Using your hunting pack as a carry-on saves on baggage fees (esp so if it would be your 3rd or 4th checked bag). To each their own, but most every hunter I know who flies on trips does this and I’ve never seen it be a problem except on puddle jumpers with tiny overhead bins.my biggest question is ... why? I fly a lot. If it is a quick overnighter or a couple days I can get by on a small carry on. If I need more than that check the bag. Most airports now have much better and faster baggage handling. Most times baggage is already starting to come out by the time you get to the baggage claim area. When you check the bag you dont need to worry sharp items, liquids etc. It just goes through and you dont end up taking a bunch of extra time at security with TSA looking through your bag and you dont end up being "that guy" trying to stuff too much shit into an over head.
If you are faced with that, I personally would pack a duffel to put the pack in just in case. The airlines have plastic bags they put checked kids car seats into as a potential plan b.Couldn't tell you what the plane size will be but there is a connecting flight that will be a smaller plane flying into Great Falls. Don't think that airport could handle a 737. I'll probably check it, just hate giving them a brand new $700 pack with loose straps. Might put it in a large duffle for protection along with all the non-carry on allowed items.
i like Alaska air, fly them often and use their credit card for their friends fly free feature. we already know what I think of SW.Using your hunting pack as a carry-on saves on baggage fees (esp so if it would be your 3rd or 4th checked bag). To each their own, but most every hunter I know who flies on trips does this and I’ve never seen it be a problem except on puddle jumpers with tiny overhead bins.
Southwest and Alaska have been the best two airlines for flying hunters I’ve experienced and have flown both quite a number of times. Both have nuances around checked bag fees which make them more affordable and have been very accommodating in terms of weapon cases and over-weight bags. Not to mention friendly staff.
That is funny. I've seen a few of those.this entire thread reminds of this. The hunting douche fb page is actually pretty damn funny. View attachment 423753
They will gladly tag it and gate check it on those. Never had a single issue. Just grab it as soon as you get off the plane with the other tagged carry-ons.@KHNC you do this on little feller airplanes too?
Same here. I put my fragile/valuables/electronics/travel documents in my pack lid which easily separates so I do not have my $2K binocs exposed to whims of baggage handlers. Fits overhead or underneath the seat. Only had to do that 3-4 times out of ~30 hunting trips I've flown to.They will gladly tag it and gate check it on those. Never had a single issue. Just grab it as soon as you get off the plane with the other tagged carry-ons.
But they don't have to pay for employees and equipment to handle carry on bags...i think the airlines have it all wrong. wish they charged more for carryon rather than checking. carry on causes delays at every stage of the game now. Carry-ons make it longer to get through TSA (because so many people dont follow the rules), they make it longer for people boarding the plane and longer for getting off the plane. Dealing with amateur hour on airlines like SW (just makes things worse, i truly hate everything about flying on SW.
Those employees are there regardless of you carrying on or checking luggage.But they don't have to pay for employees and equipment to handle carry on bags...
I've used something like this for checking my pack: https://www.rei.com/product/118870/rei-co-op-pack-duffel-bagCouldn't tell you what the plane size will be but there is a connecting flight that will be a smaller plane flying into Great Falls. Don't think that airport could handle a 737. I'll probably check it, just hate giving them a brand new $700 pack with loose straps. Might put it in a large duffle for protection along with all the non-carry on allowed items.
I thought you wanted to "disappear" LOL