On 22 Aug 2003 at 17:52, Tim Munro wrote:
> Just wondering if anyone knows whether carryon baggage weight
> exemptions are available to photographers, or if anyone has ever had
> confirmation of being able to carry more than the standard allowance ?
> I always sneak through trying to make my 14kg photo trekker look
> smaller than the 7kg allowed. I had to take Dash 8 local flight this
> week and when boarding noticed the 4kg per person restriction for the
> smaller 'plane which I duly ignored. Don't know what I'd ever do if
> challenged as I could not put it through as checked baggage, least
> wise as my insurance policy specifically excludes gear travelling as
> checked baggage.
>
> Anyone ever chased this up with the airlines and got a sensible answer
> ? I tried but didn't get one.
>
> Regards, Tim
> www.timmunro.com.au
You can ask for a (written/faxed!) exemption in advance....that
nullifies their argument of having more take-off weight than
calculated ('or do you also ask what each passenger actually
weighs??' (!)....
*Or* you could split the gear into two smaller weights....if needed
get one of those kidney-bag + zip-on-top systems, and zip them back
together after the check-in counter or after the gate. Unzipped, the
argument of too much weight in the overhead bin is nullified too.
You recently also got an extra argument if it comes to a heated
discussion: you are now required to leave your check-in luggage
unlocked, and there is no way any sane human being would leave his
expensive gear open to the hands of every sleazebag along the
route....note that this isn't about the actual security-employees
themselves (although I wouldn't trust them as a whole for more than a
cent either), but *every* luggage handler along the route....all the
time your suitcase is unlocked (not to mention far more suspicious
photo bags, even if stuffed in a duffel-bag).
I'd rather ship the entire bag as insured postal/expedition mail in
advance than leaving it open to all those sleazebags....
Also note that the newer film-damaging check-in scanners increase the
problem....you will now also have to stuff all your films in your
carry-on bags....
(I used that excuse once, with success: 'It only looks big, because
there is a lot of films in there, can't send them through the check-
in scanner anymore, can I?....I'll take those out in a separate bag
before boarding, after tax-free shopping')
--
Bye,
Willem-Jan Markerink
The desire to understand
is sometimes far less intelligent than
the inability to understand
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
[note: 'a-one' & 'en-el'!]
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