PVC Pipe or Cabela's rod tubes.

Gottafish, I fly once a year to mobile and found between broken tips and the cost of shipping you are better off going to one of the discount places and purchase a couple rods. Shipping costs are out of hand and rods are counted as one piece of luggage. However if you do decide to use a tube tape a dowel to the rods with the dowel slightly beyond the rod tip because they throw the tubes no matter how you ship it.

CTA, thanks for the offer, but I'm in Midlothian. A bit of a haul to Wylie! Some of these horror stories are a little scary. Especially the terrorist one. I'm flying on Southwest. I'm going to there site to see if I can find any info. If not I'll call. I guess depending on the info I receive will determine if I take them aboard or ship them out. Thanks again guys! You've been a ton of help.

This will solve your delima

http://www.tvtopten.com/pocket-fisherman.html

This is what the website said:

"Fishing rods and tackle boxes will be accepted as checked or carryon baggage provided the carryon rod fits securely in the overhead bin when enclosed in a cylindrical fishing rod container. A container may be purchased from Southwest Airlines for $10.00. When checking rods, containers may measure three inches in diameter and 72 inches in length. Fishing equipment includes a fishing rod and a fishing tackle box."

So I guess if I build a rod case out of pvc and pack it right I should be ok. I'll have to measure the rod handles to see if they can stay in 3" limit of the tube. If not, I guess UPS or FEDEX will have to do.

Sounds like you need an excuse to buy more stuff-------Just go and buy new gear when you get there!!!

Wish I could. Wife would kill me, plus I'd still have to find a way to get it back to TX!!

Although I have never traveled with fishing gear, my experiences with Southwest have always been very accomidating with any luggage issues. It would be wise to talk to them before hand though. When packing your rods in the case, put them butt to tip, and then wrap a rubber band around each end. That will strengthen the two rods, protect the tips, and keep the diameter down.

If you end up going the pvc route, make sure one end is a screw-on cap. Don't try to get away with just sliding on the regular caps with no cement. They will slide off and your rod tips will be exposed.

got our locks at wal mart but that was a couple of years ago.

Yeah, I already considered the screw on caps. Plus I'm hoping it fits, but I have some old pipe foam with the split down the middle to wrap around the center of the rods for extra cushion.

That will be good. If it doesn't fit, someone above suggested wraping with underwear or socks. That would do well in the center also.

I guess when I actually go to build the case and put the rods in it'll be a trial and error sort of thing. I hope the pipe foam works though. Put it around the rods last night and it holds them pretty snug. I just hope it fits in the pvc tube. That 3 inches seems rather small.

When i go to GA to fish with my father, I just use one of his. This may not be feasable for you though. I have sent rods home with my kids when they spent the summer, in a tube, and they were always able to carry them on.

Wade

PVC pipe is the only way to go. I have shipped rods as far as Italy, Hawai, and Brazil and none have been damaged. That is the only thing I use. Take and wrap the rod as you are inserting it into the tube with news paper and make sure it is enough so that the rod is snug. This will protect the eyes tip and the entire rod. It is fairly in-expensive and worth the time and effort.