Flying to Alabama to see my Dad and do some fishing! The only thing is I've always driven and never flown. I'm only taking 2 of my rods but I would like some opinions on the best and safest thing I can put them in so the airlines doesn't damage my rods. I plan on removing the reels and just checking the rods. They are both 6'6" rods. My first thought would be pvc pipe. I'm sure many of you have done this with success. Please let me know the best and if possible the cheapest way about it. Thanks.

In my opinion the safest way is to buy one of the airline approved rod caddys available at most tackle stores or througt BPS or Cabelas

I have a Plano Airliner that will telescope to hold 8 rods up to 7 feet. It cost $40 and I have used it many times. It works very well. You can get them at most retailers including Cabela's and Bass Pro. Just keep in mind that this counts as one of your two allowed checked bags.

What about building some cases out of PVC pipe??

i went to the dominican and took 12 rods in one bazooka type tube. tube goes in the belly of the plane with luggage but has to be transported manually cause they risk jamming the luggage conyeyor belt with it. basically you gotta wait a little longer and pick them up from the special baggage claim area. make sure to buy a TSA lock which is a dial-combo lock w/ a TSA keyhole so the security can get in but the luggage handler's cant. wasnt a major inconvenience for me.

I have used PVC and I have a Plano one now. For just 2 rods I would use PVC. Stuff the ends with newspaper or old socks. and tie the two rods together so they don't bang against each other...make them one solid rod.

Not a big deal but if you aren't comfortable and depending on your other luggage you can always ship them to and from.

Thanks for the info guys. I think the pvc is probably going to be the way to go since I rarely fly. Once every 6-7 yrs. I'll only need a few rods there anyway. We mostly crappie fish, but I like do some chunkin and windin when we are just trolling along.

You can go to any Fabric Store and get these long Tubes that they ship Fabric in. Usually they will give them to You. They are very tough and serve the Purpose well. Sunbelt Fabrics in Downtown Dallas have a Bunch if anybody is needing them. Talk to Dean

Check the rules again...

The last time I flew with rods they allowed ALL of your fishing gear as ONE item. For example (this is what they actually listed): a vest, 2 rods, a tackle box, a small net, a creel and a pair of waders.

I build my own tube and transported my rods safely to Georgia.

Its not a big deal and for a couple of rods, you dont even need a case. If you have several, I'd follow some of the above recommendations. As long as the rods break down, you can bring them on the plane with you. I've done this twice with 9' surf rods. They let you store them in the big coat closet you see on most planes when you first board. Never had a problem an usually generates a comment from the cute flight attendent!

fed ex them there a few days before you leave and then fed ex them back it will be cheaper than a good airline approved rod caddy and they will get there on time almost always, and they dont go to chicago while your on the way to padre

i work at ups, i would really pack it well if your going to ship with a freight company. They do not understand the word Fragile

Where do you get the TSA locks. Heading to Falcon this weekend

Depending on where you live I have a Plano rod tube you can borrow. Also, check the luggage regulations of the airline you will be flying. I got charged $100.00 for an oversized piece of luggage once.

I used one of those approved rod tubes for a trip to Florida, and the lady at the Air Tran counter flagged me as a terrorist, so I spent a long time in a special line where I got gone over real good, all my luggage gone through and messed up, my Garmin eTrex Legend hand-held GPS's screen broken (it was in the luggage with clothes packed around it, so i thought it would be safe). The rods didn't arrive until about a week later -- I had 3 surf rods packed in one tube, and I think they couldn't figure out how to get them back in. The counter person didn't bother to ask me what the tube was. I guess she figured I was trying to get a missile on board. Air Tran refused to replace or repair the GPS. I'll never fly Air Tran again.

Also I flew out to CA once on American Airlines, and the airline said i could take the tube free, but it turns out that they had me booked through another airline coming back, which didn't allow tubes (or charged $75 for one), so i had to pay Fed Ex to ship it back for me (for $20).

Ship the tube via Fed Ex and save yourself some hassle.