Flying with Reels. Can you carry on?

drexelantiques · Post by **drexelantiques** » Mon Jan 30, 2006 9:32 pm

I have a big game reel, very rare, that I do not want to let out of my sight.

Can I carry it on in my carry on luggage? If the answer is I have to check it, then I won't be flying with it.

I'm worried enough about letting it out of my sight to go through x-ray machines and etc.

If I can't carry it on, I thought about sending it ahead of me via registered mail. Does that sound like a good alternative if I can't carry it on?

I've got insurance, and have coverage for the value. I just couldn't replace this reel.

Bill Muth · Post by **Bill Muth** » Mon Jan 30, 2006 10:51 pm

I've never had trouble with reels, been to three shows via air and they always let them on. They usually want to look at the reels just to admire them. Lures are another story, most airports won't let them through security.

Alan Baracco · Post by **Alan Baracco** » Mon Jan 30, 2006 11:56 pm

Likewise Bill's comment, I have not had a problem carrying many reels in carry-on, most of which had line on them. A recent comment indicated that line was a no-no, but not in my experience. Of Course, most of the reels I carried on were South Bend's, so maybe nobody cared!

Cheers,

Alan

drexelantiques · Post by **drexelantiques** » Tue Jan 31, 2006 1:28 am

The full story is that I have a wealthy collector who wants to buy the reel from me. It isn't for sale, and I had made it clear to him it wasn't, but he wants to see it in person. I know what he hopes will happen, and that is that if he can throw enough money at me, I will give in. That isn't going to happen. But he wants to fly me to his location, put me up in a luxury hotel for a few days, take me fishing, and hopefully get me drunk enough to sell it to him.

Well I need a vacation, so have been contemplating taking it to him, letting him see it, even though I have made it clear that it isn't for sale. I figure I can resist any offers he makes.

If he wants to pay my way, then so be it. I just didn't want the reel to become lost along the way.

Reel Geezer · Post by **Reel Geezer** » Tue Jan 31, 2006 8:15 am

Jeff: That sounds like a great story for the Reel News.

I'll add that I brought home 40 some reels from the Kalamazoo auction in my carry-on, and I remember that Joe Klaus had many more than I did. There were no problems, other than the weight.

el Lawrence · Post by **el Lawrence** » Tue Jan 31, 2006 12:09 pm

ALWAYS good to check with the airline or airport security first. I was picking up someone the other day and the announcements were that the rules about lighters had changed AGAIN.

I have had no problem with reels with line... Even managed to travel with a few lures with hooks in CARY ON. I find if you let them xray they are usually happy with most stuff... the hooks were small and old and not a great number of them. BUT it always pays to ask ahead.

I wouldn't let the reel out of my sight so shipping is a NO. Be sure to pack it in carry on with plenty of soft padding too but easy for airport security to hand check if they need to. No tape in a box...

drexelantiques · Post by **drexelantiques** » Fri Feb 03, 2006 11:36 pm

Phil, right now I would rather not put the story in the reel news. I think an employee of his is an Orca member. If I decide to go, I will ask the potential buyer's permission to do an article and will even write it myself. He has been wanting this reel from me for years, but it is the jewel in my collection. I will never find a rarer reel.