I'm flying a national airline to my destination but not returning to the same area. Normally I would put my pack and racks inside a protecitive duffel that I'd store at the airport locker or in a car but I'm going directly to the trailhead instead.
I could strip the pack of straps and/or carry on the hardware [dont' try to carry crampons on] or I could use one of the many real good ideas you folks come up with.
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flying backpack as luggage
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This one is easy. United Airlines provides HUGE, extra heavy duty plastic bags FOR FREE. These bags will engulf even the biggest backpacks — and protect pack straps from menacing baggage conveyor belts. I used them when flying — and both pack and UL hiking poles came out completely unscathed.
Here in LAX — and also at Denver International — the bags (reams and reams of them) are actually placed out in the public area — so you don't even have to ask — just take what you need. I suspect other United terminals operate the same, but you might want to check ahead. Each bag weighs just 4-5 oz. — so I would recommend taking two — even though the bags can normally be reused.
Thanks Benjamin, as much as I hate just throwing something away, packrat 101, this seems like a good choice.
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