Going on a plane can be an exciting experience and taking the things you want to bring on holiday with you onto the flight can be important for some people.
Something that many flyers often wonder whether they can take onto the plane with them is a soccer ball as the shape and size of them aren’t particularly conducive to efficient packing.
In this short piece, we will be looking into whether or not you can take a soccer ball on a plane as well as how you should do it and what it can cost to do so.
Soccer balls are allowed to be taken on planes in the United States as they do not pose a threat to anyone else on the flight. Despite this, soccer balls are not usually taken onto planes and as such, you will have to pay a fee to bring one with you. The best way to take a soccer ball onto a plane with you is to deflate it and put it into your luggage.
What You Need To Do
There are a number of ways that you can bring a soccer ball onto a plane, however, it isn’t always a simple process.
The best way to bring the ball with you is to deflate it before you head to the airport, the reason for this is that most airlines have very strict baggage restrictions that passengers need to abide by before they are allowed onto the plane, you will also need to pass through airport security.
By deflating your soccer ball before any baggage checks take place, your ball will take up less space in your bag than if it were inflated.
Here’s an easy guide on how to deflate a soccer ball.
If you don’t want to deflate the ball you’re taking with you (or have no way of reinflating it) then there are other ways that you can bring it onto the plane with you.
In order to bring an inflated soccer ball onto a plane it needs to fit inside your bag and comply with the restrictions set by your airline, to check whether your ball is allowed on the plane you should always check on the airlines website before packing it.
You will likely have to pay an extra fee to bring a soccer ball onto a flight as they are not usually considered a ‘standard’ item to bring onto a plane with you.
Is It Expensive?
The cost of bringing a soccer ball onto a plane can vary depending on the airline you choose to fly with, for the most part, soccer balls can be included in your overhead luggage or can be placed in the hold along with the rest of the things you want to take with you.
Some premium airlines such as Emirates and Etihad allow for luggage to be placed in the hold of the plane as standard, whereas more budget-friendly brands such as Ryanair do not include hold luggage in their basic prices.
If you want to take a soccer ball with you on a budget flight then the chances are that you’ll have to pay a considerable amount to do so, this is not something that is exclusive to taking soccer balls on a plane but given the shape and size of them it is no surprise that it can prove expensive.
As an example, if you were to fly with Ryanair from any of their destinations it would cost between 35 and 40 Euros to add a soccer ball to your baggage.
Can I Bring Other Sports Equipment On With Me?
Soccer balls are one of the safest and cheapest pieces of sporting equipment that you can take onto a plane with you, but what other things can you take onto a flight?
Anything that has a blade or is deemed to be dangerous is not permitted to be taken onto a plane, so for those ice skaters out there, you could face problems if you want to take those with you.
The general rule for taking sports equipment is that the larger the piece of equipment is, the more expensive it will be to take it onto the flight with you.
Bikes and golf clubs tend to be the most expensive items to take on budget-friendly flights, with them costing around $60 per item to put into the hold. This can make the cost of your trip considerably higher.
Do You Really Need To Take a Soccer Ball With You?
This is a question that anybody wanting to take a soccer ball onto a plane should ask themselves before doing so as the costs may outweigh the benefits on the whole.
Given the easiness of finding soccer balls around the world, it doesn’t really make sense for the average fan to bring one with you, especially if you’re putting it in the hold.
The recent chaos at airports across Europe (notably if you’re travelling to the UK) has led to a lot of luggage becoming lost in transit meaning that there is a chance that your ball could get lost too!
If you are planning to take a large number of soccer balls onto a plane with you it may make more sense as they are less likely to be misplaced. You may also be able to negotiate a better deal with your airline as a team taking a lot of equipment with you.
So, there we have it! You certainly can take a soccer ball onto a plane with you, and it is pretty easy to do. The main reason that may put you off doing it is that it will cost you quite a lot to do so.
All in all, I wouldn’t recommend bringing a soccer ball on holiday with you as it could get lost or damaged, instead you could buy a cheap ball to use wherever it is you travel to.
