9

[dcmidnight]

12 hours ago, Nickb333 said:

Interesting. This is what I have. Full hard case. TSA locks so I can take my pistol too! 😀

 

The dimensions look smaller than the glove, no?
 

Thanks.

 

I have had that case for the last 10 years or so. Compared it to my brothers club glove years ago and mine is smaller in every dimension - unless he leaves it empty and doesnt pack it with a ton of padding. But - who would do that LOL.

 

That being said, I still do basically everything above. Heads off, shafts upside down, towels wrapped through irons with covers on. Never thought of flipping them but definitlely will think about it, thanks!

[gripandrip]

Never had an issue with my club glove, but I travel almost exclusively on Delta. I extend the stiff arm, and then use a small bungee cord to make sure all my shafts (I take off heads and pad with small towel) stay under the stiff arm umbrella.. I then wrap irons in a towel and bungee them together into a tighter pack.

[jlevitt9]

50 minutes ago, gripandrip said:

Never had an issue with my club glove, but I travel almost exclusively on Delta. I extend the stiff arm, and then use a small bungee cord to make sure all my shafts (I take off heads and pad with small towel) stay under the stiff arm umbrella.. I then wrap irons in a towel and bungee them together into a tighter pack.

 

The fact that we/you have to do all of this to not even guarantee your clubs will be safe versus just using a hard case speaks volumes. Just my .02!

 

- hard case gang 

[BlkNGld]

My technique:

 

I remove the heads where possible, flip the shafts and put as close to the stiff arm.

Around that go bonded woods/hybrids.

Leave about an inch clearance from the top of whatever is longest to the stiff arm.

Next irons with head covers on (only reason I bought them was travel cushioning).

Putter.

Weave a bath towel between and around it all.

Put on rain hood to keep it all snug.

In the club glider it goes.

Hope that TSA doesn't undo my handiwork.

 

Never had a problem but I realize that's less about mine being the ultimate solution than I'm not the most frequent club flier.   If it happens to pros, it can happen to any of us.

Edited February 4 by BlkNGld