Can You Bring A Soccer Ball On A Plane?

Last Updated on October 31, 2023 by Alex PT

Yes, you can bring a deflated soccer ball on a plane as part of your carry-on or checked baggage. However, it’s important to ensure it complies with the airline’s policies on sports equipment and inflatables.

Can you pack a football in your luggage?

Yes, you can pack a football in your checked luggage when traveling by air. However, there are a few considerations to keep in mind:

  1. Deflation: It’s a good practice to partially deflate the football to prevent any damage due to changes in air pressure during the flight. Overinflated balls may expand or become damaged.
  2. Carry-On: While it’s generally fine to pack a football in your checked luggage, you may want to double-check with your airline regarding their specific policies. Some airlines may allow small sports equipment in carry-on bags.
  3. Airline Policies: Different airlines have varying policies on sports equipment, so it’s advisable to review your airline’s guidelines for packing sports equipment in checked luggage. This information is usually available on the airline’s website.
  4. Baggage Allowance: Be aware of any additional fees associated with checked sports equipment, as oversized or overweight baggage might incur extra charges.
  5. Protective Packaging: To prevent any damage to the football during handling and transportation, consider placing it in a durable bag or wrapping it in clothing within your luggage.
  6. Security Screening: Keep in mind that airport security may need to inspect your luggage, so having the football accessible for screening can help expedite the process.

How should you pack your football?

To pack your football for travel, follow these steps to ensure it arrives safely:

  1. Deflation: Partially deflate the football to prevent any damage due to changes in air pressure during the flight. Release enough air to make it slightly softer.
  2. Cleaning: Clean the football if it’s dirty, as soil or debris can attract unwanted attention during security checks.
  3. Protection: Place the deflated football inside a protective bag or sleeve. You can use a specialized sports equipment bag or a simple drawstring bag.
  4. Padding: Add additional padding, such as clothing or soft items, around the football to protect it from impact or pressure. Ensure it’s well-cushioned inside your luggage.
  5. Positioning: Position the football in a central location within your luggage to distribute the pressure evenly and avoid placing heavy items on top of it.
  6. Secure Packaging: Make sure your luggage is securely packed, and all items are firmly in place to prevent shifting during travel.
  7. Labeling: Place a luggage tag on your bag with your contact information, including your name and phone number.
  8. Security Screening: When passing through airport security, be prepared to remove the football for separate screening, as sports equipment may require additional inspection.
  9. Check Airline Policies: Before packing, review the specific policies of your airline regarding the transportation of sports equipment in checked luggage. This information is often available on the airline’s website.
  10. Travel Insurance: Consider travel insurance, especially if your football has significant value. This can provide coverage in case of loss or damage.

Size Of The Sports Equipment That You Can Bring On A Plane 

The most common thing that prevents people from being able to take their sports equipment as a carry-on is the size of the equipment. For instance, skis and surfboards vastly exceed the carry-on size limitations and most airports will never allow you to take them as a carry-on. However, if you want to bring on something with an intermediate size like a travel-sized yoga mat, it will be accepted by most airports. It is advisable to check the specific rules of your airline concerning sports equipment as checked luggage. 

Safety Problems With Sports Equipment As Carry-On

As we all know most pieces of sports equipment can be used as weapons. For this reason, TSA and some other nation’s security organizations will stop you from bringing on certain sports equipment on a plane. Some of these include hockey sticks, pool cues, cricket bats or baseball, ski poles, golf clubs, any sort of hunting or sporting knives, arrows and bows, and most martial arts equipment. 

Specific Equipment Types

If you want to bring your sports equipment on a plane, you must look out for airline recommendations. However, in general, if the sports equipment you want to take with you is not a security risk and suits the size limit of the airports, then you can take it as a carry-on.

Balls In Carry-On

Most balls, like soccer basketball, baseballs, and soccer balls, are allowed to be taken as carry-on luggage. But make sure you deflate them and secure them in your bag so they will not be around and get lost.

Balls that you can inflate like footballs, soccer balls, basketballs, etc., should be deflated to keep them in your carry-on luggage. This is essential because, during flight, pressure changes, and a fully inflated sports ball at sea level will blow up in the plane because of the pressure. So make sure you deflate your soccer balls even before you check in for a flight. 

Skates In Carry-On

Rollerblades, ice skates, and roller skates are normally permitted to be brought on as carry-on luggage. People don’t wear their skates on the plane though.  

Tennis Rackets In Carry-On

As far as TSA is concerned, tennis rackets are allowed. However, you should look out for the carry-on size limitations of the airline you’re flying with to make sure it doesn’t affect your decision to bring a tennis racket on a plane. 

Motorcycle Helmets In Carry-On

Also, you need to check your airline’s rules and regulations. Know if they will permit you to bring a motorcycle helmet 

If you are a sports enthusiast and would prefer to travel with your personalized sports equipment, then you need to know if the airline permits the equipment in your carry-on luggage and which equipment fits in your checked bag. However, you might want to consider renting if you can’t pack all or even any of your personalized sports equipment at your destination. 

Generally, when you’re getting ready for a flight, you may be wondering, what can I bring on as a carry-on bag? And to be honest that’s the right question to ask yourself.

To be honest, you have to pay close attention to your airline’s luggage allowance and regulations, taking into account weight and dimensions restrictions. In addition, wherever you are flying, there will surely be regulations concerning what you can and cannot bring along on the airplane. For instance, the TSA, known as the Transportation Security Administration has a long list of things that are strictly restricted, as they exemplify a safety risk or potential security. However, the rules generally differ depending on the kind of baggage; carry-on bag, which moves to the checked luggage or overhead bin in the cabin. To make things very easy for you, we’ve compiled a list is what you can bring on a plane and, perhaps more greatly, what you must leave at home and not take to the airport.  

What Can You Bring On A Plane?

The following things are allowed on a plane. However, note that some may be strictly prohibited from only one kind of luggage. Also, note that the final say rests with the TSA agent at the checkpoint. 

Flammables

Flammables that can be loaded in both checked and carry-on bags; Cigars and cigarettes are permitted in both hold luggage and carry-on bags. The same applies to phone chargers and dry batteries such as (D, C, AAA, and AA). You can also bring solid candles on a plane. You can also come with flammable that can easily be packed in a carry-on, but only under TSA restrictions in checked bags; Zippo and disposable lighters can be packed inside your hand baggage. Also, if the lighters do not have fuel in them, you can pack them in your checked bag. Furthermore, you can bring your devices with lithium batteries of 100 watt-hours or less on the plane in the hold or the cabin. 

Flammables should be packed in the cabin bags only; Lithium batteries with more than 100 watt-hours are strictly disallowed in checked bags, although they may be allowed onboard by most airlines upon arrival. Portable chargers and power banks with a lithium-ion battery are only permitted in a carry-on. Safety matches are also allowed as carry-on items although they are limited to one book per passenger. 

Flammables that should be packed in checked bags only; Most self-defense sprays like pepper spray are permitted in your checked bag, provided that they do not exceed 118ml (4 fl. Oz) and it is designed with a safety mechanism. Also, Gel-type candles can be brought on board only when packed in the baggage that will not go in the cabin, but only the hold. 

Firearms

Only a rifle scope and firearm holster can be carried in the cabin. Some equipment or firearms can be taken to the plane and packed in a piece of checked luggage, under strict restrictions. Generally, all passengers willing to bring firearms should check for their airline’s regulations and also check the law, which may differ depending on the international, state, and local government. When they are accepted, rifles and firearms must be emptied, packed in a locked sturdy-sided container, and proclaimed to the airline at check-in TSA. A small amount of ammunition and arms are permitted by certain airlines, usually packed in metal, fiber, or wood boxes. Pellet guns, starter pistols, BB guns, and compressed air guns may also be permitted. 

Major parts of OD firearms and guns ( e.g. bolts, magazines, clips, etc.) are disallowed in the cabin but may be permitted in the hold. 

Household & Tools

Household tools and items that should be packed in both checked bags and carry-on baggage: Curling irons with cords, toothbrushes, vacuum robots, pillows, airbrush makeup machines, electric razors, solid deodorants, tampons, and breast pumps can be carried in either bag. This also goes with video game consoles, speakers, DVD Players, cell phones, tablets, iPods, extension cords, radios, selfie sticks, desktop computers, and printers. 

Bottle openers, license plates, corkscrews (with no blade), LED lights, light bulbs, staplers, duct tape, flashlights, utensils, forks, coat hangers, and graters can also be brought in either a carry-on or hold luggage. Baby powders are permitted in both checked bags and cabins. However, powder-like items bigger than 350ml should be kept in a separate bin at the security checkpoint. 

Other items that contain blades like blenders and other multi-tools are permitted in the cabin only if you or the TSA officials have removed their blades. Deodorant (liquid and aerosol), hand sanitizers, liquid detergents, and lotion should be kept in small containers that do not exceed 100ml. 

Food

Generally, you can bring gel or liquid-type food in your carry-on only if the small container does not exceed 100 (3.4 oz) and is suited in a plastic that is transparent and resealable bag. It is advisable to bring an emptied water bottle to the security checkpoints and fill it later. Solid food can be brought in both checked bags and carry-on. 

Food items that should be packed in both luggage and hand baggage: Alcoholic beverages are permitted insofar as they incorporate less than 70% of alcohol. They are accountable to the restrictions above. Additionally, TSA officials may limit the alcohol amount to 5 liters per passenger in checked bags if they contain between 24 and 70% alcohol. However, if they contain alcohol less than 24%, there are no limitations.  

Baby food is permitted only if brought in reasonable quantities. You will be asked to remove these baby foods from your carry-on at the security checkpoint. Juices, breast milk, and baby formula are also permitted in small, reasonable quantities. 

Liquid chocolate, creamy cheese, and liquid coffee are subject to mostly 100 restrictions when moved into the cabin. So also, syrup, oil, yogurt, ice cream, peanut butter, hummus, juice, and jam. Coffee beans, cereal, candy, bottled water, pizza, solid chocolate, gum, bread, energy powder, candy, and solid cheese are permitted in both checked bags and cabins. The same goes for sandwiches, crackers, cakes, and pies, cookies dried fruits, and any other kinds of snacks that can be packed in both types of bags. 

Conclusion 

We’ve come to the end of this article. We hope you enjoyed every bit of it. Most importantly, we hope you found resources about what you should and should not bring on a plane. Thanks!

References:

https://simpleflying.com/footballs-on-airliners-guide/
https://yoursoccerhome.com/will-a-soccer-ball-pop-on-an-airplane-helpful-travel-tips/

 

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