Racquets are Flying: TSA and Airline Regulations

Fiend at Court Unplugged

A couple of nights ago, the Fiend at Court Spousal Unit and I played a recreational husband-wife mixed doubles match. As we were engaging in the pre-match banter I realized that I was the only person on the court who was not about to travel to the USTA NTRP National Championships later this month. As they were discussing their travel arrangements, the topic of dealing with racquets on commercial flights arose. I have a lot of experience flying with my tennis racquets in tow. Everybody get your shocked face ready. This is yet another topic where my overthinking tendencies prevail.

This is the first post in a three part series over the weekend. Today the topic is the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Rules and Regulations about flying with tennis racquets as well as the more nebulous airline policies. On Saturday the focus will shift to the pros and cons of checking racquets in your luggage. Finally, on Sunday, I will share some tips on how to handle racquets as a carry-on item.

TSA Regulations on Tennis Racquets

Items which may be carried on commercial flights in the United States is under the purview of the TSA. “What Can I Bring” is the TSA’s very helpful website that lists an amazing array of items with definitive guidance on if it is permissible to bring as either a carry-on or in checked luggage. Tennis racquets are allowed for both, so the decision is completely up to the traveler.

In a somewhat related tangent, the TSA “What Can I Bring?” site can also be the basis for a fascinating guessing game of whether or not an item is permitted on commercial flights. For example, rocket launchers are not permitted as either carry-on or checked items. The fact that this exists in the TSA database is a pretty good indication that this is a recurring concern.

Airline Rules and Regulations

All airlines will allow tennis racquets to be carried in checked luggage. However, there is a lot more variation in policies for carry-on items from airline to airline. I fly American Airlines almost exclusively and have never had any issue carrying my racquets directly onto the plane. I have never flown Spirit, but I am assuming that they would impost a surcharge in each individual racquet toted onto the plane as a carry-on. The moral of this story is don’t fly Spirit unless you love to pay aggressive surcharges.

While the TSA limits passengers to two carried items, it is less clear whether some items will be counted against that carry on allowance. For example, on a business trip I was once stopped at the gate because I had a laptop bag, a tiny purse, and a fast food sandwich in a bag. In that case the consolidation was easy, I simply placed my purse into the top of the food bag to gain compliance. It was inane.

It is less clear how tennis racquets will be counted if they are not inside a carry-on bag. I have carried three racquets onto the plane as a single item in the past. To reinforce that idea and also for my own east of handling, I generally lash my racquets together when they are carried without a bag. There are some example links to amazon products that can be used for that purpose in the table below. I should note that I generally have these things laying around in my house and have never specially purchased lashing material for this purpose. (Remember kids, I am a an OCD computer nerd. Sloppy cabling is the work of the devil.)

I have never been challenged by an airline gate attendant to verify that my racquets will fit into the metal frame that is used for carry-on size compliance. Clearly the handles will protrude beyond the top of the frame. At the same time, it is patently obvious that they will fit in the overhead luggage bin with ease. So far common sense has prevailed for me every time. In related news, common sense is sometimes a rare commodity.

I strongly recommend bookmarking the TSA “What Can I Bring?” site on your phone in case there is any debate at the gate. While I have never been challenged when carrying racquets, it is probably good information to have at your fingertips just in case.

The decision on whether to check or hand carry tennis racquets is a little more nuanced. Tomorrow we will discuss the pros and cons as well as packing strategies for tennis racquets in checked luggage. On Sunday we will shift our attention to the best way to bring tennis racquets in a carry-on bag.