Information on Continental Airlines

[Fionab]

I have been reading some of the thread and was wondering if someone could give me some information.

Next year we are going to the Galapagos flying from the UK, we have almost decided to us Continental Airlines from London to Guayaquil, probably via Houston.

The reason we are using a US airline is to get the baggage allowance we will need, can anyone tell me anything bad about Continental. Apparently if we fly in to Houston with CA we have to collect our bags and re-check in what sort of time will we need between flights. One flight allows just over 4 hours and one is just over 2 hours between flights would this be sufficient.

I have also been reading about the airlines opening bags is this common in the US as I haven't experienced it before and what happens if your bags have been opened and when you check in for the next flight they ask you could anyone have put something in your bag.

How likely is it something will be stolen from the bag, we don't want to get to our destination only to find a vital piece of kit is missing.

Cheers

 

[BigJetDriver]

Okay, let me try to take these in order:

Disclaimer: I work for Continental. I know our folks try very hard, and generally do a very good job.

(1) I would select the four hour interval. Your bags will have to go through the Customs Area, and if any delays occur, you will have time to do it comfortably.

As soon as you pass through Customs, we have people to take your bags and send them on to your Guayquil flight.

(2) The airlines do NOT open your bags. The TSA and Customs may. Note that I said MAY. When they ask you that question, they mean, could some evil stranger have had access to your bags when you weren't looking and put something in there. Most rational people will answer no, of course.

(3) The problem of theft is always with us no matter WHERE you go. We have thousands of baggage handlers. Most are very honest and very hard-working folks. There is always the one bad apple, however, and we try hard to weed that one out!

(4) A lot of people are getting the "Traveller's Locks" or "TSA Locks", which can be opened by the security folks with a special "key" that they are supposed to have. It is not a 100% guarantee, but it does help. Also, get extra insurance on your gear.

(5) Note to ALL travelers: If something is ABSOLUTELY essential, and your trip, or your health will be DESTROYED without it, then it should NEVER leave your hands, pockets, or carry-on bag. NEVER!! Did I mention the word "NEVER"???

Good luck on your travels. The Galapagos are just an outstanding place to dive. See it now before the commercial fishermen pillage the underwater wild-life. Take many pictures for posterity.

 

[Sasquatch]

I fly Continental a lot and find them very adequate. The surrounding security measures are well covered in the previous post. Usually not too invasive, AND I highly recommend the TSA locks.

Sea ya!

 

[Diver Dennis]

Good points BJD. We flew Continental to Micronesia in December and had no problems. The TSA folks did however leave the TSA locks off of my housing case, twice. I always carry extras as well as zip ties.

 

[piikki]

I just did my first scuba trip by plane. This was a domestic US flight but to your question about opening the bags...
We had 3 bags in cargo going in, 1 was opened, and 4 bags in cargo coming back, 3 were opened. I have to say this is unusual amount of hits for me, and I travel a lot internationally and in/out the US. The scuba gear seems to attract openings - or this oddity just happened on my first scuba flight.

 

[TheRedHead]

Continental is one of my favorite airlines and I have never had any problem with my luggage, even when traveling with obvious dive bags.

As BigJetDriver stated, allow plenty of time to clear customs. Sometimes I gotten through quickly and other times it is crowded.

The Houston airport is very nice with trains between terminals. Lots of shops and restaurants. You may want to eat real food before your flight because the "meals" would interest only the gluttonous or ravenous. The honey roasted peanuts are very good and the coffee is not too bad.

The offer a wee bit more leg room than some other airlines.

I was able to take a large purse, a computer bag, and the maximum-sized carry on as carry-on luggage. We took almost 300 pounds of luggage to Cozumel between the 2 of us using the max carry on pieces.

Have a good trip!

 

[BigJetDriver]

Continental is one of my favorite airlines and I have never had any problem with my luggage, even when traveling with obvious dive bags.

Have a good trip!

Redhat,

God, am I happy to hear that! Thank you for posting that thought!

Rob

 

[BigJetDriver]

I just did my first scuba trip by plane. This was a domestic US flight but to your question about opening the bags...
We had 3 bags in cargo going in, 1 was opened, and 4 bags in cargo coming back, 3 were opened. I have to say this is unusual amount of hits for me, and I travel a lot internationally and in/out the US. The scuba gear seems to attract openings - or this oddity just happened on my first scuba flight.

Piiki,

It is weird, but some days you just seem get more of that than other days! Who knows? I never identify any of my gear as scuba gear when I travel.

 

[BigJetDriver]

Good points BJD. We flew Continental to Micronesia in December and had no problems. The TSA folks did however leave the TSA locks off of my housing case, twice. I always carry extras as well as zip ties.

Dennis,

Thanks for that. I forgot to mention that point! Yeah, the TSA folks are kinda spastic about the lock thing. Extras and the ever magical zip ties are terrific to have!!

 

[piikki]

It is weird, but some days you just seem get more of that than other days! Who knows? I never identify any of my gear as scuba gear when I travel.

Yep, usually that's how it is - things bundle up. I use regular hard samsonites, and tried to split things so that all suspicious metal stuff was in one, so everything would not be suspicious looking going through screens. Unfortunately - for weighing purposes - that is not always possible... (I pack regs in carry-ons but backplates etc go in cargo).

I traveled a lot right after 9/11, and lived in Britain during the foot and mouth epidemic but with all the shoe-removing and agricultural scanning I have endured I never have had to open this many bags. And since I am always on the go, and have maxed out bags with very weird stuff in them, I am pretty happy about that.

I second the recommendation on the customs clearance time - 2 hrs is too much of a nerve game. Things either go real quick or they will be just over that time.