It’s easy enough to collapse a beach chair and put it in your trunk when you drive to the local beach, but what happens if you want to take your favorite beach furniture to a more exotic location? You can bring beach chairs on various modes of transport, including planes, but there are several rules that you’ll need to familiarize yourself with first.
Continue reading if you’re wondering how to travel with beach chairs and want answers to some frequently asked questions about transporting your favorite furniture.
Can I Take A Beach Chair On An Airplane?
Yes, you can. You can check in a beach chair just as you would check in any other piece of luggage.
Ideally, you’ll want to fold the chair and place it in your checked bag. However, if this isn’t an option, you can pay for the additional size and weight to transport your furniture.
The best beach chairs to take on a plane are those which are compact and lightweight for easy maneuvering.
Can You Take A Beach Chair On An American, United, Southwest, Or Delta Airlines Flight?
Yes, it’s easy enough to check a beach chair on any of these flights. They aren’t sensitive objects, so don’t face any restrictions on that front. They will, however, cost an additional fee if they exceed the size and weight allowance of your checked-in baggage.
The baggage allowance of each airline is as follows:
American Airlines
- Maximum weight of checked bag to all destinations except New Zealand and Australia: 50lbs
- Maximum weight of checked bag for travelers to New Zealand or Australia: 70lbs
- Maximum size of checked bag: 62 inches (length+width+height)
- Maximum dimensions of oversized bag: 126 inches (length+width+height)
- Maximum weight of oversized bag:100lbs
The cost of oversize and overweight baggage varies depending on the destination:
| Oversize baggage - 62 inches - 126 inches | |
|---|---|
| Travel Destination | Fee - per person, one way |
| U.S, Canada, Puerto Rico, Virgin Island | $200 |
| Central America, Mexico, Caribbean, Guyana, Suriname | $200 |
| South American (exc. Guyana and Suriname) | $150 |
| Europe, Israel, Qatar | $150 |
| Japan, China, India, Hong Kong, South Korea, New Zealand, Australia | $200 |
| Overweight baggage - Fee - per person, one way | ||
|---|---|---|
| Travel Destination | 51lbs - 70lbs | 71lbs - 100lbs |
| U.S, Canada, Puerto Rico, Virgin Island | $100 | $200 |
| Central America, South America, Mexico, Caribbean (exc. Cuba) | $100 | $200 |
| Cuba | $100 | Not allowed |
| Europe, Israel, Qatar | $100 | Not allowed |
| Japan, China, India, Hong Kong, South Korea, New Zealand | $100 | $450 |
| Australia | $100 | Not allowed |
United Airlines
- Maximum weight of checked bag differs by class of service.
- United Economy – 50lbs
- United Business, First, or Polaris Business Class – 70lbs
- Maximum size of checked bag: 62 inches (length+width+height)
- Maximum weight of oversized bag: 100lbs
- Maximum dimensions of oversized baggage: 115 inches (length+width+height)
- United Airlines only accept excess baggage if there is room on the flight.
- Additionally, some destinations have different baggage rules.
- Auckland, Melbourne, and Sydney have a maximum baggage allowance of 70lbs.
- Honduras limits travelers to two checked bags weighing up to 50lbs. Excess baggage, including overweight or oversize items, is not allowed.
Southwest Airlines
- Your first two checked bags are free to fly
- Maximum weight of checked bag: 50lbs
- Maximum size of checked bag: 62 inches (length+width+height)
- Any additional bags that are 62 inches or less and don’t exceed the weight limit of 50lbs cost $75 each way
- Excess baggage (baggage that exceeds the size or weight limitations) costs $75 + applicable oversize/overweight charges.
- Maximum dimensions: 100lbs and 80 inches in size (anything that exceeds this is considered Air Cargo)
Delta Airlines
- Your first standard checked bag is $30, and your second is $40.
- Maximum weight of checked bag: 50lbs
- Maximum weight of checked bag for Delta One, First, and Business class passengers: 70lbs
- Maximum size of checked bag: 62 inches (length+width+height)
- No excess baggage is permitted on flights to or from Mexico.
- Excess baggage fees apply to any luggage that exceeds these limitations.
How To Travel With Beach Chairs On A Plane
Once you establish the rules and limitations of your airline provider, you’ll be relying on your packing skills to accommodate the design of your chair.
Compact and lightweight beach chairs are the easiest to travel with. They can fold easily and should fit into your checked-in bag. These include backpack beach chairs that take up minimal space.
These types of chairs are particularly great if you’re suffering from bad knees. Beach chairs for bad knees tend to feature a high seat that allow you to keep your knees at a normal distance from the ground’s surface.
They make it much easier for you to get up without causing too much stress on your knees.
Another factor is the weight of your chair. Ideally, you’ll want a lightweight design as the checked baggage restriction on most airplanes is 50lbs.
If you have something like a zero-gravity beach chair that weighs 20lbs by itself, you’ll struggle to accommodate it within your checked-in luggage. You may therefore need to pay for it as a separate piece of checked-in baggage.
Can I Take A Beach Chair In My Carry On Luggage?
There are no security restrictions against you taking a beach chair as part of your carry-on luggage. However, the size and weight dimensions are much smaller for carry-on than checked-in baggage.
Chances are, your beach chairs will exceed the weight or dimensions required for carry-on luggage. It is therefore a much better idea to include them with your checked-in bags.
Which Are The Best Beach Chairs To Pack Into A Suitcase?
The best beach chairs to pack into your suitcase are those which are lightweight and compact.
Camping chairs are an ideal style to travel with. These are designed for carrying around and possess lightweight and compact qualities.
Which Are The Best Beach Chairs To Travel With?
There are many beach chairs available, but some are better for traveling than others:
Folding Chairs
A folding chair is a simple, widely available chair that is lightweight and ideal for traveling.
As the name suggests, this type of beach chair often folds down into a much smaller size. This makes them a perfect traveling companion.
The only drawback is that this type of chair is one of the simplest on the market. It is therefore unlikely to possess any fancy mechanisms that allow you to adjust to position or recline.
Lounge Chairs
This type of beach chair is longer and lower to the ground. The significant feature that this type of chair offers is that it’s totally adjustable and allows you to get into the most comfortable position.
Plus, some high-end models possess ergonomic upgrades.
These are perfect for people with back problems, but you’ll need to source a collapsable version as some models are large, bulky, and not suitable for traveling.
Sand Chairs
This type of chair is perfect if you’re looking for a fashionable alternative to the lounger, and they are more stable on the sand than many other models.
They aren’t great for people with back problems, though, and again, you’ll need to source a collapsable model that folds down to a transportable size.
How To Travel With Beach Chairs If I Have Multiple Items.
If you’re looking to pack a single beach chair, you can likely source a collapsable model that will fit into your carry-on bag, but if you’re looking to pack multiple chairs for your family, you may need to look for an alternative solution.
One way of doing this is to bundle multiple beach chairs together and pack them into a duffle bag.
If you can package the chairs together, keeping the weight and dimensions within the checked baggage allowance, you’ll be able to save yourself some money on excess baggage fees.
It’s also a good idea to think about how you are going to store your beach chairs at your hotel or rental home as they can take up quite a large amount of space.
Again, foldable chairs are ideal in this scenario.
Final Thoughts: How To Travel With Beach Chairs
At the end of the day, if you want to take your beach chairs on vacation with you, you can do this, but you may end up paying additional fees.
All airlines have size and weight limitations, and you’ll save yourself a bit of money if you can pack your beach chair into a suitcase.
Otherwise, pack the chairs in a separate bag and ensure that their weight does not exceed 50lbs as this is the maximum allowance for most types of travel.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can You Bring Beach Chairs On A Plane?
You can take a beach chair on a plane, though every airline is different, so it’s essential to check the rules and regulations before you fly.
In general, airlines offer checked-in baggage with a maximum weight of 50lbs and dimensions less than 62 inches.Can You Fit A Beach Chair In A Suitcase?
It all depends on the style of beach chair that you pick. If you’re planning on doing a lot of travel, it may be best to purchase a beach chair that is designed to meet airline requirements.
There are many options available for folding and collapsable chairs that are comfortable, stylish, and portable.Can I Carry Furniture On A Flight?
You can carry furniture on a flight, though you will most likely need to include it with your checked baggage. If it exceeds the size or weight restrictions, you will need to pay extra fees.
In addition, certain destinations have restrictions on excess baggage, so it pays to do your research before you arrive at the airport.Can I Fly With Boxes?
Every airline is different, but most allow you to travel with a box in place of a suitcase. However, there are some destinations – such as Mexico and other parts of Central America – where you cannot use cardboard boxes as part of your luggage.
If you’re deviating from the standard guidelines for flight baggage, always check the allowance with your provider ahead of time.
References
https://community.southwest.com/t5/Travel-Policies/Beach-Chair-as-a-Checked-Bag/td-p/75705
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