Airline (international) travel - tips / tricks?

[WHITETAIL_HUNTR_79]

Hey all, I have a spot/stalk archery bear hunt in British Columbia booked for this spring. I've never flown for a hunt before, especially not internationally. I'm currently exploring flight options, but debating between flying out of a local airport which would require two layovers vs. driving 3.5 hrs to Chicago for a flight with one layover. There's a cost savings associated with the second option as well, but I also don't know if I trust leaving my truck in Chicago...

From a luggage standpoint, I plan to have my pack (k4) as a carry on bag, and obviously will be checking my bow case. For clothes I think my best option is to pack everything in a duffle bag placed inside a cheap/lightweight 70-90 qt cooler, with everything duct tape closed. On the return trip, that would allow me to have 3 checked bags; the bow case, duffle bag, and the cooler with the meat and hide. The other option would be using soft sided coolers (x2) as checked bags for the meat and hide, but I don't know if I trust the durability in an airport setting in which the management of said bags are outside of my control.

I'm looking for any tips and tricks or experiences that y'all can share associated with airline travel for a hunt or international airline travel, AND for packing clothes, meat / hide management, etc.

 

[Nickziegler]

Where are you hunting in BC? I have flown up there twice. Both times out of a small airport with connections in Minneapolis and then onto calgary where I was picked up by the outfitter for a 3 hr drive into BC. The fewer connections the better.

No issues with parking in Chicago. I have used Blue Sky parking by the airport several times for a parking garage. Last Oct my truck was there 12 days while i was in newfoundland. Zero issues.

If you are bringing meat home you plan sounds good with the cooler. I would also recommend using some ratchet straps also incase they need to cut the tape to check inside


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[WHITETAIL_HUNTR_79]

Where are you hunting in BC? I have flown up there twice. Both times out of a small airport with connections in Minneapolis and then onto calgary where I was picked up by the outfitter for a 3 hr drive into BC. The fewer connections the better.

No issues with parking in Chicago. I have used Blue Sky parking by the airport several times for a parking garage. Last Oct my truck was there 12 days while i was in newfoundland. Zero issues.

If you are bringing meat home you plan sounds good with the cooler. I would also recommend using some ratchet straps also incase they need to cut the tape to check inside


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I'm not 100% positive on the exact location, but will be flying into Prince George.

Ok, good to know on the airport parking in Chicago, might weigh that more heavily now. It's almost an $800 savings on my flight costs if I drive to Chicago and it minimizes layovers to one vs two.

Good call on the ratchet straps.

 

[jtevanMT]

Think carefully about cooler size and weight. Some airline charges for checked luggage over 50 lb are horrible. It may be less expensive to buy a 50 lb insulated fish boxes to check on the airline for the return trip home.

 

[antaresproper]

Can your clothes fit in your bow case and k4 while traveling?

 

[rookieforever33]

I'm not 100% positive on the exact location, but will be flying into Prince George.

Ok, good to know on the airport parking in Chicago, might weigh that more heavily now. It's almost an $800 savings on my flight costs if I drive to Chicago and it minimizes layovers to one vs two.

Good call on the ratchet straps.

Depending on how long you are gone your 800 dollar savings may get eaten up. You and your vehicle will be safe at the Chicago airport. At a cost of almost $20 per day for parking.

 

[WBT]

I'll second the fewer connections the better. Connections are where luggage gets lost. I suggest putting an Air Tag in your checked bags so you'll know where they're at.

 

[wyosteve]

If you can, try to avoid flying United. All my hunting/ travel nightmares began with United!

 

[slvrslngr]

Make sure you have a couple days worth of clothes and essentials (meds and toiletries), binos, release and a color copy of your passport in your carry on in case your checked bags get delayed.

 

[bozeman]

Pack the bow case full of clothes…..I prefer smaller airports when hunting, Usually don’t get the liberal hater who questions your weapon, but $800 would overrule that for me and I’d go thru CHI.

 

[rw79]

I have flown numerous time for hunting trips with weapons. Here are a few things that I’ve streamlined:

1. If you can swing it, make sure your bow case is hard sided (Pelican case or something similar). If you’re not doing a foam cut out type case, then pack your clothes around the bow to keep it stable.

2. Buy non-TSA locks for your case. Never let your weapons out of your sight where someone else can access them. If TSA has an issue, they will ask you for the code to get into your case to check. If you run into a TSA agent who is a dick, as to speak with a red coat (TSA agent in charge of weapons checks).

3. If you’re flying with a cooler, buy locks for the cooler that no one can access except you. Pay attention to weight limits. You will pay a fee for anything over 50 lbs but you can not exceed a total of 100 lbs or they won’t let you fly.

4. Instead of carrying on your K4 (some airlines may say this is too big to carry on, it just depends) you can buy a duffle and pack all of your gear in that (Rtic had a sale on their duffels and they are much cheaper than the name brands like Kuiu, Firstlite, etc. Sometimes airlines will give you a hard time if you have a large pack with straps hanging off of it.

5.. Get to the airport at least two hours early in case you run into a hardass TSA or gate agent.

Other things to possibly consider:

1. If you think you may be coming home with a lot of extra weight in the form of game meat, you may want to look into an air freight option. It is cheaper to ship with air freight than it is on a regular airline or by using Fed Ex. You would need to create a vendor account with the air freight airline and that takes time, so plan ahead. This is a common tactic for guys who hunt Alaksa and don’t want to pay a fortune to ship meat home.

With all that said, I have never had an issue with any of these things. I have flown United, American, SW, Spirit and Frontier and they have all been really cool about weapons. The only time I enountered an issue was with a young TSA agent who wanted access to my gun case without me being present. I explained that she was asking me to commit a felony and called for a redcoat who was much cooler.

 

[Nine Banger]

If you can, try to avoid flying United. All my hunting/ travel nightmares began with United!

Amen. United sells tickets for rides they will only complete if they feel like it moments prior.

Hopefully they go out of business soon so they can stop ruining people's day.

An $1100 Lyft ride got me to Casper from Denver for the pronghorn opener this year.

 

[JFK]

I’ve had the best luck flying Alaskan in terms of not getting screwed on baggage and oversized fees. Have the airline’s baggage policy printed out and in your carry on so you can correct the agent if needed. Not the whole thing, just the part of the policy that pertains to oversized stuff. If you know dimensions and weight ahead of time, along with knowing the policy, you are in a vastly better position if they try to play games and charge you for something they shouldn’t.