Kiteforum.com

Just thought I'd start a thread about airlines that give free allowance for "Golf Bags."

Flew South African this past few weeks and was very pleased that they gave me 20kg in free baggage allowance for my "golf bag."

Any other ones?

TAP Portugal 15 kg free (what a shame and discrimination for all of us other sports)

Toby wrote:TAP Portugal 15 kg free (what a shame and discrimination for all of us other sports)

TAP does, interesting that could be very handy for taking my golf equipment to cumboco.

Turkish Airlines also *might* have a free golf bag as well. Anyone try them? I have flown them before with my stuff but never noticed if it was free because it was a golf bag.

Vietnam Airlines - up to 20kgs. Although they are very specific about what constitutes a "golf set."

To whit: Golf set: One golf set includes one golf bag containing maximum 14 golf clubs, 12 golf balls, T-shaped devices with total weight of not more than 20 kg. Equipment other than above-mentioned items shall not be regarded as golf set.

When I flew them last year they asked me repeatedly if it was a golf set and I said yes each time. They even felt the bag and said, "This feels like a board." I said it is a golf set. They stopped short of making me open the bag. Free bag.

Found a handy website - though do not know if all info is completely dead on.

http://www.aph.com/news/knowbeforeyougo ... gage.shtml

Notable Allowances -

Emirates: In addition to the personal allowance, one set of golf clubs and one pair of golf shoes will be carried free of charge per passenger.

Lufthansa - Golf equipment is free of charge for a bag weighing up to 15kg (although Lufthansa's website doesn't seem to say this.

I do about 5 long haul trips with my gear a year - normally comes in at about 23-24 kg in a North bag.

Over the last 4 years or so, I have had no problems with:

- British Airways
- Singapore Airlines
- Virgin

Have had no need with these guys to make up stories or "play golf". They've all let the slight excess weight slide as well.

- Air New Zealand - okay but made me repack right down to the exact limit. Again, no "golfing" required

- Air France - make me pay extra charges for sports equipment, but not too bad, like €50 each way. Hate them though because on a London - Paris - Martinique route, they tried to charge me for each leg.

Anyway....point being there are still quite a few equipment friendly airlines that can get me most places I want to go.

That is all true, most airlines will treat it like normal luggage, but that's not what this thread is about. This one is about ones that love Golf bags.