Air Travel with an EXO K4 (25" frame)?

[Loper]

I ran into a guy at the airport about a month ago carrying a K3 4800. I asked him and he said he never had any issues flying with it as his carry on.

I’ve never had an issue with my K3 4800. However, I don’t stuff it to the gill. I also remove the lid so it doesn’t appear tall, and I fold the waist belt behind my back when walking up to the ticket counter or board the plane.

 

[croben]

I’ve never had an issue with my K3 4800. However, I don’t stuff it to the gill. I also remove the lid so it doesn’t appear tall, and I fold the waist belt behind my back when walking up to the ticket counter or board the plane.

All good things to consider to not draw too much attention to it.

 

[Big Ern]

Have flown with my K3 pretty full and strapped with an rrs tripod on most airlines. Never an issue.

 

[camelcluch]

I just took a loaded 2200 on Southwest. No problems.

 

[Phatfisher]

I've flown 4-5 times with the k4 (25" frame) 3600 w/ and w/o the lid in the last year. I've never been questioned or had to take out the stays to make the bag smaller. YMMV, just be ready to know how to take out the stays and you should be find tbh.

 

[Cyril]

Last year for my moose hunt I was nervous about traveling with the pack(k3 with 4800) due to size, length and depth. I bought a 1800 just to shrinking down so only issue was length. Like others I kept all my optics and batteries in it and didn't want to gate check. I also carried a very small collapsible bag that I throw under the seat. Make sure anything you don't want to gate check is easily accessible. That way if forced to, you can throw it all in the small bag and let them check at the gate. I ended up having zero issues. My hunting partner used his 4800 packed to the gills as a carry on and also had no issues. I kind of regret buying the 1800, but better safe than sorry. Good luck.

 

[bascott1]

I have ran my 26” kifaru frame on multiple flights with no issues. Did take my 44mag to Kyrgyzstan and same frame and didn’t know Turkish air had a carry on weight limit. Other than that compress it down really well and you should be fine.

 

[Humanmack]

I know most people have no issues and I have seen plenty of backpacks onboard, but I never want to have to deal with gate checking (as noted) with expensive optics and other things that are not well protected. I read (I think) someone say they even brought trekking poles onboard. That seems crazy when I think of some of the things I have seen not allowed.

 

[JDT1982]

It would probably be luck of the draw with how strict the gate agent is enforcing the letter of the law.

 

[wvbowman912]

How are you guys getting the taller frames to fit? I flew with a 26” Kifaru Duplex last year and had to put it sideways in the overhead bin to fit. Thankfully it was a pretty empty flight so wasn’t an issue. Looking to fly again this year, debating if I should take the stays out ahead of time or if it has to go at an angle or something.