How do you travel on airlines with your large backpack?

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Dec 14, 2018
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Planning a Alaskan sheep hunt for 2021. Been reading and researching all things.
It crossed my mind as I try and settle on what bp to get, how do you travel on the airlines with it.

So for those of you that have flown to Alaska, what/how do you fly with it?
Just check it in as a bag or is there some way to put it in something to protect it and keep the airlines employees out of it?
I’m assuming that you have all your stuff in the pack that your taking less your gun (in its own case) and your carry on bag.

Also how/where do you pack your binos and spotter? Can you carry your binos in your carry on bag?
 

weaver

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I either use my hunting pack as a carry on or put it in a large duffel and check it in. Optics generally go in my hard rifle/bow case.

Sent from my XT1635-01 using Tapatalk
 

Steven C

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As posted above, Put your pack in a large duffel bag to keep people out of your stuff. It also keeps it from getting caught and broken on conveyors or god knows what else they do. Binoculars and spotter in carry on with a change of clothing that you can hunt in if your baggage gets lost. I also wear my hunting boots on the plane. It’s a pain but as long as I make it with my carry on I can buy or borrow a pack and weapon and still hunt. I wouldn’t want to try to borrow or buy brand new boots on my way to the mountains.
 

jb1316

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I use a duffle to carry non-breakable equipment and clothes, and a suitcase for my bag and more (relatively) fragile equipment.
 

Steven C

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I would add that I would definitely use a suitcase or a heavy duty duffel bag. I use the Kuiu water proof one. I also stuff my food and other clothing items around my pack in the duffel to protect it somewhat.
 

Jimss

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I usually carry on around 60+ lbs of stuff. I get some funny looks going through the airport but it's always worked. I've flown with Alaska Airlines and never had a problem. I just make sure my bacjpack (large Kifaru AMR2) is close to the dimensions of the carryon so it fits in the overhead bin. A couple times it barely fit but sometimes I'm on older planes that have more than enough room in the overhead. I also bring on a giant camera bag that fits under my seat (or also in the overhead) with all my camera gear, etc). It's nice knowing my binos, cameras, spotter etc are with me and will make it! I've never had a problem with security. Just make sure you put your ammunition in a different bag than your rifle and don't carry on any knives, shells, etc.

Sometimes they even offer at the boarding window for people with large items to check them all the way through to my destination for free...but I usually want to carry them on so I make sure everything gets there ok. Alaska Air may be more leaninet than some of the other airlines?

In regard to my rifle and rifle case. Tell the person at the check in that you have a weapon. They'll have you sign a deal that you place in your rifle case that your weapon is unloaded, etc. Once checked in they will have someone escort you to an x-ray machine and check in your rifle. Make sure you have locks for your rifle case or they will likely make you buy them from them!

I gut the foam in my rifle case and replace it with clothes, trekking poles, flyrods, etc until it reaches 50 lb limit. My rifle case is on rollers. This makes it easier getting in and out of airports, etc. I often load other stuff on top of my rifle case on rollers to tote around.
 

keller

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the kuiu taku 9000 bag is huge . I bought the 3000 ,5500 and 9000 when they were on sale.nice bags but if you fill the 9000 not sure if it would fit in the airline standard.most likely oversize.but with a pack and all the straps you need to put it in a travel bag.I take 2 checked bags. hardcase rifle and whatever else fits in their.backpack with gear in a taku bag. carry on with optics expensive equipment.wear hunting boots and gear in case of lost luggage. best of luck john
 

Wildwillalaska

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Live in AK but travel within the state on commercial air each year to our starting points for hunts, whether hike in or bush flghts from there. Always do it the same way, backpack into my giant north face duffle, and check it. Trekking poles taken apart, ends covered with paper towels and taped up so I don’t punch holes. If ice ax is coming along, same. All optics and electronics go in my carry on. Duffle, carry on, and rifle case all stay together when we head afield.
 
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I flew to Alaska to assist on a sheep hunt with a buddy last august and used my MR Marshall as a checked bag. I put my binos in my carry on bag, along with a set of hunting clothes and wore my boots, just in case. Everything else was in my pack. I just tightened up all my straps and there were zero issues with it when I got it in Fairbanks and did the same for the return flight. I didn't have to worry about a firearm or food though, so that made it a bit easier.

If I were to do it again, I would do it the same way.
 
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thanks for the heads up. We will flying Alaskan Airlines.

Checkout the post from August 8 about Alaskan Airlines.

 

RichP

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I'll be flying Air Canada in October. I think I watched every video on U Tube regarding flying with a rifle. I have already packed weighed everything twice already to try to fit everything I want to bring. I'm down to cutting things out right now. I'm a classic over packer! I'm also worried about using my backpack for a carry on. I hear Air Canada is a BB about carry on size. My pack is def bigger. The Taku 3000 measures to big for a carry on.
 
OP
Silvereagle50
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I'll be flying Air Canada in October. I think I watched every video on U Tube regarding flying with a rifle. I have already packed weighed everything twice already to try to fit everything I want to bring. I'm down to cutting things out right now. I'm a classic over packer! I'm also worried about using my backpack for a carry on. I hear Air Canada is a BB about carry on size. My pack is def bigger. The Taku 3000 measures to big for a carry on.

the taku 3000 is bigger than Alaskan airlines requirements as well
 

Kotaman

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The 3000 would work fine as a carry-on any any big airline. A duffle bag would have to be awfully big to get flagged for no carry-on. I’ve travelled everywhere with my 26” stay Kifaru and my 25” stay Stone Glacier and have never once been refused them as a carry-on. Some f the small airlines like Air North May flag them, but I’d be surprised if the biggies would ever be an issue.
 
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