Just booked a flight and want to know are pickleball paddles allowed on planes? Keep reading.
Pickleball Paddles is a rapidly expanding sport and more picklers are keen ontaking their equipment on holiday with them. This leads many to wonder are pickleball paddles allowed on planes and the answer is yes.
The compact design of a pickleball paddle makes it easy to fit it in the overhead cabin bin or under the seat in front of you. Despite their hard nature, the TSA approves of their presence onboard aircrafts in the United States. However, the officer on duty always has the final say and the authority to allow goods through the security checkpoint.
I’ve traveled with a pickleball paddle in my onboard luggage on two occassions and its been fine. I don’t trust leaving it in my checked bags, based on past experience of broken golf clubs and tennis racquets appearing on the luggage carousel.
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TSA Rules About Carrying Pickleball Paddles
Here are the TSA guidelines for pickle paddle carry-on and checked baggage on flights:
Pickleball Paddles For Checked Luggage
If you’re lucky enough to have checked baggage for your flight fill up the space with your pickleball paddle. The TSA have approved the pickleball paddle for travelling in the baggage hold, it saves the schlep of lugging your paddle through airport security and adding weight to your backpack.
Pickleball Paddles In Your Carry On
It seems that the powers that be at the TSA also enjoy pickleball paddles because they allow you to take pickleball paddles onto the plane in your carry on luggage. This is perfect for short trips where you don’t need 50 lbs of luggage, unfortunately my sister didn’t get hat memo on a three day family trip we recently took.
Are Pickleball Paddles Allowed On Planes In Canada?
Yes pickleball paddles are allowed on planes in Canada, as per CATSA’s regulations. The provision extends to all racquets and balls, not only pickleball.
International Travel With Pickleball Paddles
Yes, in my experience you can take a pickleball paddle on the plane in South Africa, Australia, Europe, Argentina and Chile. In my experience, most countries and airlines have permitted me to carry a pickleball paddle onboard or in my checked luggage. However, not every country adopts the same rules, and I suggest checking with the airline before packing.
Read More Guides: How To Choose A Pickleball Paddle
Can You Take Paddles On Flights To Europe
Yes you can take a pickleball paddle on flights to Europe. The respondents we surveyed have had no issue with carrying paddles in their carry on and checked baggage. Two of the respondents visited Italy and Spain recently and took their paddles along without any hassle from TSA or authorities.
One of the respondents, I envy, has carried her paddle to Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom in recent years without hinderance from authorities.
Can TSA Confiscate My Paddle?
The TSA officer at security checkpoint has the authority to confiscate your paddle when it triggers an alarm during screening. Frustratingly, the TSA don’t say what might trigger the alarm to save other picklers from suffering the same fate as Mr Benson in the X (formerly Twitter) thread displayed below.
The incident occured in 2022, and the TSA have since updated their website permitting pickleball paddles on planes.
Verdict On Are Pickleball Paddles Allowed On Planes
After consulting the TSA guidelines, I am confident that they will allow pickleball paddles on planes. Since 2023, the agency has updated the regulations to specifically permit pickleball paddles as hand or cabin baggage on flights.
