Non-Pool
Topic: Ryan Air & Cues

Does anyone have any experience of taking cues with Ryan Air. I just realised I booked for 2 items of luggage to be checked in thinking my pool cue would be classed like just another suitcase but it appears they have a separate fee for sports equipment, which would cost around the same as the flight itself!

Anyone got any experience of this? I know one of the boys has a neat trick where he packs his cue in a large suitcase but I don't think I have one large enough and I feel sure if I did this I would exceed my baggage allowance, which is even more expensive.

I always do the BIG SUITCASE trick too! Seems safer than letting the attractive looking cue case travel on it's own, although I have got a couple of small padlocks for my cue case too, just to deter opportunistic baggage handler theft!

Every year I take a group of Spanish players to Las Vegas and every year those that check in their cue case take a big risk.
2005 we lost 4 cases and cues, never to be recovered and the insurance companies didn't want to know.
This year, 2006, we lost 4 but 3 were eventually recovered.
I always pack my cues in my case and when travelling in groups I advise the players to club together and buy a bag into which will fit 4 or 5 cases.
If you can get your cue in your case, you can carry on the cue case as hand baggage.
Padlocks can be legally broken by the authorities unless you have special ones which they can open and then re close.

Thanks for the advice.

I can fit my shafts into my suitcase which is a large hard case so they should be OK in there. I'm a bit worried about taking my empty cue case as hand luggage though - being about 1 meter tall it's clearly outside the acceptable dimensions.

How many people have actually managed to get away with this?

I use a big holdall when I go anywhere with my cue.
I have a fancy 2 x 4 American leather case, so I wouldnt trust that to go through on its own as a seperate piece of luggage, so my holdall is large enough to house all my clothes and my case.

I use one of those large cue travel bags. I can get a 2x4 case and enough gear for nearly a week all in the one bag. I wrap the case in all my shirts and stuff and I have never had a problem.

Also remember to check the bag with the cue in as outsized fragile luggage and it gets taken to the plane with care - lol. Ryan Air and Easy Jet are cool when you want your bag marked as fragile then they direct you to another special counter where is it taken from you.

TRAVEL BAG LINK

Hope your cues have a safe trip!


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