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cedricverdier · 25th September 2006, 01:20

Hi all,

After having spent the last few year travelling with my Meg, I had the feeling that the check-in counter staff became less and less flexible when it comes to excess luggage.

I'm now in the middle of an expedition for the national Geographic and the multiple trips give me the opportunity to fine-tune my techniques to deal with the always-decreasing luggage allowance and the always-increasing security restrictions.

I travel with 3 bags and a pouch:
- I found the perfect trolley bag exactly the length of the Meg canister (see picture) that I can keep as a carry-on luggage. It also contains my computers and FFM, along with some fragile personal stuff. Total weight: 21kg... but it's quite small nobody checks the weight.

- I have a small waist pouch where I carry all my 1st stage regs and tank valves. 5kg of metal around my waist (I like the funny noise it makes while going through the metal detector)

- I use a laptop computer bag with a small computer and plenty of space for a lot of other heavy stuff. Weight: 10kg

- I finally have a bigger wheel bag that containts the rest of my dive gear (2 aluminium 3L tanks with no valves) and a few clothes. Total weight around 26kg. With a nice smile, nobody asks for any excess luggage fees.

Total weight: 21 + 5 + 10 + 26 = 62kg !!

If I have some extra (and light) things I have no space for (clothes, books), I simply get a plastic bag at one of the shops in the airport. Check-in counter staff never check these plastic bags as they're most the time filled with cigarettes, magazines, etc

So far this strategy works fine: Everything heavy and compact is in the carry-hand bags. Everything light and bulky is checked in.
Hope it helps other travelling rebreather divers...

Cheers