Airlines?

[Buoyant1]

Ok..I searched, and didn't find much on this subject...

My past few dive trips were to Key West where a friend lives (well lived...bummer!) and I used to just ship everything UPS. This trip to Florida I'll be carrying everything. I have the Samsonite and the TSA lock, but read something on the USAir site that I'm curious about....

It says something to the effect of a charge for SCUBA gear, and that it doesn't fall into the catagory of your regular checked baggage?

From the USAir site:

"Special items such as surfboards, bicycles, scuba equipment, etc. are not included in the customer's free baggage allowance and are subject to an extra charge."


SO...what does everyone do? do you "declare" your equipment? insure it?

Thanks!

 

[Al Mialkovsky]

They open up the bags and see the gear. I keep my bags under the weight limits and they don't charge anything extra.

 

[murphdivers286]

Very Interesting..................

 

[fdog]

They open up the bags and see the gear. I keep my bags under the weight limits and they don't charge anything extra.

Yep. Exactly.

All the best, James

PS: make sure you pack so that your outbound weight is about 5 lbs less than the limit. You'll use that up, in water weight from not-quite-dry gear and a dive op t-shirt, on the return.

 

[Al Mialkovsky]

We actually bring an extra roll up gear bag along for the return trip. Gotta bring home more than ya brought!

 

[MoonWrasse]

Ok..I searched, and didn't find much on this subject...

My past few dive trips were to Key West where a friend lives (well lived...bummer!) and I used to just ship everything UPS. This trip to Florida I'll be carrying everything. I have the Samsonite and the TSA lock, but read something on the USAir site that I'm curious about....

It says something to the effect of a charge for SCUBA gear, and that it doesn't fall into the catagory of your regular checked baggage?

From the USAir site:

"Special items such as surfboards, bicycles, scuba equipment, etc. are not included in the customer's free baggage allowance and are subject to an extra charge."


SO...what does everyone do? do you "declare" your equipment? insure it?

Thanks!

Wow, thanks for the heads up.

Now I'll NEVER fly US Air, with or without my scuba gear.

 

[DementialFaith]

If I'm going on a plane, my reg is coming w/ me in the carry on luggage. ain't no way am I trusting that $1500 worth of pride and joy to anyone else.

 

[m3830431]

If your under the limit why should it matter? :huh:

 

[midwestdvr]

I've taken my gear as carry on and checked baggage. They check my luggages just about everytime I fly and they never say anything about my scuba gear. They just repack it and send it on its way.

 

[herman]

Most all the airlines have a similar rule. The "special items" take up a lot of room and require special handling. To keep you from claiming it's "luggage" they created this special rule. They just don't want to have to deal with big or odd shaped items and if you insist, they are going to charge you to do so. They also don't want to take responsibility if ....make that when, expensive stuff gets stolen. This is aimed more at tanks than anything else. Fact is, if you don't tell them there is dive gear in your baggage, they have no way of knowing. It's the TSA that searches bags, not the airlines and they could care less what is in the bags as long as it's legal to carry. I carry gear in my luggage all the time with no problems, just don't disclose what in your bags. I always carry on my mask and regs, the TSA could care less and the airline does not need to know.
Would you like to take a 3rd piece of luggage and do it for free? Put your gear in a golf bag. Most airlines consider scuba gear "special equipment" and want to charge you for even having it in your luggage but for some reason golf clubs don't require any handling at all, take up no room and weight nothing or at least that's the way it appears since they will allow a golf bag in addition to your 2 pieces of luggage for free.
Just pack your gear in a regular suitcase, don't sticker it up dive flags, don't ask, don't tell, pack all you can in carry on and travel. As long as you don't go over the weight limit, you will be fine.