You're traveling by air and plan to take your golf clubs with you on vacation. (Lucky you!) And you want to spend the least amount of money to pack your sticks. What are your airline options? Let's explore.
First things: Track and protect your clubs
Since airlines occasionally misplace luggage, it's wise to add a digital tracker so you can figure out where your clubs are if necessary. An inexpensive option is to put an Apple AirTag in your bag. You can order one from Amazon for only $25 (or a pack of 4 for $80). Fortunately, lost luggage is rare, but it's nice to have an AirTag in your bag as insurance.
To fly with your clubs, you'll need a golf-bag case, preferably hard-shell. Most airlines won't allow you to just put your bag's rain cover on top, though some will if you're willing to sign a release of liability for damage.
Airline pricing for golf clubs
Note that most airlines will treat golf clubs as standard luggage, as long as they are not too heavy and/or large physically.
The prices cited below assume you've purchased standard-cabin tickets. Business- and first-class tickets may include no additional luggage charges, unless you have multiple bags, and often allow heavier baggage.
Further, frequent-flier program membership may offer you free-baggage options if you are in a premium tier. Ditto for some credit cards. This varies by airline.
Southwest Airlines: BEST DEAL!
Standard luggage: Free for 2 bags; 1 of bags can be golf clubs.
Size limits for standard luggage: Your clubs must not be over 50 pounds, and in a hard-shell case. Hooded golf bags or golf bags in a soft-sided carrying case will be accepted only with a limited release of liability for damage.
Overweight luggage: Extra $100 each way.
United Airlines:
Standard luggage: $35 each way ($70 RT)Â for first checked bag; $45/$90 for second bag. (This is prepaid fee; otherwise +$5 each way.)
Size limits for standard luggage: United doesn't charge if golf clubs are physically too big, but your clubs must not be over 50 pounds, and in a hard-shell case.
Overweight luggage: Extra $100 each way.
American Airlines:
Standard luggage: $35 each way ($70 RT)Â for first checked bag; $45/$90 for second bag.
Size limits for standard luggage: American doesn't charge if golf clubs are physically too big, but your clubs must not be over 50 pounds.
Overweight luggage: Extra $30 each way.
Alaska Airlines:
Standard luggage: $35 each way ($70 RT)Â for first checked bag; $45/$90 for second bag.
Size limits for standard luggage: Alaska doesn't charge if golf clubs are physically too big, but your clubs must not be over 50 pounds, and in a hard-shell case.
Overweight luggage: Extra $100 each way.
JetBlue Airways:
Standard luggage: $35 each way ($70 RT)Â for first checked bag; $50/$100 for second bag.
Size limits for standard luggage: Your clubs must not be over 50 pounds, and in a hard-shell case. Golf bags in a soft-sided carrying case will be accepted only with a limited release of liability for damage.
Overweight luggage: Extra $150 each way.
Delta Air Lines:
Standard luggage: $35 each way ($70 RT)Â for first checked bag; $45/$90 for second bag.
Size limits for standard luggage: Must not be over 50 pounds, and total girth under 115 inches, and in a hard-shell case.
Oversize luggage: Extra $100 each way.
Hawaiian Airlines:
Standard luggage: $40 each way ($80 RT)Â for first checked bag; $45/$90 for second bag.
Size limits for standard luggage: Must not be over 50 pounds, total girth under 115 inches, and in a hard-shell case. Hooded golf bags or golf bags in a soft-sided carrying case will be accepted only with a limited release of liability for damage.
Overweight luggage: Extra $100 each way.
Spirit Airlines:
Standard luggage: $41 each way ($82 RT)Â for first checked bag; $51/$102 for second bag.
Size limits for standard luggage: Spirit doesn't charge if golf clubs are physically too big, but your clubs must not be over 40 pounds, and it is preferred (but not required) that they be in a hard-shell case. A limited liability release must be signed when traveling with golf clubs.
Overweight luggage: Extra $79 each way for 41-50 pound bag; $125 each way for 51-100 pound bag.
Frontier Airlines:
Standard luggage: $59 each way ($118 RT)Â for first checked bag; $79/$158 for second bag.
Size limits for standard luggage: Your clubs must not be over 50 pounds.
Overweight luggage: Extra $75 each way.
Takeaways
The cheapest way to fly with your clubs is to use Southwest for your golf travel. Among the other major airlines, baggage fees are fairly closely matched; however, Frontier charges more than the others.
Most of the airlines have a 50-pound limit for your golf clubs to be considered standard baggage. It's unlikely that your golf bag will weigh more than that, but check to make sure before you head to the airport. A too-heavy bag will cost you from $60 to $300 extra roundtrip. Note that Spirit Airlines has a 40-pound limit before a bag is considered overweight and thus subject to a $148 extra fee round trip.
Most of the airlines have a physical-size limit for a piece of baggage. Most of them dispense with the size rule for golf bags, but stick with the 50-pound weight limit. However, Delta and Hawaiian require a golf bag's girth to be no bigger than 115 inches; that's calculated by adding height + width + depth.
Notice that of the airlines that do charge if you pack golf clubs, there's a lower price for the first bag and a slightly higher price for the second bag. So, if you have to check a piece of luggage in addition to your golf bag, figure on paying the higher second-bag fee for your clubs.
Finally, you may have noticed that some airlines will allow you to pack your golf clubs in a soft carrier (or even just put a rain-cover top on your bag) if you're willing to release them from liability should your equipment get damaged. It's therefore highly recommended that you invest in a hard-shell case for your clubs if you plan to fly with them. (We'll publish a guide to hard-shell cases in the near future.)
There's another option
An alternative to flying with your clubs is to use a golf-club shipping service. We'll publish a comparison of those services soon.