AAA hockey & airline baggage requirements

[O-townClown]

I'm sorting out the details of my Minnesota holiday visit and am having a hard time figuring what to pack in how many bags. $15 for the first checked bag per person, $25 for the second. Up to 50 pounds, unless it is over 62 linear inches (sum of three sides). You don't even want to know how much it is if you go over these - 2 bags, 50 pounds, or 62".

How does a team like the Fire do it? Do mom and dad each get a small hockey bag to pack Junior's stuff and bring three to the rink? Do people drive to Detroit and Ontario? Will airlines bend a bit because someone negotiates for the whole team when buying a block of 30 or more RT flights?

I know the airlines have made it prohibitively expensive to play a round of golf because they don't want to carry your clubs. Has this affected travel hockey? Wish we were on Southwest for this one, and I don't like Southwest.

[Chaos777]

I'm sorting out the details of my Minnesota holiday visit and am having a hard time figuring what to pack in how many bags. $15 for the first checked bag per person, $25 for the second. Up to 50 pounds, unless it is over 62 linear inches (sum of three sides). You don't even want to know how much it is if you go over these - 2 bags, 50 pounds, or 62".

How does a team like the Fire do it? Do mom and dad each get a small hockey bag to pack Junior's stuff and bring three to the rink? Do people drive to Detroit and Ontario? Will airlines bend a bit because someone negotiates for the whole team when buying a block of 30 or more RT flights?

I know the airlines have made it prohibitively expensive to play a round of golf because they don't want to carry your clubs. Has this affected travel hockey? Wish we were on Southwest for this one, and I don't like Southwest.

I would almost recommend shipping your gear to your destination beforehand. Not sure if you have enough time, but with the extremely hectic holiday season, it would be a good idea to ship your gear out first, because it has a much higher chance of getting to your destination that way instead of trying to check your hockey gear as baggage. Grab a stick cover / case carrier and bring the sticks on the plane as a carry on, and store them in the coat rack area. Should work I believe.

Just a suggestion though, everything's up to you.

[O-townClown]

Chaos, that's a good idea. Not trying to bring full gear, but enough to go to the park with my son. I was hoping to use a hockey back and load it up with socks and underwear. Even our small bag is probably over 62".

Of course, sending everything up means no skating here!

[goldy313]

I have a nephew who played AAA in Chicago the past few years and they had deals through whomever booked their travel, they nearly always traveled as a team. So if they went to a tournament in Dallas or Las Vegas my brother got a bill for whatever the amount was and that included Air, Hotel, Transfers, usually a couple of meals, and a side trip of somesort.

By the way you can't carry on ice skates, don't even try.

[Road Rage]

You also can't carry on your sticks, they are considered weapons. Can't even put them in the coat rack area of the plane. What you would be able to do with something that long in such a small space is beyond me, but that's the case. Long, pointed knitting needles though, not weapons. Interesting.

[O-townClown]

Northwest makes the following accomodations for hockey gear:

Hockey and Lacrosse Equipment
Northwest accepts one (1) piece of hockey or lacrosse equipment as one piece of baggage included in the baggage allowance. Standard overweight and oversize charges apply to hockey and lacrosse equipment. One (1) piece of hockey or lacrosse equipment is defined as one (1) or a combination of the following:

Up to three (3) hockey/lacrosse sticks taped together
One (1) hockey/lacrosse equipment bag (not exceeding 50 pounds or 160 inches)

Northwest does not accept liability for loss, damage, or delay of hockey/lacrosse sticks. Excess valuation insurance may not be purchased for transport of hockey/lacrosse equipment.