BallReviews
General Category => Miscellaneous => Topic started by: L3nn0n on January 15, 2015, 01:18:17 AM
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I'm going to el Paso this year to bowl the USBC Nationals. One friend suggested me sending my equipment through Fedex or something. But I was wondering about carrying a 2 ball tote as my carry on luggage. Would that bag go through in the airplane? I was thinking that I can carry one and my wife one, that way, even if I have to buy 2 ball totes, it will be cheaper than the shipping and I can keep the totes.
Thoughts?
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I'm going to el Paso this year to bowl the USBC Nationals. One friend suggested me sending my equipment through Fedex or something. But I was wondering about carrying a 2 ball tote as my carry on luggage. Would that bag go through in the airplane? I was thinking that I can carry one and my wife one, that way, even if I have to buy 2 ball totes, it will be cheaper than the shipping and I can keep the totes.
Thoughts?
Personally I have no experience with it, but one of my coaches has and he said the only issue that he had was someone who wasn't familiar with a bowling ball asking what's inside of it and him getting asked more questions before having someone tell the TSA inspector to let him go.
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I always do this. Balls are waiting for you at the hotel, and you don't have to bring luggage AND your bowling bags. I take my 3 ball tote, put all of my stuff in there, duct tape the zippers on either side to keep it from "accidently opening" and carry on my shoes. ALWAYS CARRY ON YOUR SHOES.
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I most certainly wouldn't carry any of the Lane #1 "bomb" series balls up to security, that's for sure.
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I check a 3 ball tote and carry on a two ball tote every year
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If the $25 it cost to check a bag is going to make a difference in your life you shouldn't be going to nationals.
Somebody had to say it.
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If the $25 it cost to check a bag is going to make a difference in your life you shouldn't be going to nationals.
Somebody had to say it.
I was also wondering what it costs to ship "2 balls" vs. the extra cost to check the bag? I haven't shipped anything in a while & when I purchase, I usually get free shipping...
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I've done it, kind of a pain especially if you have a layover and need to lug it around the airport.
I take (2) 3 ball slim rollers and check those, they usually come in right around the 50lb limit. I put my shoes and clothes in a small suitcase and use that for my carry on along with a smaller bag for an iPad or some reading material (this works for me because we only stay a couple of days). Never had a problem doing it this way.
I've considered shipping my stuff out there, but the cost doesn't justify it when I can bring 6 balls for free.
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I've both checked 2 ball totes and carried them on.... Last year I flew Philly to Reno through LAX... checked one tote and carried the other on the plane. On the way out, no questions. Coming back, there were some questions in LAX... but they decided I was allowed to carry them on.
Couple notes... be prepared to have them swiped/checked using the explosives screening machine. This was done both directions. Secondly, sneak a peek at the X-ray machine screen! Cores really stand out!
Scott
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If the $25 it cost to check a bag is going to make a difference in your life you shouldn't be going to nationals.
Somebody had to say it.
People like you makes me think twice before posting a question. If you are gonna be a douche, there is no need for you to post here. I wasn't talking about checking a bag you moron, I was talking about SHIPPING the balls via FEDEX! If I want to send 4 balls to El Paso the cost would be $100 for each way. So you see the difference between $25 x 2 and $100 x 2, do you? READ before posting Mr somebody-had-to-say-it
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I always do this. Balls are waiting for you at the hotel, and you don't have to bring luggage AND your bowling bags. I take my 3 ball tote, put all of my stuff in there, duct tape the zippers on either side to keep it from "accidently opening" and carry on my shoes. ALWAYS CARRY ON YOUR SHOES.
So you always send your balls via Fedex? But doing that cost about $100 per way, isn't it? I was thinking using 2 ball totes as carry on, check in one luggage for my clothes, shoes, etc. But I want to know if they allow a 2 ball tote as a carry on on the airport.
I've both checked 2 ball totes and carried them on.... Last year I flew Philly to Reno through LAX... checked one tote and carried the other on the plane. On the way out, no questions. Coming back, there were some questions in LAX... but they decided I was allowed to carry them on.
Couple notes... be prepared to have them swiped/checked using the explosives screening machine. This was done both directions. Secondly, sneak a peek at the X-ray machine screen! Cores really stand out!
Scott
I'm worried to check my balls because I know how they "take care" of the luggage and I don't want to arrive in El Paso and find an unpleasant surprise. But good to know that you can use a 2 ball tote as carry on! I will take one and my wife will help me with the other one hehe 8)
I've done it, kind of a pain especially if you have a layover and need to lug it around the airport.
I take (2) 3 ball slim rollers and check those, they usually come in right around the 50lb limit. I put my shoes and clothes in a small suitcase and use that for my carry on along with a smaller bag for an iPad or some reading material (this works for me because we only stay a couple of days). Never had a problem doing it this way.
I've considered shipping my stuff out there, but the cost doesn't justify it when I can bring 6 balls for free.
What do you mean for free? You need to pay for the check in, right? And also, have you ever had a bad experience on how they take care of the equipment?
If the $25 it cost to check a bag is going to make a difference in your life you shouldn't be going to nationals.
Somebody had to say it.
I was also wondering what it costs to ship "2 balls" vs. the extra cost to check the bag? I haven't shipped anything in a while & when I purchase, I usually get free shipping...
For me, if I want to ship 4 balls to el paso is $100. So it will be $200. You get free shipping from bowling.com, bowlingball.com, etc, but shipping bowling balls ain't no cheap.
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Have somebody that you know with a FedEx account print you labels. It will be half the cost of retail. Or check them on the plane. Don't be the guy that carries balls on the plane or has his wife hump 30 pounds of bowling balls through the airport.
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Ok. Thanks. Yeah, I meant "when I purchase" & get free shipping is why I don't know what the shipping costs are.
Appreciate you telling me the shipping. That is an awful lot. If it's $25 to check the extra bag of balls then it might be worth it I thought it was $50 though. But if there is a way around it by carrying them on, & it's not too cumbersome to lug around, then by all means, do that. Everyone has their own tolerance & wallet size...
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The number of bags you can check in for free depends on the airline. Southwest (as of last year, don't know about now) used to allow two free checked bags and a carryon. Other airlines only allow one free checked bag.
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I always do this. Balls are waiting for you at the hotel, and you don't have to bring luggage AND your bowling bags. I take my 3 ball tote, put all of my stuff in there, duct tape the zippers on either side to keep it from "accidently opening" and carry on my shoes. ALWAYS CARRY ON YOUR SHOES.
So you always send your balls via Fedex? But doing that cost about $100 per way, isn't it? I was thinking using 2 ball totes as carry on, check in one luggage for my clothes, shoes, etc. But I want to know if they allow a 2 ball tote as a carry on on the airport.
I've both checked 2 ball totes and carried them on.... Last year I flew Philly to Reno through LAX... checked one tote and carried the other on the plane. On the way out, no questions. Coming back, there were some questions in LAX... but they decided I was allowed to carry them on.
Couple notes... be prepared to have them swiped/checked using the explosives screening machine. This was done both directions. Secondly, sneak a peek at the X-ray machine screen! Cores really stand out!
Scott
I'm worried to check my balls because I know how they "take care" of the luggage and I don't want to arrive in El Paso and find an unpleasant surprise. But good to know that you can use a 2 ball tote as carry on! I will take one and my wife will help me with the other one hehe 8)
I've done it, kind of a pain especially if you have a layover and need to lug it around the airport.
I take (2) 3 ball slim rollers and check those, they usually come in right around the 50lb limit. I put my shoes and clothes in a small suitcase and use that for my carry on along with a smaller bag for an iPad or some reading material (this works for me because we only stay a couple of days). Never had a problem doing it this way.
I've considered shipping my stuff out there, but the cost doesn't justify it when I can bring 6 balls for free.
What do you mean for free? You need to pay for the check in, right? And also, have you ever had a bad experience on how they take care of the equipment?
If the $25 it cost to check a bag is going to make a difference in your life you shouldn't be going to nationals.
Somebody had to say it.
I was also wondering what it costs to ship "2 balls" vs. the extra cost to check the bag? I haven't shipped anything in a while & when I purchase, I usually get free shipping...
For me, if I want to ship 4 balls to el paso is $100. So it will be $200. You get free shipping from bowling.com, bowlingball.com, etc, but shipping bowling balls ain't no cheap.
Southwest allows 2 free checked bags, a carry on bag stored above your seat, and a personal bag stored under the seat in front of you. I've never had a problem with them damaging my stuff. I usually wrap the balls in bubble wrap (purchased at staples for cheap).
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Ok. Thanks. Yeah, I meant "when I purchase" & get free shipping is why I don't know what the shipping costs are.
Appreciate you telling me the shipping. That is an awful lot. If it's $25 to check the extra bag of balls then it might be worth it I thought it was $50 though. But if there is a way around it by carrying them on, & it's not too cumbersome to lug around, then by all means, do that. Everyone has their own tolerance & wallet size...
Yeah, $200 is a lot! Is almost a brand new ball lol
I am willing to pay $25 to check the bags, but I'm afraid of what might happen to the bag during transit, I don't want to deal with the airlines anymore (a lot of luggage lost or delayed, a broken bag, etc) so I'm seriously thinking about buying the totes and carrying them with me.
The number of bags you can check in for free depends on the airline. Southwest (as of last year, don't know about now) used to allow two free checked bags and a carryon. Other airlines only allow one free checked bag.
Yeah, Southwest is the best regardless check in fees. United and American charge you for the first checked bag, there is no free checked bag anymore. So I'm thinking in carrying on two 2 ball totes and paying $25 for each luggage I'll take to El Paso.
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Southwest allows 2 free checked bags, a carry on bag stored above your seat, and a personal bag stored under the seat in front of you. I've never had a problem with them damaging my stuff. I usually wrap the balls in bubble wrap (purchased at staples for cheap).
Unfortunately there is no Southwest in my airport, so that is not a choice for me. I will have to flight with United, and you have to pay for every single bag you want to check with them. It sucks, but it is what it is.
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I've always checked them and never had a ball issue, but my bag has been damaged in some way more times than not.
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The problem with trying to carry them on is that some airports will allow them and others will not. So unless you know for sure what TSA at YOUR departing airport allows, you could be stuck having to turn around and pay to check them at whatever the prevailing rate is for your airline.
It has been many years since I flew with equipment but it WAS in the post-9/11 era. Had no real issues getting on a plane in Austin but had to check the tote flying home through Newark. Fortunately I had status with the airline so I didn't have to pay for it, but it was the reminder that every airport is different.
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I ship my balls via BBE, and put my clothes & misc in two 2 ball totes. BBE has gone up quite a bit the last few years, but I just figure it as "peace of mind," knowing some baggage handler isn't whipping my stuff around. The first time I went to Reno was the last time I checked my equipment at an airport.
And yes, put your bowling shoes in your luggage,
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I only did Nationals once, and took 2 totes - carried my shoes with me. Checked them in, no problem from the airline side other than one of the zippers getting destroyed. Lugging them into/through the airport was a PITA.
After bowling, I checked into Fed Exing them home. They had a place right there in the convention center - boxed em up for me and shipped them.
I don't remember the cost, but for me it was worth every penny to not have to drag 60 more lbs of stuff through the airports. I'll never fly with bowling balls again (but then, I don't like dealing with airports anyway. Everything before and after the actual flight just sucks). Anyway, just figure the shipping into the overall cost of the trip and enjoy not having to deal with them off the lanes.
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I've always checked them and never had a ball issue, but my bag has been damaged in some way more times than not.
Some of my friends had the same experience,t that's what I don't want to check them in...
The problem with trying to carry them on is that some airports will allow them and others will not. So unless you know for sure what TSA at YOUR departing airport allows, you could be stuck having to turn around and pay to check them at whatever the prevailing rate is for your airline.
It has been many years since I flew with equipment but it WAS in the post-9/11 era. Had no real issues getting on a plane in Austin but had to check the tote flying home through Newark. Fortunately I had status with the airline so I didn't have to pay for it, but it was the reminder that every airport is different.
It happened to me on my last trip to Mexico, here there wans't any issue, but back in Mexico they almost took me to the interrogation room lol
I only did Nationals once, and took 2 totes - carried my shoes with me. Checked them in, no problem from the airline side other than one of the zippers getting destroyed. Lugging them into/through the airport was a PITA.
After bowling, I checked into Fed Exing them home. They had a place right there in the convention center - boxed em up for me and shipped them.
I don't remember the cost, but for me it was worth every penny to not have to drag 60 more lbs of stuff through the airports. I'll never fly with bowling balls again (but then, I don't like dealing with airports anyway. Everything before and after the actual flight just sucks). Anyway, just figure the shipping into the overall cost of the trip and enjoy not having to deal with them off the lanes.
Putting it like that, it does soumd as a pain in the a** to carry 60 pounds for hours, but if I don't find another option aside from checking them in, I think I'll have to do that lol!
Thanks for your advice though ;)
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When I go; I check in my 4 ball roller (separates into two bags) and take on a 2 ball tote with me on to the plane. Carrying a tote isnt too awful simply because if you have to stop walking; I set it on the floor next to my feet and drag it (security lines). I fly out of Atlanta which is one of the biggest airports in the nation. Lugging the tote in the airport isnt so much the big deal. Its the walk from the airport to the parking lot.
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I wouldn't want my bowling balls subjected to the extreme cold that an airliner cargo hold sees. I'd ship Fed-Ex
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I wouldn't want my bowling balls subjected to the extreme cold that an airliner cargo hold sees. I'd ship Fed-Ex
Does Fed Ex heat the packages on their planes?
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I wouldn't want my bowling balls subjected to the extreme cold that an airliner cargo hold sees. I'd ship Fed-Ex
Does Fed Ex heat the packages on their planes?
FEDEX has a ground service if you ship them soon enough and cheaper than flying them overnight.
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I wouldn't want my bowling balls subjected to the extreme cold that an airliner cargo hold sees. I'd ship Fed-Ex
Does Fed Ex heat the packages on their planes?
Have you ever heard of Fed Ex Ground? You don't have to ship by air.
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How long does Fed ex ground take? And are the backs of those Fed Ex ground semi truck trailers heated? Are the ware house portion of the distribution centers they get dropped & picked up from heated? And finally, are the back of those delivery trucks heated?
Or when is nationals? Summer? Will those trailers be too hot? I think the cargo hold for a few hour flight isn't gonna hurt those bowling balls, temperature wise, that much... I would think the long road trip in the back of a sem trailer would be worse...
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How long does Fed ex ground take? And are the backs of those Fed Ex ground semi truck trailers heated? Are the ware house portion of the distribution centers they get dropped & picked up from heated? And finally, are the back of those delivery trucks heated?
Or when is nationals? Summer? Will those trailers be too hot? I think the cargo hold for a few hour flight isn't gonna hurt those bowling balls, temperature wise, that much... I would think the long road trip in the back of a sem trailer would be worse...
It doesn't get as cold on the ground as it does at 30,000 feet. The heat in summer? De-oils the balls before the tourney. Perfect!
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How long does Fed ex ground take? And are the backs of those Fed Ex ground semi truck trailers heated? Are the ware house portion of the distribution centers they get dropped & picked up from heated? And finally, are the back of those delivery trucks heated?
Or when is nationals? Summer? Will those trailers be too hot? I think the cargo hold for a few hour flight isn't gonna hurt those bowling balls, temperature wise, that much... I would think the long road trip in the back of a sem trailer would be worse...
It doesn't get as cold on the ground as it does at 30,000 feet. The heat in summer? De-oils the balls before the tourney. Perfect!
LoL!! Okay, fair enough. But how long does the Fed Ex ground actually take? Is there a guarantee when ground gets to it's destination? I know UPS ground has been very inconsistent w/its time frames. I could see bowling balls getting beat up in all of that ground travel, distribution & then storage by hotel employees. Possibly even dropped by an employee moving it for 1 reason or another not judging the weight of it properly not knowing what's in the box. I dunno. Just seems like too many variables in play that would have to go right.
Maybe 2nd day air... ;)
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How long does Fed ex ground take? And are the backs of those Fed Ex ground semi truck trailers heated? Are the ware house portion of the distribution centers they get dropped & picked up from heated? And finally, are the back of those delivery trucks heated?
Or when is nationals? Summer? Will those trailers be too hot? I think the cargo hold for a few hour flight isn't gonna hurt those bowling balls, temperature wise, that much... I would think the long road trip in the back of a sem trailer would be worse...
It doesn't get as cold on the ground as it does at 30,000 feet. The heat in summer? De-oils the balls before the tourney. Perfect!
LoL!! Okay, fair enough. But how long does the Fed Ex ground actually take? Is there a guarantee when ground gets to it's destination? I know UPS ground has been very inconsistent w/its time frames. I could see bowling balls getting beat up in all of that ground travel, distribution & then storage by hotel employees. Possibly even dropped by an employee moving it for 1 reason or another not judging the weight of it properly not knowing what's in the box. I dunno. Just seems like too many variables in play that would have to go right.
Maybe 2nd day air... ;)
Reading these posts makes me realize that the safest (but not the easiest) way to take care of the balls is having them with me, so I'll be carrying them with me on my way to El Paso. I'll get two 2 ball totes (one with wheels) so they will be safe with me 8)
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L3nn0n
I have near 65K in miles this year and pretty much travel often across the country for bowling tournaments and I ALWAYS carry a two ball tote with me on the plane (checking 2 three-ball rollers).. and I've never had any problems.
The one airport that has given me trouble 2/3 times was CLE (last Feb). I missed the flight because the a-hole TSA agent insisted that since their machines couldn't see thru the balls that they couldn't pass. We argued, I flat out told him he's just trying to get be a tool on purpose just so I have to pay extra $$ to check a third bag which is astronomical if you've checked 2 prior.
In the end I missed the flight due to the fine ego of one TSA agent.. the airline compd me a room for the hassle.
I've been in/out of several hi traffic airports numerous times on numerous occasions (NWR, ATL, SFO, LAX, ORL, DET, etc) never problems.
Good luck.
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bradley (CT) and vegas has never given me problems. sometimes the TSA wants to do their little field tests after the x ray but they realize its a bowling ball. they have enough bowlers come through to recognize it.
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I'm not sure if this was mentioned about some security. but, when I flew overseas one year, I carried a 2 ball tote as a carry-on. I had no problem until I got to security. I'm not sure if it was Korea or Japan when my bag held up the line. The Core on my unleashed and Mutant made security wonder what was inside, and see if the balls can be easily split open.
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Unfortunately you won't get a straight forward answer on this. I have spoken to TSA about it and they say it is at the discretion of the TSA agent at that particular airport on that particular day at that particular time. lol.
So, its always gonna be a gamble, but it's probably fair to say the odds are in your favor.
Me personally, I have never had an issue. They normally just swab them and send me on my way.
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Bowler001 is correct. It is up to the discretion of the TSA Agent at the gate. One of our bowlers tried to bring balls as carry on and was refused. they had to check the bag and it cost an additional $75 for the extra bag.