Getting a FIN BAG Through TSA / Carryon Limits

[rakpix]

i have a liveaboard vacation comming up this march, and i was wondering if scubaboard members have caught any flak trying to get a ~28" fin bag through security and onto the plane? i really don't want to check my fins ... after a recent nightmare scenario while flying to turks and caicos last summer. i would be flying with a 22" rollaboard, a small backpack, and my THIN but still technically TOO LONG fin bag, with my avanti x-3 fins promanently showing. will i make it through TSA? past scrupulating stewardesses? and get it into the overhead compartment (assuming i board early)? thanks.

 

[james croft]

You may have a problem with the size. I would put your shoes in the overhead and just wear the fins when boarding. Just remember to walk backwards.

 

[rakpix]

or just get some nifty flip-up speical forces flip-fins, for the lulz (and invevitable security check)

YouTube - Flipfins? in Action

 

[rakpix]

on a related note, i've seen people get through with tennis rackets, in a racket case, that were easily 30" long! but really, i'm looking for an actual trip report ... from people who have either

A) bluffed their way past security & boarding, and flown triumphant with their itinerant fin-bag in the overhead compartment

B) been hammered back to reality by an overzealous airline worker as s/he speaks that cruelest of phrases: "can i check that for ya?"

 

[reefduffer]

A datapoint that might help:

I travel with a travel guitar. Envelope dimensions are 30 x 8 x 4, although it's soft and smaller than 8 x 4 for most of the length. See Traveler Guitar > PRO SERIES > GIG BAG.

For non-scuba travel, I check a bag, and carry on my computer bag (under my feet) and the guitar, which goes in the overhead, either on edge narrow end first (just fits) or on top of someone else's carryon. I've never been hassled about it being oversize, but the key thing to note is that I don't try to push it to three pieces of carry-on.

For scuba travel, for that reason, I put the guitar in my checked roller duffel. I'd prefer not to, but I need a full-size roller carry-on for my regs and other key gear. So I can tell you that a long thin item that nominally exceeds the envelope in one dimension is OK in my experience. But three carry-on items I expect will be a problem.

 

[diversteve]

I've never tried it but it would seem to me that having a 3rd carry-on technically puts you in violation of the 1 carry-on - 1 personal item rule. What's in the roller? Maybe pack it to be surrendered at the gate if you're stopped. I've also seen tennis rackets on planes. One guy had about 4 - in my overhead.

I'm pretty sure the TSA doesn't care - as long as you don't have any non-approved items in your luggage - whether or not you can get on the plane with it isn't their issue as long as it fits in the scanner.

There's also this option but I'd question how many times it gets gate-checked as it's well over the published airline allowable size. Although I have seen some pretty big soft dufflebags on flights. But at $240+, I'll check my fins in my luggage first. divecaddy.net

Are you trying to fly with no checked bags?

 

[RICHinNC]

I've never tried it but it would seem to me that having a 3rd carry-on technically puts you in violation of the 1 carry-on - 1 personal item rule. What's in the roller? Maybe pack it to be surrendered at the gate if you're stopped. I've also seen tennis rackets on planes. One guy had about 4 - in my overhead.

I'm pretty sure the TSA doesn't care - as long as you don't have any non-approved items in your luggage - whether or not you can get on the plane with it isn't their issue as long as it fits in the scanner.

There's also this option but I'd question how many times it gets gate-checked as it's well over the published airline allowable size. Although I have seen some pretty big soft dufflebags on flights. But at $240+, I'll check my fins in my luggage first. divecaddy.net

Are you trying to fly with no checked bags?

Actually the TSA guys at RDU pounced on me one trip because I technically had 3 bags. I had to cram one bag inside another to get on the other side of TSA then I pulled it back out. There is no logic or similarity between them.

 

[DandyDon]

I bought a 24" roll-on when Continental said that was the max allowed, but now they publish: 45 inches up to 14 in x 9 in x 22 in My other roll-on is only 20" long but carries so much less. Dang!

1: ~28" fin bag
2: 22" rollaboard
3: small backpack​

Yep, that's too many. The carry-on rule was at ONE piece at one time, but woman got away with purses too - so that evolved into one carry-on & one personal bag, but it seems that some women are still adding a purse to that to make it 3 for them? I wouldn't try 3 tho.

You might try sticking the fin bag into the backpack to get it down to 2 pieces and see it that might work, but you know there are no guarantees. The TSA agents and gate agents have leeway according to their moods.

 

[rakpix]

hmm, thats an interesting idea. indeed, i'm trying to get away with no checked baggage. but if i get to the gate and they make me choose, i could just tell the attendant to gate-check my 22" roller, carrying my finbag and essentials in my backpack onboard.

 

[rakpix]

does anyone have an opinion on problue's finbag or finbag deluxe? piranha dive manufacturing has the former on sale for $6