flying with scuba gear..

[String]

Assuming they weigh less than 5kg in total (in addition to other carry on stuff). This isnt easy.
Computer is the only thing i can shove in my hand luggage without going over 5kg.

 

[Diver Dennis]

We flew US Air to Cozumel. (Unfortunately, they decided to leave us stranded after Wilma, the rotten jerks!) But for international flights, you are allowed to check two bags, each weighing less than 70 lbs., plus a carry-on. Nobody in my dive group had a problem or had to pay extra. (This is current as of Oct. 2005)

That is if you purchased your tickets in Sept. or before. Some of the folks we were in line with were taking 70lb. bags and others were getting nailed. Needless to say it was not a happy place.

Mind you, it might depend on the airline. I heard Jet Blue was still allowing 70lb. bags and here in Canada Westjet does the same. Air Canada charges $105 Canadian for extra bags, I'm not sure how much for extra weight.

 

[midwestdvr]

That is if you purchased your tickets in Sept. or before. Some of the folks we were in line with were taking 70lb. bags and others were getting nailed. Needless to say it was not a happy place.

Mind you, it might depend on the airline. I heard Jet Blue was still allowing 70lb. bags and here in Canada Westjet does the same. Air Canada charges $105 Canadian for extra bags, I'm not sure how much for extra weight.

Went to the PI in Oct '05 and thanked god we got our tickets before sept as they still allowed us 70 pounds for checked luggage. It would have been terrible if we bought our tickets after sept and forgot about the new weight limits (balikbayan luggage usually are loaded with gifts to the max ).

As for the Northwest policy on dive gear, never encountered it. I've always carried on my regs, comp and cam and checked in the rest and I've never had to pay extra surcharges for dive equipment. It's the TSA agents that open your stuff anyway, not Northwest employees. Of course, this may differ with other airlines.

 

[skippy77]

can u be present when the tsa opens your bag i dont like the idea of some 1 going through my bag

 

[tzeyap]

Bubblemonkey,

If you are planning for your flight to Malaysia, I have not experience any problems with Malaysia Airlines when my baggage weight is under 30Kgs. Of course that depends on the individual at the check-in counter. This also applies to most of the Asian airlines like Singapore airlines, Thai Airways .

Within Malaysia or within SE Asia if you want to take advantage of the very attractive fares on Air Asia, please remember that they are strict on a 15kg limit but their excess baggage charges are very reasonable at aprrox $1.50 per Kg .

To avoid hassle at the check in counter, whenever i exceed the stated baggage allowance, I normally pack the heavier stuff in a cabin roll-on case. I try to keep it down to one big case and one cabin bag per person ; in which case I have never been asked to weigh in my cabin bags

 

[JacobK]

Jet blue does allow 70lbs. When they first came into existance, it was 3 bags at 70 lbs. The changed that in October to 2 bags at 70 lbs.

 

[scubaaaronh]

can u be present when the tsa opens your bag i dont like the idea of some 1 going through my bag

Not here in grand rapids michigan i tried to stand and watch and was told to get moving quite forcibly. That we wern't allowed to just stand there if we weren't checking bags.

 

[Scuba Brad]

First off............do you have any children and are you willing to adopt me? I'd carry your bags?

Man a two year Dive trip???? What would be the tops side time for that dive?

OK on a serious note. We have taken our dive gear everywhere and rarely have troubles. You need a good dive bag and pack lite!

Let us know if we can assist with a bag.

Happy Diving

 

[Wildcard]

As silly as this is, I have done it half a dozen times this year and always get away with it. Weigh a bag, get it tagged then they give it back to you to take to TSA. Second bag is then weighed and found to be over, remove heavy items and place in first bag. They never even question it! I even went from bag to bag for the first and second bag and it wasn't an issue. They don't seem to care or are not bright enough to figure out the bag is now back overweight!

 

[NJScubaDoc]

Do they still let you shrinkwrap your luggage at the airport?