What's your new luggage strategy?

kybrt

yeah, plus thats a material misrepresentation of fact inside a secure area. just the kind of thing that gets one detained and strip searched by overzealous federales at a minimum.

i wonder, does the flight to guantanamo come with frequent flier miles??

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Marv


Fidelis Ad Mortem
www.diveboatkaren.com

barney

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Michael C. Barnette
ASSOCIATION OF UNDERWATER EXPLORERS

barney

If you are worried about it, don't try it.
I am sure anyone trying this theoretical strategy and getting pinched would relate confusion that their status had already expired and it was simply an oversight.
Just offering an option that I had heard about and trying to help fellow divers from the increasing burdens of air travel...

__________________
Michael C. Barnette
ASSOCIATION OF UNDERWATER EXPLORERS

Art Greenberg

Re: elite status. I don't know about other airlines, but you can effectively "buy" elite status on Continental by signing up for their "Presidential Plus" MasterCard. It ain't cheap (US$375/year) but just having the card gets you the equivalent of Silver Elite, even without having flown the miles. And entry to Presidents Club lounges.

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Art

jkaterenchuk

Now thats an interesting possibility.....pay something up front to get higher status and access to the louges...assuming your going to have to pay them one way or another at least this gets you something useful for the $'s.

John

Lancer4545

Hey Guys,

I have been flying around SE Asia with my Meg and dive gear for a year now and every time I fly I encounter a different set of circumstances/obsticles.

I usually fly with the same airline as I have a "Frequent Flyer" status with them which automatically entitles me to an extra 10kgs free checked baggage. The other option worth looking at is the class of ticket you're buying. I can get another 10kgs free checked baggage if I pay the equivelent excess baggage charge on the ticket and get to ride up the front with all the other benefits of free grog, better seat with more room etc.

I have trimmed the Meg down to the can and head in the roller case and the loop, CLs, dive computers and tablet PC in a computer case.

With the weight reduced in the roller case and only having the can/head in it I have been allowed to pass through the screening point with it and carry it on, but usually only after showing a very nice laminated picture of it strapped on my back just before jumping in the water. Interestingly, I have never had to pay excess baggage for the trip back home from Asia.......Just getting there in the first place.

There have been the times when I have been turned around and made to check it in but the head is protected in the can and I have fragile tags all over it.........It has worked so far.

I have been told the airlines are looking to recover extra money from previously accepted baggage or excess carry on baggage. It's obvious the increasing operating costs are the cause and they don't want to look bad in the eye of the public when the jack up the ticket prices, so they screw the guy who flys around for pleasure with his sporting gear and look after the businessman with only a brief case as carry on. Then they can carry more air cargo and make up the difference in operating costs.....

The only viable alternative to carrying your gear and paying excess charges is to ship your other gear ahead and take the unit in your checked baggage. Hope like mad it gets there and there aren't local import duties pending when it does arrive.

Regards,

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

Abbo

Last week I had to lend a suit, shirt and even underwear to Fat Wally, a former colleague who was over in Tokyo from the US on business. He has to use US airlines and they seem to be the worst for losing luggage. And it's no better just because you use business class.

I visited senior management at All Nippon Airways and JAL last week and they're in a bad way (particularly JAL). ANA has hedged 100% of their fuel needs for the current quarter and 85% for the year, but the US airlines tend to be much less good at doing this, so they're out to do whatever they have to to bring in extra pennies - including charging extra for heavy hand luggage. I don't want to pay them more, but I will if I have to to make certain that my Meg arrives safe and sound at the far end. The key to making sure it arrives safe is that I don't allow any ape from the airlines to touch my kit. That means taking it on as hand luggage. It's all very well only carrying the head in hand luggage and checking in the rest: the trouble is that if the rest of my Meg doesn't arrive at the far end I will be sitting out the dive anyway, drinking those stupid drinks with umbrellas in. This time I'm flying with the family, so I suppose that I will be able to get the kids to carry parts of my Meg as hand luggage ("oh Dad!").

Even when you offer to pay, there is the danger that they don't let it on anyway because the Gate Apes think it's dangerous. They couldn't even spell dangerous. And if you argue, there's the danger they threaten to keep you off the plane too. Homeland Security: do they make you feel more secure? Look a Gate Ape in the eye and and mouth the words "you make me feel more secure" without laughing. Possible? I don't think so.

jkaterenchuk

I agree but check the maximum weight allowance for a carry on bag for the airline you are flying. You would probably be surprized how low it is. I was. There is no amount of money aside from being able to bribe the checking person that would allow you to carry you meg on in one carry on bag.

John

Lancer4545

Absolutely!!!

The Can and Head in a roller bag goes 10kg on the scales whilst you're holding the handle and 15kg when you're told to "Leg Go of the Handle Sir"

I've tried them all....If they insist you check it in then that's what you'll do or you'll be watching your plane leave from the viewing platform.........

Regards,

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

silent running

Hi John, sorry to hear that you had a random weigh-in. What airline was it? Forewarned is forearmed, sorry if I've asked you this before...

I have 2 approaches:

-1) Bring the whole head/scrubber assembly, loop and pneumatics in the regulation carry-on. Which, in my case is about 28lbs, or a little less than twice Singapore Airlines' 7kg carry-on limit.

-2) Bring only the head and loop in a carry-on in a Pelican case or similarly rigid case, which is right at the 15lb limit. In this scenario, the most fragile parts are with you, while the regs, hoses and scrubber bucket go in the checked bags. These parts should be durable enough when padded out with wetsuits, clothing and cowlings to survive in a packed bag.

So far, I have not had to check my bag when packed according to #1. I have rarely had my bag weighed and had to argue my case, but always prevailed. How? First, and most importantly, I calmly explain to the gate agent that this is very expensive and fragile equipment, which can't be easily replaced and can't be checked in it's bag without damage, which would ruin my trip. This is very hard to say "no" to as you obviously haven't packed the gear for going under the plane.

If that doesn't work, I remind them that they haven't weighed every pc of carry-on and ask why I've been singled out when I'm bringing something which is for personal use and there are people on the flight who are probably bringing things for resale and trying to skirt import duty. Also, always make sure you mention that you are a diver and ask if they have an extra weight allowance for divers. Even if they don't, you will have introduced the possibility that other airlines are more friendly to people like you, and that they are thus being unreasonable by potentially ruining your vacation.

So far, so good, as recently as 2 months ago traveling to Indonesia. I learned these strategies from years of traveling with an expensive, custom made guitar, back when they used to complain about the size, not weight. I've never had to check my guitar, not even once in 30 years of travel. It's the same principle: Do you want to deal with an insurance claim and an irate customer? Or would you rather handle this the easy way?

Of course, just like dealing with the Police, you must not raise your voice, or use profanity. Rather, if you are not getting anywhere and ask for a supervisor, try to get the intransigent gate agent riled up before the supervisor gets there. That way, if they are angry and cursing while you remain calm, you will be even more likely to prevail. I hated to do it, but it worked for me once at the airport and many times in my job as a bouncer in bar.

As for option #2, it should be fine, but with the obvious drawback of increasing your checked baggage weight and the possibility of damage to the regs and warping/cracking the scrubber bucket.

I have found that as long as you acknowledge the gate agent has all the power, you disarm them and then you will be dealing with a more sympathetic person. Becoming indignant too soon is the worst thing you can do, but never forget that you are in the right, considering you are not trying to do anything which is unsafe or against the law and ultimately better for customer relations, as opposed to a policy which is designed to keep the airline and it's executives in the money.

Oh, and if you get somebody who likes to argue, split hairs or use the "safety" argument, point out those old stickers in the overhead compartments that still state an 80kg limit for 6 seats, which means that each seat is allowed approximately 30lbs per person... Happy trails, -Andy