I'm going to Hawaii in March and would like to take along a kite to fly (a stunt kite). It's very lightweight, obviously, but is too long to fit in a suitcase. Anyone ever done anything like this? How do you "pack" it? Can I carry it on? (Flying United, I think.)

(I just posted this in the lounge and then realized i should have put it here, instead. Sorry about the double posting.)

Thanks,
Karen

Of course, you can carry it on if it breaks down into a size that meets the carry-on requirements. I'd consider a map/architectural plans case with a strap, assuming it would fit in that.

The trouble is it's too long for carry-on. I don't know of a way to make it "checkable" because it's both long and fragile. I may not be able to take it.

"Long" and "too long" are terms that are pretty vague, and make your question unanswerable.

Measure it, then call the airline and ask them how you can take it with you. People do take things as long as skis.

It's 42 inches long x 5 inches wide x 1 inch deep when it's in its (soft) nylon case, and it weighs about a pound.

I was hoping someone might have had first-hand experience and could offer a way of packing it that would save me from going through the multiple phone menus of the airline. If not, then yes, I'll call them. Thanks.

"<i>I was hoping someone might have had first-hand experience and could offer a way of packing it that would save me from going through the multiple phone menus of the airline. </i>"

Even if some one had carried on a 42 inch kite (semi-doubtful IMO), that wouldn't really answer your question. In case you hadn't heard - carry on/security rules change. What may or may not have been allowed 4 months ago wouldn't necessarily fly today.

Call the airline.

We have flown with fishing rods many times.Sporting goods stores sell hard travel cases that can be checked with your luggage.Your kite should fit in the case.

Thank you, njsusan - that was helpful - exactly what I needed! Had thought about a ski case of some sort, but that would be waaay too big. Fishing poles hadn't occurred to me.

I think the width might be too much for a fishing rod case. but it should be fairly easy to find a cardboard box that would suffice, possibly with a little alteration. Places that rent trucks for self home movers usually have a stock of various packing materials for sale. Or the place you got the kite might have something.

Our case is from Cabela's and is 6 inches x 56 inches.It should fit.

If you can't find a carryon big enough, maybe you should consider shipping it ahead?

The rod case is a great idea. I've been to China a couple of times and each time have brought a few kites back. (They are *really* cheap there.) I just tied them all together with ribbon and ended up with an item which was about 45" long by 3" square. Nobody every questioned the package. Once I simply asked the FA to stand it up in the back of the closet and the other time put it in an overhead on top of everything else. No problem.

Granted the last time I did that was last September...

A shipping tube might work. Not a whole lot that are 5" in diameter.

Like the adjustable ones shown here:
http://www.yazoomills.com/mailing-tu...-shipping.aspx
But that site sells cases of tubes.

Seems like rectangular tubes are more likely to be the length you need.

At the link below they have a square tube 5"x5"x43" that you can buy for $1.42
http://www.tripack.com/