Bringing a set of golf clubs back from the US - have I got this right?

[Febs]

Hi all,

I'm heading to the US next month and was hoping to bring back a set of golf clubs (or a set of irons at the least). Just wanted to confirm that I had my facts straight, and figured someone here might've been in a similar situation.

I'm travelling in J SYD-LAX, then F LAX-DFW-MCI (Kansas City) return.

Travelling in J, I understand I get 2 pieces of 32kg each (+1 additional piece, being QFF Gold). That's fine, I only intend to take one checked piece.

For the domestic US flights, I understand I get 2 pieces @ 23kg each.

Re: The Golf Clubs, Qantas state "Golf bags and collapsible buggies are carried as baggage and are exempt from normal linear dimension restrictions" and AA state "Free in place of one 62 inch bag. Size is limited to the size of a hard-sided golf case."

So...as long as I have one suitcase and one set of clubs (in a bag), and neither exceeds 23kg, I should be right for all flights?

Also, if I don't end up buying a golf bag, but just a set of irons or a few drivers, how does that work (re: dimensions?) Is it still counted as a "golf bag", despite not being in a bag, or would I be charged for the dimensions being oversized?

Thanks all.

Cheers,
- Febs.

 

[JohnK]

Also, if I don't end up buying a golf bag, but just a set of irons or a few drivers, how does that work (re: dimensions?) Is it still counted as a "golf bag", despite not being in a bag, or would I be charged for the dimensions being oversized?

I don't know if this helps but it is a very similar situation.

On my last trip to Thailand I took my driver, pitching wedge and putter with me. At checkin I asked for one of those large QF plastic bags and put clubs inside and taped it up well. I had already wrapped newspaper around the club heads before going to the airport.

As far as I know QF transports 1 piece/bag of sporting equipment. Domestically this is free of charge and does not count towards your overall weight limit. I assume it is the same for international.

I plan on taking a full set of golf clubs, including golf bag and golf bag cover, with me to Thailand in a few weeks. I am sure all will be OK.

 

[Dave Noble]

As far as I know QF transports 1 piece/bag of sporting equipment. Domestically this is free of charge and does not count towards your overall weight limit. I assume it is the same for international.

You assume incorrectly

For travel under the piece based system as applies to travel to the USA as listed on Flying with Us - Before You Travel - Baggage - Sporting Equipment

When the checked baggage piece allowance of one golf set and your checked baggage exceeds the free baggage piece allowance, you will be charged 50% of the applicable additional baggage charge for one such golf bag per passenger. Any additional golf equipment will be charged at the normal additional baggage rates

And from Flying with Us - Before You Travel - Baggage - Additional Collection , it states that for a journey 7001-9000 miles , the excess charge for 1 extra piece is AUD144, so the excess for a golf bag would be $72

And the definition of a golf set

Golfing Equipment
A golf set consists of one golf bag including clubs, golf balls, and golf apparel. Golf bags and collapsible buggies are carried as baggage and are exempt from normal linear dimension restrictions.

With a total of 2 checked in pieces, then you will be within the limits for QF. If you elect not to use a golf bag, then it would seem that you would not be exempt the linear restrictions

Dave

 

[serfty]

... With a total of 2 checked in pieces, then you will be within the limits for QF. If you elect not to use a golf bag, then it would seem that you would not be exempt the linear restrictions ...

I have done this domestically; i.e. taken four clubs along 'taped/packaged' together.

The check in staff treated it like golf gear in a normal golf bag. Had to take it over to special luggage in MEL and copped the seemingly standard golf jokes/conversations etc. there as my stuff was placed on the conveyor.

It seems that in practice such luggage gets treated as if it comes under "Golf bags and collapsible buggies".

As always, YMMV...

 

[NM]

With a total of 2 checked in pieces, then you will be within the limits for QF. If you elect not to use a golf bag, then it would seem that you would not be exempt the linear restrictions

Dave, that clearly and accurately describes the QF policy. But Febs is looking to buy his gold clubs in the USA and bring them back to Australia. So the golf club check-in is likely to be on the AA departure from MCI rather than a QF check-in. So he will be required to meet the AA baggage allowance requirements at least for the AA domestic component.

So for AA's policy, the golf bag replaces one of the two checked bags, and must not exceed 70 lb or the size of a hard-sided golf case.

 

[Dave Noble]

I have done this domestically; i.e. taken four clubs along 'taped/packaged' together.

The check in staff treated it like golf gear in a normal golf bag. Had to take it over to special luggage in MEL and copped the seemingly standard golf jokes/conversations etc. there as my stuff was placed on the conveyor.

It seems that in practice such luggage gets treated as if it comes under "Golf bags and collapsible buggies".

As always, YMMV...

There is a noticeable difference between QFs international and domestic policies; if you pop to the site you would notice quite different terms

Dave

 

[markis10]

And dont forget to use them prior to their arrival back in Australia, in other words take the plastic covers off the heads etc. I once had a customs officer insist that i had done some putting practice in my room, making the clubs second hand and instantly devaluing them for the pruposes of calculating duty/GST.

 

[Dave Noble]

Dave, that clearly and accurately describes the QF policy. But Febs is looking to buy his gold clubs in the USA and bring them back to Australia. So the golf club check-in is likely to be on the AA departure from MCI rather than a QF check-in. So he will be required to meet the AA baggage allowance requirements at least for the AA domestic component.

So for AA's policy, the golf bag replaces one of the two checked bags, and must not exceed 70 lb or the size of a hard-sided golf case.

It reads that he is on 2 separate tickets ( I may be mistaken ) so the more restrictive of the 2 policies would apply iirc. I suggest using a golf bag and avoiding any risk of issue

Dave

 

[drron]

I have done this and it was 2 pieces plus the golf clubs-in a golf bag.It was though 5 years ago and things have changed.Off to Fiji in a fortnight and have been told that I can have 1 piece plus golf clubs on QF codeshare in economy.It applies to other sporting equipment as well.

 

[Febs]

It reads that he is on 2 separate tickets ( I may be mistaken ) so the more restrictive of the 2 policies would apply iirc. I suggest using a golf bag and avoiding any risk of issue

Sorry for the confusion - one ticket.
Does that mean I get the QF baggage allowance for all flights?

I assume so. Last time I checked luggage in from MCI to SYD I was over AA's weight limit, but not QF's (I think it was the few Maglites I brought back ). The check-in lady said because I was continuing onto a QF flight, there would be no penalty.

Not that it really matters (as I said, I intend to be within AA's policy anyway), but I'm just curious.

Cheers,
- Febs.

 

[Dave Noble]

Sorry for the confusion - one ticket.
Does that mean I get the QF baggage allowance for all flights?

I assume so. Last time I checked luggage in from MCI to SYD I was over AA's weight limit, but not QF's (I think it was the few Maglites I brought back ). The check-in lady said because I was continuing onto a QF flight, there would be no penalty.

Not that it really matters (as I said, I intend to be within AA's policy anyway), but I'm just curious.

Cheers,
- Febs.

I believe that if it is a single ticket that the restriction of the 1st carrier of the journey at check in

e.g. if flying SYD-LAX-DFW on QF then AA, then QFs allowance will applyall the way out
if the returning DFW-LAX-SYD on AA then QF, then AAs allowance will apply all the way back

If you do a stopover en-route

e.g. DFW-LAX on AA and then do LAX-SYD the next day, then QFs allowance would apply for SYD-LAX and AAs allowance for LAX-DFW

Dave

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

I believe that if it is a single ticket that the restriction of the 1st carrier of the journey at check in

e.g. if flying SYD-LAX-DFW on QF then AA, then QFs allowance will applyall the way out

Not sure about that. At LAX will need to claim checked bags + golf gear, take through customs and recheck them. Wouldn't AA apply it's own rules at the recheck?

 

[Dave Noble]

Not sure about that. At LAX will need to claim checked bags + golf gear, take through customs and recheck them. Wouldn't AA apply it's own rules at the recheck?

No. The bags will already be tagged to the final destination; there is no re-checking, just placing the bags onto the carousel for onward connection

Dave

 

[NM]

No. The bags will already be tagged to the final destination; there is no re-checking, just placing the bags onto the carousel for onward connection

Dave

For arrivals into T4 at LAX, after exiting Customs with your bags, you take then to the re-screening point. There is no carousel as there is at TBI arrivals. You leave the bags with the TSA screeners and then head upstairs for the onward connection.

 

[NM]

Remember that you ticket will show the baggage allowance. But it will only show as 2 Pieces. How each airline interprets 2 pieces is up to them and determined at check-in by the first operating airline (as Dave says). So if they limit to 2 x 23kg (50lb) then that is it. If they allow 2 pieces plus 1 sporting equip, then great. If they interpret the sporting equipment as one of the 2 pieces, then that is they determination.

So in this case, each time you actually check-in with the bags, the policy of the airline operating the first sector of that part of the journey will apply. Any subsequent connections, including transit through LAX where the bags are checked through but temporarily collected for escort through customs, will not affect what was checked-in by the first operating airline.

Of course this causes major arguments all the time when you check-in for the return journey and the policy is different. You hear it all the time - "But I was allowed this much on my outbound journey, why are you charging me for excess luggage".

 

[Dave Noble]

For arrivals into T4 at LAX, after exiting Customs with your bags, you take then to the re-screening point. There is no carousel as there is at TBI arrivals. You leave the bags with the TSA screeners and then head upstairs for the onward connection.

ok. Either way, it does not involve going to check in and re-checking in

Dave

 

[NM]

ok. Either way, it does not involve going to check in and re-checking in

Dave

ineed. Just didn't want anyone looking for a carousel to place their bags on for onward carriage since the only carousel in that location is the AA domestic arrivals carousel.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

Okay the process is different for various connections at LAX.

When arriving at T2 (NZ/AC/etc) there is a choice of rescreening station just past customs, or taking to airline counter. For shortish connections (or rather short by the time you have made it through immigrations and customs queues) the latter is recommended as rescreening and transfer to another terminal take a minimum of one hour, and for some airlines this means they assess against their own criteria.

 

[simongr]

For arrivals into T4 at LAX, after exiting Customs with your bags, you take then to the re-screening point. There is no carousel as there is at TBI arrivals. You leave the bags with the TSA screeners and then head upstairs for the onward connection.

Hmm - arriving into TBIT on saturday I had to go up a ramp and out into the arrivals area (direct access to the street) and hand my bags to a TSA agent (who kindly noticed that my baggage tag had snapped and repaired it for me). There was no subsequent carousel.

I had real flashbacks to my last trip to TBIT where we told we had to hold onto our luggage and recheck in - thankfully not this time.

 

[NM]

Hmm - arriving into TBIT on saturday I had to go up a ramp and out into the arrivals area (direct access to the street) and hand my bags to a TSA agent (who kindly noticed that my baggage tag had snapped and repaired it for me). There was no subsequent carousel.

I have not arrived into TBIT for a while. The process used to be that upon exit from customs, passengers terminating at LAX would turn left and up into the arrivals meeting area, while passengers with onward connections turn right and up a ramp then follow the corridor around its left turn. That then presented you in a baggage drop area where ground staff would ask which airline you are travelling with and would direct you to leave you bags on the appropriate carousel (well more like a conveyor belt).