Cost To Check Golf Clubs On A Plane (Data From 11 Airlines)

Many golf travelers are unaware of the cost to check golf clubs on a plane. In fact, before I went on my first golf trip, I had no idea what to expect!

So how much does it cost to check your golf clubs at the airport?

Through a combination of personal experience and researching data from 11 of the world’s most popular airlines, I’ve found that the average cost to check golf clubs is $30 if it’s your first checked bag and $39 if it’s your second checked bag.

However, depending on the airline you choose to fly with, the cost of checking your golf bag may vary.

**As a side note before we get any further, I’d recommend making sure you have a hard-case golf travel bag if you’re going to be traveling by air. Many of the airlines on this list will not cover damages to golf clubs unless they are transported in a hard-cover carrying case. 

Now that that’s out of the way, let’s get to it!

Table of Contents

The Cost of Checking Your Golf Bag With 11 Different Airlines

Cost To Check A Golf Bag With American Airlines

American Airlines charges $25 to check your golf bag if it’s your first bag, $35 if it’s your second bag, $150 if it’s your third bag, and $200 if it’s your fourth bag.

Also, if your golf bag exceeds 50 pounds, an oversized baggage fee of $150 will apply.

Other considerations –

  • American Airlines specifies golf bags may include clubs, tees, balls, and shoes.
  • Swingless golf club load strips are NOT permitted.
  • They are only liable for damages to your golf clubs if they are transported in a hard-sided case.

Cost To Check A Golf Bag With Delta Airlines

The price of checking your golf clubs with Delta will be $30 if it’s your first bag and $40 if it’s your second bag. If your golf bag exceeds 50 pounds or linear dimensions (L+W+H) of 115 inches, you will need to pay an oversized baggage fee of $150 to $200.

Other considerations –

  • Bags may include one set of clubs, one pair of shoes, and golf balls and tees.
  • Clubs must be stored in a hard-shell case or else a soft-shell case after a limited release has been signed.
  • Delta specifies that they will not be held responsible for any damages that occur as a result of over-packing.

If you have an expensive set of clubs, I’d recommend paying the additional fee at check-in to declare the value of your bag.

Doing so gives you the right to be compensated if anything were to happen to your clubs on the way to, or from, your destination.

With Delta, this fee ranges between $10 and $50, depending on the total declared value of your bag and whether you’re flying domestic or international.

Cost To Check A Golf Bag With United Airlines

United Airlines will charge $25 to check your golf clubs if it’s your first bag and $35 if it’s your second checked bag. If it’s over the 50-pound weight limit, an oversized baggage fee of $100 to $200 will apply.

Other considerations –

  • They accept one golf bag per customer containing clubs, balls, and golf shoes.
  • All items must be properly encased in a heavy, rigid carrying case (they don’t assume any liability for damaged golf clubs in soft travel cases.)
  • Golf bags exceeding the 62-inch limit will still be checked as regular baggage, however, if they exceed 50 pounds you will be charged the appropriate oversized baggage fees.
  • Your golf bag’s arrival might be delayed upon landing because of how United loads and unloads oversize baggage.

Cost To Check A Golf Bag With Allegiant Airlines

The cost of checking your golf clubs with Allegiant Airlines depends on when you decide to check your luggage.

For example, if you check your baggage at the same time you book your flight, you’ll be charged $18 to $41 per bag. Pre-departure, you’ll be charged $45 per bag, and at the airport, you’ll need to pay as much as $50 per bag.

For bags weighing more than 40 pounds, a fee of $50 will be applied.

Other considerations –

  • Allegiant Airlines specifies that your golf bag may contain clubs, golf balls, and shoes.
  • Oversized baggage fees may be waved for golf bags exceeding the length limit, but NOTthe 40-pound weight limit.
  • They recommend transporting your clubs in a hard-case golf travel bag.

*Important: unlike most other airlines that charge an oversize baggage fee for luggage over 50 pounds, Allegiant considers bags 40 pounds or more to be oversized and will apply a fee of $50.

For those of you who’ve done your fair share of golf travel, you’ll know that these 10 pounds actually make a really big difference – it’s pretty easy to keep the weight of your golf bag below 50 pounds, but 40 is pushing it.

You might need to pack fewer golf balls and hope you keep it in the fairway!

Cost To Check A Golf Bag With Spirit Airlines

You can expect to pay between$21 and $50 to check your golf clubs with Spirit Airlines if it’s your first checked bag, $31 to $60 if it’s your second bag, and $75 to $100 if it’s your third bag. Rates will vary depending on if bags are checked during booking or at the airport.

On top of that, you’ll be charged an oversized baggage fee of $30 if your golf bag is between 41 and 50 pounds, or $55 if it’s between 51 and 70 pounds.

Other considerations –

  • You won’t be charged for oversize baggage if your golf bag is more than the 63-inch limit.
  • You’re also permitted to check a pull cart if it’s attached to your golf bag.
  • Your golf bag may include 14 clubs, 12 balls, and one pair of shoes.
  • You will be required to sign a limited liability agreement.
  • A hard-shell carrying case is recommended.

Cost To Check A Golf Bag With WestJet

Checking your golf clubs with Westjet will cost $30 if it’s your first bag, $50 if it’s your second bag, and $100 if it’s your 3rd or 4th bag. That’s assuming they weigh less than 50 pounds. If not, an oversized baggage fee of $100 to $118 will be applied.

Other considerations –

  • Only one golf bag is accepted per guest and it may contain clubs, golf balls, and golf shoes.
  • Golf bags with tripods need to be taped or secured in place.
  • Oversize fees due to length will be waved, but excess weight charges will apply.
  • They recommend packing your golf clubs in a hard-shell carrying case.

Cost To Check A Golf Bag With Jetblue

The price to check your golf clubs with Jetblue will be $35 if it’s your first bag, $45 if it’s your second bag, and $150 if it’s your third bag. Like many other airlines, this is assuming your bag weighs less than 50 pounds. If you exceed this weight, a charge of $150 will apply.

Other considerations –

  • Jetblue specifies that a golf bag may contain no more than 14 clubs, 3 balls, and one pair of shoes.
  • A hard-shell carrying case is recommended.
  • Jetblue does not accept liability for clubs transported in a soft carrying case that get damaged.

Cost To Check A Golf Bag With Southwest Airlines

It is free to check golf clubs with Southwest Airlines if they’re one of your first two checked bags and weigh less than 50 pounds. If your golf bag weighs more than 50 pounds, a fee of $75 will apply.

For additional bags (more than two), you’ll be charged a fee of $75 as well.

Other considerations –

  • Golf bags are permitted to contain golf balls, clubs, and shoes.
  • Golf bags stored in soft-sided carrying cases will be subject to limited release.
  • Southwest Airlines recommends a hard-cover carrying case for all golf clubs.

Cost To Check A Golf Bag With Air Canada

Checking your golf clubs with Air Canada will cost $30 if it’s your first bag and $50 if it’s your second bag. Golf bags weighing more than 50 pounds will be charged an oversized baggage fee of $100.

Other considerations –

  • Golf bags exceeding the length limit of 63 inches will not be charged additional fees, assuming they weigh less than 50 pounds.
  • Your golf bag may include approximately 14 clubs, 12 balls, and one pair of shoes.
  • Golf clubs must be carried in a hard-cover case, or else they may not be accepted.
  • They are not responsible for damages due to poor quality carrying cases.

Cost To Check A Golf Bag With Frontier Air

Frontier Air charges $34 to $60 to check your golf bag if it’s your first bag, $39 to $55 if it’s your second, and $85 to $95 if it’s your third. You’ll pay less if you check your bags at the time of booking and more if you check them at the gate.

An oversized baggage fee of $75 will also apply if your golf bag weighs more than 50 pounds.

Other considerations –

  • Golf bags may include golf shoes and golf clubs.
  • People checking golf bags must allow an extra 30 minutes for check-in.
  • Frontier is not responsible for damages to golf clubs not packed in a hard-sided case.

Cost To Check A Golf Bag With Alaska Airlines

You will be charged $30 to check your golf bag on Alaska Airlines if it’s your first bag, $40 for your second bag, and $100 for any additional bags. If your golf bag weighs more than 50 pounds, you will need to pay an additional $100.

The 4 Most Important Price Considerations When Checking Golf Clubs

Here are the most important factors to consider when trying to figure out how much you’ll have to pay to check your golf clubs.

Weight

Most airlines will also charge additional fees for bags exceeding a weight limit of 50 pounds. From the 11 airlines researched, the oversized baggage fee averaged $108.

Not sure how much your clubs will weigh?

Consider this:

An average golf bag containing 14 steel-shafted clubs, 12 golf balls, and one pair of shoes weighs between 20 and 30 pounds. The average hard-sided golf carrying case weighs about 5 to 15 pounds.

Combined, this adds up to a total of 25-45 pounds, which is comfortably below the 50-pound weight limit enforced by most airlines.

Length of Your Golf Bag

If you’re worried about your golf clubs exceeding the length limit for the airline you’re flying with, it’s helpful to know that this might not be as big of an issue as you think.

Although many airlines charge an oversized baggage fee for luggage exceeding 62 inches, nearly all of them will wave this fee for golf clubs – as long as they’re below the weight limit.

However, on rare occasions you might find that some airlines do charge an additional fee for golf bags exceeding their length limit, so you should always double-check before booking your flight.

Number Of Other Checked Bags

Sometimes airlines will charge you different prices to check your bag depending on how many you have. This might skew the price you’ll need to pay to check your golf clubs. For example, if you need to check two bags (your golf clubs and one other), the first bag might be significantly cheaper.

So, if you can pack most of your clothes in your carry-on bag so that you only need to check your golf bag, you’ll likely save a decent amount of money.

Different airlines have different policies when it comes to checking multiple bags. This brings us to the next factor that might influence how much you’ll need to pay to check your golf clubs…

The Airline You Fly With

As you can tell from reading the information above, the airline you select can make a significant difference in how much you’ll need to pay to check your golf clubs.

For example, some airlines will charge more depending on when you check your bags or how many you have.

Also, when deciding on the right airline for your golf trip, remember to ask yourself…

  • How much do they charge for oversized baggage?
  • What am I allowed to include in my golf bag?
  • How much do they charge for extra bags?
  • Will they compensate me for any damages to my golf clubs during the flight?

The Takeaway – How Much Does It Cost To Check Your Golf Bag At The Airport?

The cost to check your golf bag at the airport will depend on the airline you fly with, the number of bags you need to check, and whether or not your bag is within the permitted weight limit. In general, one can expect to pay about $30 if your golf bag is your first checked back and $39 if it’s your second checked bag.

However, an important thing to keep in mind is that most airlines will not be responsible for damages to your clubs unless they are packed in a hard-case travel bag.

If you don’t already have one, I recommend checking out some of the hard-case golf travel bags available on Amazon here. They might just save you hundreds of dollars in damages in the future!

So, that’s how much it will cost you to check your golf clubs on a plane. Be sure to keep this post in mind when planning your next golf trip!

Travis
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