Bow on commercial flight

[Chad924]

Just as it says, looks like I'll be flying commercial to CO this year for archery season.... I just wanted to know if anyone had any good ideas to include a short compound bow into the check luggage? I'll prolly use my 3000 ci pack for a carry on and I think I can keep my other luggage including my bow below 50# but just curious if anyone has any good ideas for one bag for my bow and checked gear.

Thanks folks

[JJ Overkill]

what other gear do you plan on putting below? I don't have an ideas to your question though. my bow flies with me to and from work all the time but I have a double bow case for everything else I might need. but unless you need a double bow case it would be cheaper to just pay the second bag fee.

FYI lock your bow so it cant be drawn, a buddy of mine here at work got his bow here at work and it was in pieces. our best guess was someone in TSA was playing with it behind the wall and dry fired it. don't want your hunt to get ruined before it starts.

[Indian Summer]

It will be over the maximum size restristrictions for carry ons but taking bows as checked luggage is as simple as having a case it fits in.

[N&N Waterfowl]

Have flown on several airlines with bow as checked luggage. Just make sure that you have a nice case and no issues. As previously mentioned a lock that doesn't allow the bow to be drawn and dry fired is an excellent precaution. Never know when a baggage person might decide to test a bow out

[oldnovice]

Southwest will take it as checked baggage with no oversize surcharge. Just make sure it is in a hard case as it will get tossed around and other stuff piled on it.

[lamrith]

Yeah SW is great, they took my big Pelican 1750 Rifle case with no extra fee when I went to AZ for a hunt last Oct. I think they like to cater to "sporting goods" folks.

If your case has the holders for arrows and you store your extra arrows that way for the trip make sure to take all your broadheads off and put them in a separate plastic box. Very easy for an arrow to get popped out of the holder and that snazzy broadhead to get a good taste of your bow strings during the flight.

Def lock the case with a TSA lock as well, while not only TSA has those keys but it does reduce the pool of tools having access to your bow.

[MT Bound]

I always ship mine out UPS before I fly, that way I know it's there and it costs the same as an extra oversized luggage that the airlines rape us for the $$$