How to fly to Little Cayman with baggage restrictions

[BettyfromToronto]

I am looking at Little Cayman Beach Resort but am concerned about the weight restrictions on the flight from GC to LC.

When traveling to Cayman Brac or Little Cayman via the Twin Otter Service; Baggage allowance is 55 lbs per person (combined weight of up to 2 pieces) and only one 15 lb carry-on, any excess will be charged $.50 US per pound.

Air Canada allows one bag up to 50 lbs (which is our dive bag) and then two carry-ons. One small 21" pully for clothes plus our knapsacks for cameras, dive computer, etc.

How do you get everything over to LC without paying huge amounts for your clothes?

 

[jdcpa]

To answer your question, honestly we don't.

However, I do not consider the overage charge to be huge.

All you can do is pack as light as you can, and pay what you have to.

It does not sound like you will be that much overweight anyway.

 

[carriemak]

As jdcpa said, pack light. Altho we have never paid an overage charge even with all the camera gear. Our scuba gear bag has everything in it for 2 people and weighs less than 50#. The other bag has clothes and weighs about 40#. We carry on the camera gear.

 

[BettyfromToronto]

We each have our own dive bag which weigh about 45 lbs. We add our liquids like shampoo, etc and I guess we could put in some clothes too but it would be close to the 50 lbs allowed on the Air Canada flight from Toronto to GC.

I guess it depends on how much clothes you need. We were in Cozumel in January and we took way too much clothes. Everyone there just wore shorts & t-shirts; so casual we had really over-packed. We will take less when we go again in 5 weeks now that we know better.

Not sure of the dress-code (?) at LCBR.

 

[Hawkwood]

As others have said, you don't need much. We took full two full sets of dive gear and clothes in two dive bags, plus carry on of regs and camera gear - Calgary-Toronto-Grand Cayman-Little Cayman. You are on a dive trip on an island where there is not a whole lot much else to do. You do not need an extensive wardrobe. Even if you took an extra bag and were overweight, it's only $0.50 per lb. Gee, its nothing compared to the rest of the trip cost.

You are flying in a Twin Otter - only 12 passengers. The reason for not much carry on is there is really no place to put it in the cabin. We were weighed, paid our extra, stashed everything in the baggage compartment, and had a nice short flight.

 

[BDSC]

Sometimes they charge you and sometimes they don't. We have found that if you're close, they won't charge you.

Here is another thing to be aware of. It is possible, if you are on a later afternoon flight, that your bag may not make it with you to LC. Most do but just understand it could happen. Don't panic if that occurs. Your bag will be on the first early morning flight. They will usually just hold the boat if you are waiting for gear that morning until the flight arrives and then you do one morning dive and make up for the lost morning dive that afternoon.

After it happened to me one year, I learned to pack and extra change of clothes in my carry-on. But it was no big deal and the rest of the week went without a hitch. Just be prepared.

 

[PatW]

The overage is only $.50 per pound. When you consider what you are paying for the flight and the vacation, $5 - $10 for a slight overage is cheap thrills.

 

[billinwilliamston]

$.50/lb is less than most US airlines charge for checked bags, overweight or not.

 

[BettyfromToronto]

I guess you are right. $10 is no big deal. x2 I imagine. I guess since the dress code is just shorts & t-shirts you could shove some of these easily into the dive bag. Too bad the AC limit is 50 lbs and this flight to LC is 55 lbs. I could take one 21" pully and then move some clothes from it to the dive bag at GC airport (50-55lbs) and then pay only the small difference.

BDSC: The flight from Toronto arrives at 11:30am so no problem there I think getting my gear the same day. Maybe not in time for an afternoon shore dive but for sure in time for the morning boat dive.

Is all this fuss worth it to stay at LCBR versus let's say Cobalt Coast or Sunset House on GC?

 

[jdcpa]

Is all this fuss worth it to stay at LCBR versus let's say Cobalt Coast or Sunset House on GC?

Honestly, I don't see the what fuss is all about. One more short 35 minute flight and the possibility of paying a little more for your luggage is about it.

And YES, LC is THAT much better.

The fuss as you call it, will be well worth it.