Traveling with your cues

Flash

Flash

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Hello, almost everyone knows that their cues on a airplane flight are not allowed as a carry-on item. So, a passenger will have to check them in as baggage. I wondered, I travel very often for work and have noticed that musicians that play guitars/violins are allowed to bring their instrument case aboard as a carry-on. Now lets put the 2 ideas together, would someone be able to bring a violin/guitar case as a carry-on that was made to hold or carry their pool cues. This idea just came across to me when I saw the novelty cases that fellow Azer's have made. So anyone out there can get some info about this I am sure it would help fellow pool players and those who make these cases. It could be an opportunity grabber.
 
It is not the case that is not allowed, it is the cues. I wrapped my cues up and packed them in my checked luggage when I flew to the DCC this year. I carried the case with me on board and was allowed to put it in the overhead. When they xray your carryon and find you have a cue inside, I think that will be the problem. You can find suit cases that are big enough hold your case and cue that can be checked, that is about the only option for now. Tom
 
thanks for your response

Now traveling as much as I do, I can't see how pool cues are of a dangerous nature unless modified, maybe... They certainly can not be more dangerous that a cord from a set of head phones, or a small laptop that could be used aa blunt object. Ohh by the way, I am in safety and have a criminal justice background. So, in my eyes unless I am blind, ooh wait I do wear glasses, don't see the connection. Please share anymore in depth information. Thanks again
 
That rule is such crap. I've seen tennis racquets and skateboards (blunt objects capable of being used as weapons), phone chargers (can be used for strangulation), stiletto heels (sharp heels can be used to stab someone), and canes (can be considered a weapon as much as a cue) allowed on flights but I have to check in my cues. Oh, and my eyeshadow because it might be anthrax. Pink, glittery anthrax.

What we need is a way to disguise a cue as a cane and we'll be golden.
 
Flash said:
Now traveling as much as I do, I can't see how pool cues are of a dangerous nature unless modified, maybe... They certainly can not be more dangerous that a cord from a set of head phones, or a small laptop that could be used aa blunt object. Ohh by the way, I am in safety and have a criminal justice background. So, in my eyes unless I am blind, ooh wait I do wear glasses, don't see the connection. Please share anymore in depth information. Thanks again
Click to expand...

They just drafted the rules with I would guess little thought. They needed a list of banned items and that is what they came up with. Do you remember what it used to be like? I remember coming back from Vegas and was sitting next to a guy with an ax wrapped up in newspaper. He was at a knife show and it was a replica of some kind of old weapon he bought.
 
Airplane carrying container

I'll probably never use it, but I made a case for carrying my cues on a plane.
Don't know how big a case it would hold, but I'm sure I could carry 2 cues, probably 3 or 4. I used 6 inch schedule 40 pvc. Glued a cap on 1 end, sanded down the other end so that it would be easier to get off that cap for putting the cues in. Drilled a hole on the removable side all the way through the cap and the pipe. Marked the cap and pipe so that I would know which side each hole would line up with. And then I got a long bolt and drilled a hole so that a small lock or clip can be put on. It isn't the prettiest, but I won't have to worry about damaged cues. I won't have a problem with it getting mixed up with somebody else's luggage. If I wanted to, I could get paint and paint it , but why should I. Schedule 40 pvc is not light weight, it weighs alittle but not heavy at all. You don't want to use just regular strength pvc. It could be broken. The schedule 40 is strong stuff.
I was thinking about putting a handle or a couple clips to attach a strap for carryng. I've probably got 125-150 into plus my time.
 
The rule against cues is stupid as can be.... a trained killer can make a weapon out of anything.

As for traveling, I got the sterling traveling case (about $40) and put a cheap 3x5 case in it and everything made the journey in great shape without any damages and I had to change flights on the way.
 
I've seen the PVC Tube idea. It is a strong case. A piece of good leather & some pop rivets, 5 minutes of time & Voila, you have a handle.

I still favor sending my cues ahead, with UPS. I place a couple thousand dollars insurance backup, to help them get where I send them.

If someday comes & I don't get them as planned, the worst case scenario is I get to go shopping.
 
Shipping or Travel

As far as taking them somewhere, I was thinking about a Pelican Case. These things are about as indescrutable as can be and they have some serious padding. They make some that are rifle size or a little smaller. Just about right for a cue.
 
The pop rivets are a good idea, I was thinking screws, but I like the rivets better.
 
macguy said:
They just drafted the rules with I would guess little thought. They needed a list of banned items and that is what they came up with. Do you remember what it used to be like? I remember coming back from Vegas and was sitting next to a guy with an ax wrapped up in newspaper. He was at a knife show and it was a replica of some kind of old weapon he bought.
Click to expand...
Was it this guy?
 

Attachments

  • hitchhiker.jpg
    hitchhiker.jpg
    26.1 KB · Views: 238
Airlines don't have a problem with the cues, it is the TSA. Naturally the government is here to help.
 
skor said:
The rule against cues is stupid as can be.... a trained killer can make a weapon out of anything.
Click to expand...

A trained killer IS the weapon! Everything else is just a tool. I guess this applies to really good pool players as well :smilewinkgrin:
 
My thinking is this. A good case will protect my Cue from anything but a theif. If I ship my cue with insurance, I might not even need a case....

$2000.00 insurance might get a good Budweiser Cue across the nation in great condition. All the sender has to do is get a certified appreaisal & there will be no squabbles about the value, should the need arrise.
 
I guess any veteran with fingers will not be allowed to fly. It's the first thing you learn in hand to hand combat training. My granddaughter is taking karate and they have taught her how to defend herself by using her fingers.

Besides who in hell would consider a pool player as a terrorist, all we do is woof at each other.

This rule is why I don't fly to tournament anymore, I just drive and if it's to far I just stay at home.
 
It's not just the TSA that bans cues as carry on luggage. I have seen placards at international airports stating pool cues are not allowed as carry on. I did inquire about it once but not the TSA. I was told that cues are commonly used as weapons :rolleyes:
 
I built mine in early 2003. It is like what JE54 describes, and is probably the one that ceebee has seen. I used it several times, and it definitely protects your case. One time, I couldn't find it in the luggage, but that airport had a separate place where the golf club bags went, and I found it there.

I wrapped mine in duct tape, but I don't remember the reason now. Maybe just because it was more attractive? I dunno...

The handle issue was pretty easy - I used rivets to attach a couple of dog collars, then I used a clip on leather strap. That way, you can quickly remove the handle at the checkin counter. The strap I use is better than the one in this pic.

If you're concerned about the loose chain you see in the pic, I use pieces of duct tape to hold that to the top of the case so it doesn't flap around.

I'd offer to sell it, but the cost to ship might be too much. I just weighed it and it weighs a little over ten pounds.

case3.jpg


And, I agree that it's stupid to not allow pool players to carry their pool cues on airplanes. I remember one time I was going down to a tourney at South Padre Island, and the plane I took from Dallas made a stopover in another TX city on the way down and it seems like everyone that got on the plane was a pool player and they all carried on their pool cues and it was so exciting!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top