Can You Bring a Tennis Racket on a Plane?

Ever wondered if you can bring your tennis racket on a plane while traveling? You are not the first, as many new professionals and avid players have faced this dilemma during their tennis journey. The answer you have been looking for is yes; however, this is not a simple approval, as there are a few rules that one must follow. You have to be well informed about this topic because it’s in the best interest of both your safety and comfort, as well, as it helps you keep the rackets secure from any damage during handling.

In this article, I have covered everything important you need to know, so keep scrolling!

Bringing A Tennis Racket As Carry-On Luggage

The usual standard length of a tennis racket is 27 inches (or 69 cm), which is the biggest issue when taking one as carry-on luggage, as it most likely would not fit, even when put in a diagonal position. In professional tennis, the length of a racket can be up to 29 inches sometimes, which makes things even more complicated, as security guidelines predetermine the luggage size.

That’s why your biggest challenge would be to pass your racket in the security checkpoints, where the airline agents can be very inconsistent with their decisions.

As for the luggage size, there are two main methods of measurement that most airlines rely on; 

• The set dimension method. The common size dimensions for carry-on luggage is 22″ x 14″ x 9″ (though this can sometimes vary, based on private airlines regulations). If your tennis racket does not fit inside luggage with these dimensions, you won’t be allowed to bring it to the place. 
• The linear inches method. This is basically the size limit in linear inches for carry-on luggage, which is the total sum of three dimensions; length, width, and height. If the airline has a limit of 45 linear inches, and your luggage is within this size or less but can fit in racket tennis, you will not have a problem at security checkpoints.

If your carry-on luggage has enough space to accommodate a tennis racket, you can take one or two at best. While there is no limit to the number of rackets you can carry, more would probably not fit, and even if somehow you make them fit, the lack of space can cause damage. 

Bringing A Tennis Racket As A Personal Item

For those who are wondering if you can take a tennis racket on a plane, the answer highly depends on the private airlines’ inner regulations. Some of them are much more flexible with the rules and allow passengers to take tennis rackets on board and stow them under the seat instead of luggage or a backpack. In this case, you can carry one or two rackets, as more can be harder to manage and probably would not fit. Usually, this is a perk that comes with a higher-priced plane ticket since the policies of low-cost flights are much stricter, as they rely on the profit from extra luggage fees. 

Bringing A Tennis Racket In Checked Baggage

One of the most common ways in which tennis rackets are allowed on the plane is by carrying them in checked baggage. You can spare yourself a lot of headaches with the security checkpoints and carry more rackets than just one or two, as you can put in your baggage as much as you want. 

When preparing your tennis bag for the flight, you might want to check on its weight to avoid the extra fees. For better protection of the rackets, it would be best if you put some extra pudding, or carry them in apart from the rest of your things, secured in a bag. 

Major Airline Carry-On Policies

Private airlines have their own inner policies regarding what is allowed as a carry-on bag; however, most of them are unclear when it comes to tennis rackets, as they don’t mention them specifically. When booking a plane ticket, always make sure to check the size limit of hand luggage dimensions, and if possible, look up their regulations. 

For the most part, the economy class of international flights will make it difficult for you to carry your tennis rackets, as the bag dimensions are usually small. It might take some luck and picking up a travel-size tennis bag to bring your rackets to the cabin with you. 

Here are the current rules for some of the most important airlines regarding tennis rackets as carry-on luggage. 

Airline	Hand luggage weight allowance	Hand luggage dimensions	Tennis racket carry-on
American Airlines	Not specified	56cm x 36cm x 23cm	Unclear if it’s allowed as hand luggage, but okay for the hold.
Air France	12 kg	55cm x 35cm x 25cm	Unclear. The company’s regulation doesn’t give any inst
Air Canada	Not specified	55cm x 40cm x 23cm.	Yes, it is allowed as long as the racket can fit in the overhead bin.
British Airways	23 kg	56cm x 45cm x 25 cm	Not allowed.
Aeroflot	10 kg	55cm x 40cm x 25cm	Yes, but only one racket is allowed, and it shouldn’t go over the weight limit.
Delta Airlines	Not Specified	56cm x 35 cm x 23 cm (linear dimensions 114 cm)	Unclear. If your hand luggage doesn’t go over the linear dimension of 114 cm, you will have no problems.
Easyjet	Not specified	56cm x 45 cm x 25 cm	Unclear, but they tend to be strict with their policies, so it’s unlikely to be allowed.
Emirates	7 kg	55cm x 38 cm x 20 cm	Unclear, but it’s okay for the hold.
Lufthansa	8 kg	55cm x 40 cm x 20 cm	Unclear, but it’s okay for the hold.
Qantas	10 kg	56cm x 35 cm x 23 cm	Unclear, but it can be placed on hold.
South West Airlines	Not specified	60cm x 40 cm x 25 cm	Yes, they recommend being carried on
Ryanair	Not specified	40cm x 25 cm x 20 cm	Not allowed
Turkish Airlines	8 kg	55cm x 40cm x 23 cm	Yes, but it is recommended to bring it in a special bag
United Airlines	Not specified	56 cm x 35 cm 22 cm	Yes, but you are allowed only one piece of tennis equipment as a carry-on bag.
Wizz Air	10 kg	40cm x 30 cm x 20 cm	Unclear, but they tend to be strict with their policies, so it’s unlikely to be allowed.

Problems Carrying Rackets

As you can probably tell yourself, most airlines don’t allow tennis rackets inside the cabin or have unclear instructions regarding them, which can leave many passengers confused. The biggest problem is making the racket fit within the travel-size bag or luggage due to their length, which is why the security checkpoint personnel are very inconsistent and flexible with their decision to allow tennis rackets as carry-on luggage or item. 

In a full-booked flight, the overhead bins of the plane would be full of carry-on items, in which the rackets can take up a lot of space. This is not so much of a problem if you are flying long distances with a larger plane, but for short trips where the planes are considerably smaller, it can be tricky to get your rackets approved by airport security. 

Packing and Protecting Tennis Rackets

One of the main concerns of many players when flying with their tennis gear is the safety of their equipment. It’s not unusual to have a racket damaged during a flight, as the airport staff is not exactly gentle, or due to the lack of ample space.

If you, too, are wondering how you can pack and protect your tennis rackets for air travel, some smart tips can help a great deal. 

First and foremost, make sure to fold your rackets with bubble wrap or any other protective material. Cutting your strings can also be a good idea, as cold temperatures can affect the racket tension rates. When choosing your travel luggage, you might as well go for a tennis bag that is small enough to pass the security checkpoints but has enough space to accommodate a racket or two. Just make sure to check in with the airline’s hand luggage dimensions first. 

Personal Experiences and Tips

In my personal experience, I have had no problems carrying my tennis rackets on flights. All I had to do was check up on the airlines’ luggage dimensions rules to ensure my backpack was travel size. Passing the checkpoints has the same standards as always, with no extra steps. 

However, not all airlines allow tennis rackets in the cabin, so one can never know for sure. When the plane is fully booked is always the risk of the agents refusing your right to carry a racket, so up to this point, I have to admit that I had been quite lucky. 

My advice is always to look up the airline regulations on their website, call an agent, and check the size of the plane beforehand. It might seem like a lot of work at first, but trust me; it’s better than trying to convince a strict staff member to let you keep the racket on the cabin. 

Conclusion

As I warned, bringing a tennis racket during a flight is not as easy as one might think. Even though the TSA rules allow rackets on planes’ cabins, the decisions of airlines or their agents can be arbitrary and not consistent. That’s why it’s important always to come prepared to avoid any bad surprises. 

To wrap it up, here is what you should do when traveling with your rackets. 

• Always consult first with the TSA rules and the guidelines of the airline you are traveling with to make sure that tennis rackets are allowed. The rules also depend on the country you currently are in, so please don’t presume that the rules are the same everywhere. 
• Look up the plane size to get a general idea of how big the overhead bins are.
• Check on the distance between your departure and destination, so you’ll know if your flight will be long or short. On shorter flights, you might have less storage space, and agents might be more strict with the items they allow in. 
• It would be better to take one or two tennis rackets with you, at max. If you need more, then make sure to carry them in individual bags so you don’t overpass the weight or dimensions limits. 
• Prepare for the worst! Even if you do anything right, and the airline allows tennis rackets, the agents can still take arbitrary decisions and prohibit you from taking them inside the cabin. 
• Make sure to take all the extra steps to protect your racket from damage. Bubble wrap doesn’t cost much money or time, but it can save you hundreds of dollars if you just remember to wrap your rackets with it. 

FAQs

Now that you’ve had a chance to learn more about the various aspects of bringing a tennis racket on a plane and the regulations of different airlines, there may be a few questions. Read on for answers to some of the most common questions pertaining to carrying tennis rackets on planes.