Baggage Check in Warning !

[NAIBdiver1]

From an article in the Washington Post Travel Section 9Jan05 "Packing Large? You'll Pay the Price"

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A56534-2005Jan7.html?sub=AR

Packing Large? You'll Pay the Price
By Rita Zeidner
Special to The Washington Post
Sunday, January 9, 2005

Excerpt..

..Longtime scuba diver and trip leader Susan Schmidt, manager of the Dive Shop in Fairfax, had a similar shock when she was charged to check scuba gear in June while shepherding divers to Nassau in the Bahamas on US Airways.

"At check-in, the airline asked what we were going to be doing once we got there," Schmidt said. "When we said we were on a dive trip, the next question was whether we had any scuba equipment with us. A lot of us did, and the airline person said, 'Well, we're going to have to charge you.' " Schmidt had never been charged before.

When she asked an airline rep for a copy of the carrier's baggage policy, she was surprised by the range of items subject to the $80 handling fee. "They put scuba masks in the same category as deer antlers," she says.

Sure enough, US Airways' Web site (www.usairways.com) includes this open-ended provision: "Special items such as pets, surfboards, bicycles, scuba equipment, etc., are not included in the customer's free baggage allowance and are subject to an extra charge."

 

[Kat]

Hard lesson to learn.
Don't volunteer any personal trip info. The ticket agent is not interested in your vacation. The agent is trying to get more money out of you.
If the airline asks what you've packed, start rattling off "Socks, bathing suit, shorts, toothbrush, this really cute top..." The check in agent will stop you, at this point. The airline will not look through your bag. Don't volunteer any scuba info, don't use bags with scuba logos, don't wear your favorite scuba T-shirt or hat. If they ask if you've got scuba gear, lie & say no. What is the worst that will happen? If they somehow find out, you'll have to pay their fee.

You can write letters about how this is unfair & you will not fly them. Will this help? I don't know.

 

[EricJ]

Thanks for the info about US Airways. I won't be flying with them.

 

[AmyJ]

YIKES! we are leaving on US airways in a few hours... will have to practice up on some good lines.... and reminding our chidren to start screaming and crying when we give the signal (works wonders for getting through places!)

 

[dlndavid]

Crying and screaming on cue, brilliant idea.

 

[wscdive]

Ive never been charged for scuba equipment but have heard of it happening. I use an oversized normal suitcase so unless they check.... The did try to charge me for one bag over 50 lbs on my return trip(no mention on the way down) Apparently the new federal limit is 50 lbs. I just pulled the extra weight and took it in my boat bag as carry-on.

 

[munkispank]

YIKES! we are leaving on US airways in a few hours... will have to practice up on some good lines.... and reminding our chidren to start screaming and crying when we give the signal (works wonders for getting through places!)

Another tactic is to call up in advance and speak to a rep- then argue about the situation and exaplain how you believe this is outrageous/you didnpt know prior to booking ticket etc. This got me a waiver of the fee for a flight to Cozumel- I mean honestly, flying into Coz and charging for Scuba equipment!!!!

I had checked up the regualtions for most other airleines, but had missed this one. Another thing which has caught us out, Delta and AA only allow you one set of each thing- ie on mask one snorkel etc per person. I usually travle with spares so this was an issue once- when the attendent asked us how many of each we were carrying, I said one- they then searched the bag- found four masks total- so I said we would wear the other two. Since then, I travel with most stuff in hand baggage and this cuts down on the petty arguments.

long story short- check all policies before buying tix. And remeber if you are booked through an affliate (such as a delta ticket which uses Air Jaamica to go to bonaire ) check the affiliates too.

 

[RICHinNC]

Most airline have a "prejudice" charge. I call it that because hang gliders dont pay...golfers dont pay...you name...as far as I can find out....just divers.

If any check in rep ask me what I am going on vacation I just smile and say nothing...thats the idea of a vacation isnt it???

This is another good reason to stay away from bags with logos that scream diver and dive gear.

And....dive tee shirts are good for going through TSA....but NOT at check in...just gives the rep a chance to ask you to open the bag and they can do that too.
rich

 

[alcina]

Hmmm...good information.

On the other hand, when I book my tickets I will often tell the nice person doing the booking that I am a diver and a photographer so I will need extra weight allowance. This gets entered into the computer and hey presto - no excess luggage fees, no complications at check-in.

I have never flown US Airways, however

 

[Rick Inman]

Just flew United, and the check-in AND TSA guys at the Monterey, CA airport helped me move my scuba gear around (incl. PB/W & pony) into verious bags to make sure I was under 50#s. Very nice people!!!!