It is not news that almost everyone loves and enjoys camping. However, camping plans are not always possible especially when you need to travel on a plane to your destination.
For those caught up in this situation, it is vital to note that there are lots of regulations that you need to be aware of. These regulations range from what is allowed on the plane and the things you won’t have any access to.
With matters like this coming up almost all the time, people are left thinking about the specific camping gear that they can travel with. When asked whether can you bring a tent on a plane? The short answer is yes.
But, let us take a look at the TSA Guidelines for flying with your tent.
TSA Guidelines
When it comes to the TSA Guidelines for flying with your tent, the fact is that you can bring a tent through security. It can be placed in your luggage so long as it can fit within the baggage guidelines of the airline you are using.
But, according to the TSA website, tent poles and stakes must be compulsorily packed inside checked bags. This simply means that they see poles and stakes as prospective weapons that must be hidden straight in the belly of a plane.
You cannot avoid this guideline as it is vital. This means checking a bag all the time when you are flying with a tent. Even if you want to use a carry-on bag bigger tents may likely be too big to place in such a carry-on bag.
However, a two-person tent is small enough to get into your travel backpack. There are a few other guidelines to follow when you fly with camping gear. With the guideline out there, let us give you a tip on how to pack your tent when you need to use a plane.
Best Tip To Pack Your Tent
Still asking Google the question “can you bring a tent on a plane”?, Well, since we have answered that in this article, let us show you how you can pack the tent before you commence on your journey.
First things first, you can pack the tent inside your suitcase. However, this will only work if you can get it inside a bag that will meet the baggage size restriction of the airline.
Plus, you will not have plenty of stuff to place in the bag. For those who want to use a checked bag, note that the overall bag weight will have to be less than the maximum weight limit of the airline. This weight limit is normally fifty pounds.
As for those who want to pack the tent in their luggage, this is surely not a bad idea especially if you are taking other camping gear along. In other news, your item will be counted as a different checked item or bag if the camping gear is separate.
According to the policy on tents and camping gear of American Airlines, every piece of camping equipment like your tent, backpack, or sleeping bag will be counted as a separate checked bag.
This means that if you are capable of condensing your tent and the other gear into one bag, you will be able to save cash as the airlines only limit people to one or two free checked items if you have any.
Another way to pack your tent when you have to fly is to put it in a tent or bag carrying case. Some tents come with bags or you can even purchase one. While the bag may not offer plenty of protection when you are checking a tent, it is good enough for your carry-on since you can move this bag around if your tent is small.
More so, you can pack your tent inside a cardboard box. Using this method is helpful if your tent is new or you can just repack it in the tent’s original packaging if it is not a new tent.
Conclusion
When asked, “can you bring a tent on a plane”? the answer is yes. But, you cannot carry spikes or tent poles. The tent poles and stakes are to be packed in checked luggage as they can be potentially utilized as weapons.
However, your tent is safe on a plane. Now, you can travel to your camping destination and have the time of your life without any hassles.
