After Red Sea, negative experience at Cairo International Airport

[MB NZ]

Live and learn! I hope detailing my experience helps make other visitors to Egypt a little smarter.

I don't think there is anything you can do other than follow the printed rules. If they make up rules as they go along, there's not much to be done. I'm somewhat comforted this wasn't blatant theft in this instance.

 

[Pearlman]

Do you carry your regulators in carry-on with hose attached? And does security allow it considering that you could knock on the pilots cockpit door at 30,000ft and strangle the pilot with it when he opens it to check who’s knocking?

 

[runsongas]

does the Philippines still require regs to be checked too? if so, we may need to start a list of countries with dumb rules about carrying on regulators

 

[MB NZ]

Slightly off topic, but I had line removed from a fishing reel in SYDNEY because "it could be used to garrote someone". In the meanwhile, they were letting people through with guitars that had steel strings. You can't apply logic to airport security sometimes.

 

[BoltSnap]

a diver paying a bit at security in egypt ?

Just 1 - 5 $.You should have $1 singles ready in your pocket.

 

[Etmutt]

Just 1 - 5 $.You should have $1 singles ready in your pocket.

this is first hand experience? i m living in the middle east and as you said bribing is a big no no where i live

 

[mrdee]

Wen flew Egypt Air London- Sharm return in August with a 3 day stop off in Cairo on the way out and return home via Cairo
i had reg with transmitters in Hand luggage on all flights with no problems.

I was expecting difficulties in Sharm after hearing horror stories regarding the security checks before and after check in, but the journey was surprisingly uneventful. I had no queries about the regs or non-diving camera equipment. Rest of diving gear was in my checked bags

The only issues were the mandatory wait until 2 hours before check in at Sharm, and the overpriced meals once we crossed airside . We arrived 3 hours before the flight home and had to hang around for an extra hour before check in.


It was an otherwise pleasant experience on the flights .

The weather on landing in London was a different matter though!

 

[DanBMW]

People have been told that the reg is a weapon, like a bolo. you can swing it around and hurt people.
I don't know why people carry them on anyway; they are almost indestructible, and are easily packed securely in checked baggage.

We carry our to lighten the bags weight.

 

[BoltSnap]

this is first hand experience? i m living in the middle east and as you said bribing is a big no no where i live

That's not a "bribe," it is "bakshish."

 

[GreggS]

My first international dive trip was to Coz. I had packed all of my dive gear in my checked bag both going and coming home. When I got home, my reg set was missing, having been removed somewhere between Coz and home. Ever since, we always pack our reg sets, dive computers, and prescription masks in our carry ons and have had no problems at security.

But then, we've not been to Egypt, either.