[cedricverdier]

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

[Gibbon]

What hump?

[Sutty]

The last few trips I've done the check-in staff have insisted on weighing hand luggage even if small :-(
If you have someone with you (travelling or seeing you off) then get them to hold some small heavy items while you check in, the security check where your hand baggage is checked doesn't seem to be bothered about weight ;-)

Neil

[decoweenie]

Quote: (Originally Posted by Sutty)

...If you have someone with you (travelling or seeing you off) then get them to hold some small heavy items while you check in...

Very good sneaky suggestion! Have to remember this...

Have some green!

[mortenkjerulff]

Quote: (Originally Posted by Sutty)

The last few trips I've done the check-in staff have insisted on weighing hand luggage even if small :-(
If you have someone with you (travelling or seeing you off) then get them to hold some small heavy items while you check in, the security check where your hand baggage is checked doesn't seem to be bothered about weight ;-)

Neil

Actually, the last time I was in Stansted they were randomly checking the weight of handlugage just before the security check.
I do not know if this is the normal procedure now.

Security check looked rather surprised to find 3 first stages, a battery pack and a VR3 in the pockets of my jacket

Morten

[Gilles]

Quote: (Originally Posted by cedricverdier)

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


Cheers

magic

[jkaterenchuk]

I have not travelled much since I am newly ccr certified. However, on my recent trip within the USA I packed Inspo Scrubber, all hoses, electronics, Kent travel frame and other misc valuable stuff into a carry-on sized bag. On the trip back it weighed 49lbs/22kg. Here are a few pics of the packing in case its useful. Note that I actually had protective covering on the handsets when I originally packed the suitcase.

[cedricverdier]

Quote: (Originally Posted by Sutty)

The last few trips I've done the check-in staff have insisted on weighing hand luggage even if small :-(
If you have someone with you (travelling or seeing you off) then get them to hold some small heavy items while you check in, the security check where your hand baggage is checked doesn't seem to be bothered about weight ;-)

Neil

Hi

As I travel alone, I actually leave my heaviest carry-on luggage to a shop, a bar in the airport or simply the "left-luggage" office.

Cheers

[AD_ward9]

Quote: (Originally Posted by Ryanair Travel Advisory wrote:)

HAND BAGGAGE RESTRICTIONS – Updated 22nd September 2006

A checked baggage allowance of 20kg per passenger applies to each customer who has paid a checked bag fee. Any passenger checking in baggage exceeding their checked baggage allowance of 20kg per person (reducing to 15kg from the 1st November 2006) will be charged an excess baggage fee of £5.50/€8 per kilo (or local currency equivalent).Passengers may not use the unused checked baggage allowance of other passengers. No pooling/sharing of the checked baggage allowance is permitted, even within a party travelling on the same Confirmation Number.

Ryanair are a cheapo airline (tickets for one pound, taxes UKP30). At these rates it seems churlish to complain, but any baggage at all costs more: one has to pay to get any check in baggage at all (the "Checked bag fee"). This is one airline that does not check in Mr O. Boris, even though they do allow musical instruments on seats. The lastest reduction in allowance is a scam.

Just to alert anyone planning to use Ryanair for their diving to this, which you discover after buying the ticket. While not in the same ballpark as the lady who took exception to Dr Mike's new haircut, it does makes it comparable to the better regular airlines travelling with any dive kit. On KLM for example, I get 60kg free (40 checked, 20 carry) and can push that further: one item of sports kit is allowed extra foc. For Ryanair this baggage cost alone is twice that of a KLM ticket for a person plus baggage to the same destination.

I am flying RyanAir this morning, as they fly to an airport 150km from the normal airport for the city it claims to serve, but in this case, 20km from where I want to go. I have a breathing machine and rebreather to pack now ... heavy overcoat time. I received the above in my email this morning. Day of travel.
Cheers
Alex

[jhaaja]

Quote: (Originally Posted by Sutty)

The last few trips I've done the check-in staff have insisted on weighing hand luggage even if small :-(
If you have someone with you (travelling or seeing you off) then get them to hold some small heavy items while you check in, the security check where your hand baggage is checked doesn't seem to be bothered about weight ;-)

Neil

I have once managed to pass my carry-on bag to a fellow diver how had checked in his bag and walked behind me when I was starting to check my bags in. I just said quietly: "crab the handle and keep on walking". Third guy from our group got busted of too much luggagge. He had to pay 150e for 10kg from Helsinki to Budapest

JH