Check Mate, No GO Mexico!!

tecdivertraining · 1st June 2008, 08:27

Check mate, looks like my dream of diving the Mexican cenotes is still a dream as I sit in my mothering laws typing this post well pi**ed off.

I have not been back to the UK for over 4 years and I don’t plan on visiting again soon, the weather crap and so are the airports!!!

I had no problems until I got to the UK, Flying Phuket to Bangkok, Bangkok to Dubai, Dubai to London.

I just had an absolute nightmare at Birmingham airport in the UK on route to Mexico for some well earned holidays.

Its a long story but goes something like this. After check in I passed passport control and they refused to accept my rebreather as hand luggage, after long negotiation they insisted I check it in but it was not in a suitable bag for check in, so I was forced to remove my existing check bags and repack, after a one hour wait this was done and I was told I would have to check in again and start the process over. The only problem is in the bullshit process they released my seat to New York and the plane is now full!!!! What a joke. I am now on standby but cannot get a connecting flight on the same day to Huston. I’ve lost all patience and it looks like I’m lost in translation.

I really am pissed and to top it of my ticket is non-refundable and I will loose the airfare.

Just needed to get it off my chest,

If anyone fancies a dip in cold UK waters I’m stuck here until the 14th I promise I want moan to much.

Not such a great day.

lizardland · 1st June 2008, 08:56

Yeah, welcome back.

Travel out of Britain became a pain in the arse when the security went private. If Birmingham is anything like Liverpool Airport then I can imagine, some brain dead knob on minimum wage so doesn't give a toss grunting at you (possibly because he doesn't have much command of English), check in staff that want to check in as few people as possible and part you from as much cash as possible. BA by any chance? I thought air travel in the US was a pain but in the last few years British airports have gone to rat shit.

The UK is rapidly becoming the most anal country in the world.

Drmike · 1st June 2008, 08:57

Quote: (Originally Posted by tecdivertraining)

Check mate, looks like my dream of diving the Mexican cenotes is still a dream as I sit in my mothering laws typing this post well pi**ed off.

I have not been back to the UK for over 4 years and I don’t plan on visiting again soon, the weather crap and so are the airports!!!

I had no problems until I got to the UK, Flying Phuket to Bangkok, Bangkok to Dubai, Dubai to London.

I just had an absolute nightmare at Birmingham airport in the UK on route to Mexico for some well earned holidays.

Its a long story but goes something like this. After check in I passed passport control and they refused to accept my rebreather as hand luggage, after long negotiation they insisted I check it in but it was not in a suitable bag for check in, so I was forced to remove my existing check bags and repack, after a one hour wait this was done and I was told I would have to check in again and start the process over. The only problem is in the bullshit process they released my seat to New York and the plane is now full!!!! What a joke. I am now on standby but cannot get a connecting flight on the same day to Huston. I’ve lost all patience and it looks like I’m lost in translation.

I really am pissed and to top it of my ticket is non-refundable and I will loose the airfare.

Just needed to get it off my chest,

If anyone fancies a dip in cold UK waters I’m stuck here until the 14th I promise I want moan to much.

Not such a great day.

bastards!

really sorry to hear this Matt.

F_ck what a nightmare.

was wondering how you were getting on.

Hey look on the bright side - theres always Stoney

Its good to go back to the uk every now and then - just to remind myself why i left

rogeringebo · 1st June 2008, 10:36

Just came home to Sweden from the Philppines yesterday.
Yes I had a lot of gear

but they are so anal about it now a days.
They weigh everything even the carry on and refused one bag because it was to big.
The little lady from Malaysia Airlines took out her calculator and told me that I just had to pay the small sum of 2780 USD for overweight.

That was not a option. Had a mate come to the airport and half of my stuff is still in Manila and I had to cough up almost 900USD to just get the most vital gear home so I at least can get in the water......
Im not without sin as I had to much stuff but I have never had this much problems on my +25 flights with gear all over the world.
Some one said that the fuel is now so expensive so the airlines try to cut their losses by charging full out for overweight.
Before it was more like "thats a bit much but if you pay for 5kg overweight we dont care about the other 10" sort of.

Cheers
Rodge

Mike448 · 1st June 2008, 11:37

I recently flew with my rebreather home to South Africa to dive Sodwana Bay:
Fort Lauderdale -> Washington -> Johannesburg (SAfrica) - > George -> Johannesburg -> Frankfurt -> Malta

Everything went well with no baggage issues until I got to Frankfurt where they nailed me for overweight baggage for the final leg to Malta - bastards!

I fly quite often between USA, Euope and SA, and now avoid UK airports like the plague - their baggage rules change daily.

Sorry about Mexico by the way

Lancer4545 · 1st June 2008, 11:41

It's no wonder we are getting screwed....Someone has to pay the difference for all these discounted airfares!!!

I just got back from Malaysia via Singapore yesterday. Had absolutely no dramas with 2 big bags full of dive gear weighing in at 59kgs and the Meg as carry on in a roller case and a computer case. That was until I got back to Australia and they wouldn't let the Meg through and had to check it .......again!!!

And then to top it all off.....The majority of the airlines have now dropped the dive gear "Sporting Gear Allowance"

It seems we now have to pack all our dive gear into a golf caddy to get it through.

It sucks!!

Lance

jkaterenchuk · 1st June 2008, 12:28

Sorry for the problem Matt. I know how you feel. Last summer I lost the airfare and the cruise price when I was unable to show up in Italy for a cruise my wife and I had booked. Well over 10K pissed away because I could not get my passport renewed. I started 6 months in advance and they kept rejecting my pics. All taken at a registered passport photo place with the required camera. It took me 4 tries and a 10 hour drive to appear in person to get it done before I also got screwed out my last trip to Thailand.

I have been saying on the forum for a while now that everyone should beware of the changes with carry on bags. On the last trip to Thailand my carry on got randomly selected for weighing and of course it was close to 50 lbs with the CCR packed. Only option was to check in, pay $125 for a checked bag and hope and pray it arrived undamaged.

Can you not get scheduled on a flight leaving a day later?

John

jkaterenchuk · 1st June 2008, 12:32

Quote: (Originally Posted by Lancer4545)

It seems we now have to pack all our dive gear into a golf caddy to get it through.

It sucks!!

Lance

How about someone with a golf caddy trying to pack one with a CCR and posting some pics. I do not have one but would buy one if its a viable solution. I need to find someway around the carry-on problem as its only going to get worst.

John

zzzzzzzz · 1st June 2008, 13:44

Reverse thinking is in order:

Pack your clothing in the golf caddy, it packs easily in any container and will suit any shape.

Pack the Rebreather in regular luggage, the profile fits.

Yet another indication the world is going crazy...

solocavediver · 1st June 2008, 15:55

Matthew,

if you're serious about taking a dive we could work it that you dive some of what pass for British cavedives next Sunday. You will NOT be able to mistake them for Mexican cenotes, however. PM me with a contact number and I'll call you.

Cheers,

Charles.

Quote: (Originally Posted by tecdivertraining)

Check mate, looks like my dream of diving the Mexican cenotes is still a dream as I sit in my mothering laws typing this post well pi**ed off.

I have not been back to the UK for over 4 years and I don’t plan on visiting again soon, the weather crap and so are the airports!!!

I had no problems until I got to the UK, Flying Phuket to Bangkok, Bangkok to Dubai, Dubai to London.

I just had an absolute nightmare at Birmingham airport in the UK on route to Mexico for some well earned holidays.

Its a long story but goes something like this. After check in I passed passport control and they refused to accept my rebreather as hand luggage, after long negotiation they insisted I check it in but it was not in a suitable bag for check in, so I was forced to remove my existing check bags and repack, after a one hour wait this was done and I was told I would have to check in again and start the process over. The only problem is in the bullshit process they released my seat to New York and the plane is now full!!!! What a joke. I am now on standby but cannot get a connecting flight on the same day to Huston. I’ve lost all patience and it looks like I’m lost in translation.

I really am pissed and to top it of my ticket is non-refundable and I will loose the airfare.

Just needed to get it off my chest,

If anyone fancies a dip in cold UK waters I’m stuck here until the 14th I promise I want moan to much.

Not such a great day.

1st June 2008, 08:27	#1 (permalink)
tecdivertraining RebreatherWorld Sponsor Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Inspiration Vision Evolution Megalodon Ouroboros Dolphin Other Rebreather/s: Not Bought Yet Dolphin Join Date: May 2005 Location: Phuket, Thailand Posts: 418	Check Mate, No GO Mexico!! Check mate, looks like my dream of diving the Mexican cenotes is still a dream as I sit in my mothering laws typing this post well pi**ed off. I have not been back to the UK for over 4 years and I don’t plan on visiting again soon, the weather crap and so are the airports!!! I had no problems until I got to the UK, Flying Phuket to Bangkok, Bangkok to Dubai, Dubai to London. I just had an absolute nightmare at Birmingham airport in the UK on route to Mexico for some well earned holidays. Its a long story but goes something like this. After check in I passed passport control and they refused to accept my rebreather as hand luggage, after long negotiation they insisted I check it in but it was not in a suitable bag for check in, so I was forced to remove my existing check bags and repack, after a one hour wait this was done and I was told I would have to check in again and start the process over. The only problem is in the bullshit process they released my seat to New York and the plane is now full!!!! What a joke. I am now on standby but cannot get a connecting flight on the same day to Huston. I’ve lost all patience and it looks like I’m lost in translation. I really am pissed and to top it of my ticket is non-refundable and I will loose the airfare. Just needed to get it off my chest, If anyone fancies a dip in cold UK waters I’m stuck here until the 14th I promise I want moan to much. Not such a great day. __________________ Mathew Partridge Technical Director Pro-Tech Dive College www.protechdivers.com www.tech-ccr.com
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1st June 2008, 08:56	#2 (permalink)
lizardland Yak Current Rebreather/s: MK 15.X Home Build Other Rebreather/s: Classic Kiss Home Build Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: North... Posts: 1,234	Re: Check Mate, No GO Mexico!! Yeah, welcome back. Travel out of Britain became a pain in the arse when the security went private. If Birmingham is anything like Liverpool Airport then I can imagine, some brain dead knob on minimum wage so doesn't give a toss grunting at you (possibly because he doesn't have much command of English), check in staff that want to check in as few people as possible and part you from as much cash as possible. BA by any chance? I thought air travel in the US was a pain but in the last few years British airports have gone to rat shit. The UK is rapidly becoming the most anal country in the world. __________________ Can you imagine drifting along in the sea with your mouth open and a load of f***ing plankton going in? You'd like it, would you? www.westons-cider.co.uk Azerbaijani Association of Technical Divers Publicity Officer and Goat Wrangler
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1st June 2008, 08:57	#3 (permalink)
Drmike Custom Title Allowed! Current Rebreather/s: MK 15.X Ouroboros Other CCR Home Build Other Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Other CCR Home Build Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 3,128	Re: Check Mate, No GO Mexico!! Quote: (Originally Posted by tecdivertraining) Check mate, looks like my dream of diving the Mexican cenotes is still a dream as I sit in my mothering laws typing this post well pi*ed off. I have not been back to the UK for over 4 years and I don’t plan on visiting again soon, the weather crap and so are the airports!!! I had no problems until I got to the UK, Flying Phuket to Bangkok, Bangkok to Dubai, Dubai to London. I just had an absolute nightmare at Birmingham airport in the UK on route to Mexico for some well earned holidays. Its a long story but goes something like this. After check in I passed passport control and they refused to accept my rebreather as hand luggage, after long negotiation they insisted I check it in but it was not in a suitable bag for check in, so I was forced to remove my existing check bags and repack, after a one hour wait this was done and I was told I would have to check in again and start the process over. The only problem is in the bullshit process they released my seat to New York and the plane is now full!!!! What a joke. I am now on standby but cannot get a connecting flight on the same day to Huston. I’ve lost all patience and it looks like I’m lost in translation. I really am pissed and to top it of my ticket is non-refundable and I will loose the airfare. Just needed to get it off my chest, If anyone fancies a dip in cold UK waters I’m stuck here until the 14th I promise I want moan to much. Not such a great day. bastards! really sorry to hear this Matt. F_ck what a nightmare. was wondering how you were getting on. Hey look on the bright side - theres always Stoney Its good to go back to the uk every now and then - just to remind myself why i left __________________ Get a girlfriend you sad twat - a Rebreather is an unfaithful mistress - dont blind yourself to her faults just because she goes down on you Last edited by Drmike : 1st June 2008 at 08:59.*
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1st June 2008, 10:36	#4 (permalink)
rogeringebo Done with bubbles Current Rebreather/s: Pelagian Other Rebreather/s: Megalodon Classic Kiss Pelagian Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Stockholm Sweden Posts: 679	Re: Check Mate, No GO Mexico!! Just came home to Sweden from the Philppines yesterday. Yes I had a lot of gear but they are so anal about it now a days. They weigh everything even the carry on and refused one bag because it was to big. The little lady from Malaysia Airlines took out her calculator and told me that I just had to pay the small sum of 2780 USD for overweight. That was not a option. Had a mate come to the airport and half of my stuff is still in Manila and I had to cough up almost 900USD to just get the most vital gear home so I at least can get in the water...... Im not without sin as I had to much stuff but I have never had this much problems on my +25 flights with gear all over the world. Some one said that the fuel is now so expensive so the airlines try to cut their losses by charging full out for overweight. Before it was more like "thats a bit much but if you pay for 5kg overweight we dont care about the other 10" sort of. Cheers Rodge Last edited by rogeringebo : 1st June 2008 at 10:53.
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1st June 2008, 11:37	#5 (permalink)
Mike448 New Member Current Rebreather/s: Megalodon Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Knysna (South Africa) & Florida Posts: 34	Re: Check Mate, No GO Mexico!! I recently flew with my rebreather home to South Africa to dive Sodwana Bay: Fort Lauderdale -> Washington -> Johannesburg (SAfrica) - > George -> Johannesburg -> Frankfurt -> Malta Everything went well with no baggage issues until I got to Frankfurt where they nailed me for overweight baggage for the final leg to Malta - bastards! I fly quite often between USA, Euope and SA, and now avoid UK airports like the plague - their baggage rules change daily. Sorry about Mexico by the way __________________ Cheers Mike mike448 @ mac.com www.shadowdivers.net
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1st June 2008, 11:41	#6 (permalink)
Lancer4545 Closed Circuit Divers Aus Current Rebreather/s: Megalodon Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Cairns QLD Australia Posts: 601	Re: Check Mate, No GO Mexico!! It's no wonder we are getting screwed....Someone has to pay the difference for all these discounted airfares!!! I just got back from Malaysia via Singapore yesterday. Had absolutely no dramas with 2 big bags full of dive gear weighing in at 59kgs and the Meg as carry on in a roller case and a computer case. That was until I got back to Australia and they wouldn't let the Meg through and had to check it .......again!!! And then to top it all off.....The majority of the airlines have now dropped the dive gear "Sporting Gear Allowance" It seems we now have to pack all our dive gear into a golf caddy to get it through. It sucks!! Lance __________________ You can run but you can't hide! ISC Appointed Megalodon Dealer for East Australia http://www.closedcircuitdivers.com.au info@closedcircuitdivers.com.au
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1st June 2008, 12:28	#7 (permalink)
jkaterenchuk . Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Megalodon Classic Kiss Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: May 2006 Location: Lititz, PA Posts: 722	Re: Check Mate, No GO Mexico!! Sorry for the problem Matt. I know how you feel. Last summer I lost the airfare and the cruise price when I was unable to show up in Italy for a cruise my wife and I had booked. Well over 10K pissed away because I could not get my passport renewed. I started 6 months in advance and they kept rejecting my pics. All taken at a registered passport photo place with the required camera. It took me 4 tries and a 10 hour drive to appear in person to get it done before I also got screwed out my last trip to Thailand. I have been saying on the forum for a while now that everyone should beware of the changes with carry on bags. On the last trip to Thailand my carry on got randomly selected for weighing and of course it was close to 50 lbs with the CCR packed. Only option was to check in, pay $125 for a checked bag and hope and pray it arrived undamaged. Can you not get scheduled on a flight leaving a day later? John
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1st June 2008, 12:32	#8 (permalink)
jkaterenchuk . Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Megalodon Classic Kiss Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: May 2006 Location: Lititz, PA Posts: 722	Re: Check Mate, No GO Mexico!! Quote: (Originally Posted by Lancer4545) It seems we now have to pack all our dive gear into a golf caddy to get it through. It sucks!! Lance How about someone with a golf caddy trying to pack one with a CCR and posting some pics. I do not have one but would buy one if its a viable solution. I need to find someway around the carry-on problem as its only going to get worst. John
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1st June 2008, 13:44	#9 (permalink)
zzzzzzzz New Member Current Rebreather/s: Home Build Other Rebreather/s: Home Build Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Earth Posts: 77	Re: Check Mate, No GO Mexico!! Reverse thinking is in order: Pack your clothing in the golf caddy, it packs easily in any container and will suit any shape. Pack the Rebreather in regular luggage, the profile fits. Yet another indication the world is going crazy... __________________ z
(Online)

1st June 2008, 15:55	#10 (permalink)
solocavediver New Member Current Rebreather/s: Other CCR Home Build Other Rebreather/s: Other CCR Home Build Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Leeds UK Posts: 103	Re: Check Mate, No GO Mexico!! Matthew, if you're serious about taking a dive we could work it that you dive some of what pass for British cavedives next Sunday. You will NOT be able to mistake them for Mexican cenotes, however. PM me with a contact number and I'll call you. Cheers, Charles. Quote: (Originally Posted by tecdivertraining) Check mate, looks like my dream of diving the Mexican cenotes is still a dream as I sit in my mothering laws typing this post well pi**ed off. I have not been back to the UK for over 4 years and I don’t plan on visiting again soon, the weather crap and so are the airports!!! I had no problems until I got to the UK, Flying Phuket to Bangkok, Bangkok to Dubai, Dubai to London. I just had an absolute nightmare at Birmingham airport in the UK on route to Mexico for some well earned holidays. Its a long story but goes something like this. After check in I passed passport control and they refused to accept my rebreather as hand luggage, after long negotiation they insisted I check it in but it was not in a suitable bag for check in, so I was forced to remove my existing check bags and repack, after a one hour wait this was done and I was told I would have to check in again and start the process over. The only problem is in the bullshit process they released my seat to New York and the plane is now full!!!! What a joke. I am now on standby but cannot get a connecting flight on the same day to Huston. I’ve lost all patience and it looks like I’m lost in translation. I really am pissed and to top it of my ticket is non-refundable and I will loose the airfare. Just needed to get it off my chest, If anyone fancies a dip in cold UK waters I’m stuck here until the 14th I promise I want moan to much. Not such a great day.
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