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Cue Guru

Cue Guru

Close, but no roll...
Silver Member
I've got a question for you big collectors out there.

When you fly, how do you handle having your cues in cargo at -50F or so as you fly around the world?

In the 'old days' (not that long ago actually) it was no problem to carry a pool cue on a plane, but these days a nail clipper is a deadly weapon, so no more.:(

I was thinking about a Pelican case for 2-3 cues and/or to fit my normal carry case as a second layer of protection from temperature change and impact, and was just curious as to what you guys did.

Thanks!
 
Your idea to get a pelikan case is an expensive option but probably the best for your cargo. If you went to this extent you might want to also buy a TSA lock from a luggage store. I know many people just put there case in a big duffle bag with other items which is probably isn't very secure from a theft perspective but will protect the cues from damage if you have a hard case.

I personally bought the tallest rolling samsonite hard case I could find that has wheels on its end. I can't fit a hard case inside so I put my cues in bubble wrap and inside a shipping tube to protect them from bumps and bruises. The advantage of this in my opinion is that my suitcase has a TSA lock so only someone with a TSA key can unlock my suitcase. If I want to have a my hard case with me when I arrive I just carry it on with me leaving my cues in my checked luggage but I usually just bring a soft case.

(This is a similar model to the suitcase I found, not sure if its the same size just identical construction---> http://shop.samsonite.com/storefront/suitcases/30-quot-spinner/prod33842XXXX-cC05-.html)


I fly about twice a month and like to keep my playing cue with me so I really dislike that you can't carry on cues anymore...:angry:

Dud
 
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Cue Guru said:
I've got a question for you big collectors out there.

When you fly, how do you handle having your cues in cargo at -50F or so as you fly around the world?

In the 'old days' (not that long ago actually) it was no problem to carry a pool cue on a plane, but these days a nail clipper is a deadly weapon, so no more.:(

I was thinking about a Pelican case for 2-3 cues and/or to fit my normal carry case as a second layer of protection from temperature change and impact, and was just curious as to what you guys did.

Thanks!
Click to expand...

I won't take my collection anywhere I can't drive. When I play in a tournament and I have to fly I put my cue case in a large bag surrounded by my clothes.
 
Some good ideas here!

The golf bag is big enough to put clothes in as well- then you check only one bag for no extra fees... Plus it looks like a golf bag, so not many people would be interested to look inside- unlike a flight case that they do not immediately recognise... More desire to see inside that way I think...

Keep the ideas coming!
 
Last time I used a Zero Halliburton case but it got banged up pretty hard...
I though of getting a pelican to hold a hard case inside it but I dropped that idea as it cost a lot and I guess it'll be uncomfortable to carry.

I don't see myself traveling with high end cues, just a player and a jump break cue. I got the Sterling travel bag that looks heavy duty enough and I have a Vincitore hard case with Instroke like tubes that i wouldn't mind if get bruised a bit.... and this is how I plan to fly next.

I'll let you know how it worked for me on my next flight which will probably be next week....
 
Cue Guru said:
When you fly, how do you handle having your cues in cargo at -50F or so as you fly around the world?
Click to expand...

If your standard luggage was placed in -50F cargo holding, we'd all know about it. Your toiletries wouldn't survive. Some luggage itself wouldn't survive.

As far as we've been told previously when this question comes up by those in the airline industry, the cargo space is pressurized and heated to about the same temperature as the main cabin. If it wasn't, every one of us who fly with cues would have reported exploding, imploding, cracking, etc. But, that doesn't happen.

Fred <~~~ hasn't had his luggage freeze yet
 
Interesting.

There has been more than one trans-Atlantic flight where I arrived with frozen shampoo... I guess they forgot to throw another log on the fire before take-off.

Not every flight, but I thought it would be better to be safe rather than sorry, which was the driver for this thread. And maybe more cargo is heated since more has to be checked? (Although you'd never know it with the amount of crap people carry on these days)

Where the pets are stored is heated and pressurized the same as the passenger cabin; however I do not believe every cargo compartment shares that same luxury. Perhaps on domestic flights it is. I suspect is varies plane type to plane type too. Maybe I could put a "live animals" decal on the case?:thumbup:

You may be able to request "pressurized cargo" as we ship some water conditioning elements that have to be shipped that way. When they are not shipped that way, they don't do too well...:frown:
 
Cue Guru said:
Interesting.

There has been more than one trans-Atlantic flight where I arrived with frozen shampoo... I guess they forgot to throw another log on the fire before take-off.

Not every flight, but I thought it would be better to be safe rather than sorry, which was the driver for this thread. And maybe more cargo is heated since more has to be checked? (Although you'd never know it with the amount of crap people carry on these days)

Where the pets are stored is heated and pressurized the same as the passenger cabin; however I do not believe every cargo compartment shares that same luxury. Perhaps on domestic flights it is. I suspect is varies plane type to plane type too. Maybe I could put a "live animals" decal on the case?:thumbup:

You may be able to request "pressurized cargo" as we ship some water conditioning elements that have to be shipped that way. When they are not shipped that way, they don't do too well...:frown:
Click to expand...
Just to add to your post, note that I said "about the same," because they wouldn't make it like the comfort of the main cabin. But pressurized and heated would be expected, in my opinion and experience, but that doesn't mean something doesn't go wrong time to time.

I believe that the different cargo areas would have different temperatures and even slightly different pressures, since they're not heated for comfort. And it's possible that only domestic US flights are like this.

That being said, I have traveled over 50,000 miles every year for several years (including many, many, many, many trips trans-Atlantic) since the 90's and have never had frozen shampoo or anything of the like that would suggest that the cargo holds are not heated or pressurized. YMMV, of course.

Fred
 
I don't work in baggage, but I know someone who did.

The problem is, that was over 10 years ago that he did, so even if he knew how it was, it most likley is not the same now...

Anyway, congratulations on never having frozen shampoo! It is a bit weird the first time.:eek:
 
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