Information on Continental Airlines

[Lailis]

continental has some "unpublished" rules for scuba gear.. Most of them are because a few of the execs are avid scuba divers..
Youll need to get a supervisior, but when then do the checking you'll get up to 1 bag with scuba gear (cant be anyting else in there) up to 100 lbs without any overweight charges.. Sometimes you can even get more... A few years ago I did a trip with a group, and for specific reasons 2 of us had to take home gear for some other people..

My flight was from amsterdam to Newark and the other guy was from amsterdam to hoouston.. the supervisor let us get away with Three bags each as long as we kept them under 50kg! (or about 110lbs each!)

From what I've heard, people traveling with diving equipment have the right to carry more weight. Does anybody know anything about this?

 

[Fionab]

I don't know about the airport, but I might be flying your plane! :14:

Rob

Fantastic can you get me an upgrade

OK if your flying from London to Houston, 29 September 2007, you will have to say "this is your Captain BigJetDriver speaking"

 

[cdiver2]

From what I've heard, people traveling with diving equipment have the right to carry more weight. Does anybody know anything about this?

We just flew Continental to Jamaica. When we booked the allowance was 75lb, at the check in we were told 50lb. When we told the lady it was 75 at the time of booking she said "it doesnt matter there is an allowance for scuba equipment anyway?.

 

[caymaniac]

We just flew Continental to Jamaica. When we booked the allowance was 75lb, at the check in we were told 50lb. When we told the lady it was 75 at the time of booking she said "it doesnt matter there is an allowance for scuba equipment anyway?.

Okay, please tell me you did't get robbed, you didn't get hastled for drugs, you had some really great dives, no-one bothered to try and braid your hair?

Right now its 27F and the wind is blowing at 30mph.,we just got 2 inches of snow, even Jamaica sounds tolerable!

 

[Diver Dennis]

From what I've heard, people traveling with diving equipment have the right to carry more weight. Does anybody know anything about this?

We got back from Micronesia on Dec. 23rd after a month. We paid for overweight bags all the way. NO scuba allowance and a strict 50lb. limit. Some airlines still have a 70lb. limit like Cathay.

 

[padiscubapro]

We got back from Micronesia on Dec. 23rd after a month. We paid for overweight bags all the way. NO scuba allowance and a strict 50lb. limit. Some airlines still have a 70lb. limit like Cathay.

There IS a special allowance, but unless you ask for a supervisor to look it up on the computer forget about getting it.. Most agents do not know about it, but it is there.. If you don't push the issue they will collect their fees...

One of my dive buddies used to carry a printout of the regs, sent from a continental exec.. If you board in a gateway city like Houston, you have alot less problems..

When you are in micronesia, their computers are frequently down, so you may run into problems...

Continental also gives elite members 70 lbs (and then some)...

 

[StSomewhere]

Houston is OK. OTOH, I have this paranoid belief that the baggage handlers in MIA have their own master keys to the TSA locks. I also don't think its mere coincidence that the acronym for Miami Int'l (MIA) is the same as for Missing in Action.... :06: Hint, hint, wink, wink, nudge, nudge....

I agree that the longer layover is best when clearing customs.

 

[Diver Dennis]

There IS a special allowance, but unless you ask for a supervisor to look it up on the computer forget about getting it.. Most agents do not know about it, but it is there.. If you don't push the issue they will collect their fees...

One of my dive buddies used to carry a printout of the regs, sent from a continental exec.. If you board in a gateway city like Houston, you have alot less problems..

When you are in micronesia, their computers are frequently down, so you may run into problems...

Continental also gives elite members 70 lbs (and then some)...

I don't know who you were talking to but we did ask at LAX and Guam. The supervisors there told us the allowances are now these:

Scuba Equipment
Continental does accept one dive bag containing equipment used in the scuba-diving sport as part of the free baggage allowance. Scuba equipment in addition to the free baggage allowance will be assessed at the excess baggage charge applicable in the market for a single piece.

An empty dive tank will not be included in determining the Free Baggage Allowance and will be subject to a service charge of the applicable excess baggage charge. Contact Continental Airlines Reservations, worldwide, for service charge rates.

An empty dive tank or up to 3 rebreather tanks will not be included in determining the Free Baggage Allowance and will be subject to a service charge of $80/125 CAD from travel to/from USA/Canada/Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands. The service charge to/from international destinations is $100/151 CAD.

The empty dive/rebreather tank must have the regulator valve completely disconnected form the tank. The tank must not be sealed (i.e. the tank has an open end). The tank must have an opening to allow for a visual inspection by a TSA Security Screener.

Note for Rebreather Equipment: Soda lime that is 4% Sodium Hydroxide or less will be accepted in checked baggage. Soda lime that is 4% Sodium Hydroxide will not be accepted in checked baggage.

An item of SCUBA equipment consists of one empty SCUBA tank, up to 3 rebreather tanks or one dive bag containing equipment used in the scuba-diving sport. The empty scuba/rebreather tank and a separate dive bag containing SCUBA equipment will be charged as two separate pieces.

Continental is not liable for damage to Scuba diving equipment.

Excess Valuation may not be purchased for Scuba diving equipment.

 

[cdiver2]

Okay, please tell me you did't get robbed, you didn't get hastled for drugs, you had some really great dives, no-one bothered to try and braid your hair?

Right now its 27F and the wind is blowing at 30mph.,we just got 2 inches of snow, even Jamaica sounds tolerable!

Yea got hastled for drugs all the time but I dont have enough hair to braid

Maybe this will help you feel warmer http://www.scubaboard.com/showpost.php?p=1548143&postcount=5

 

[padiscubapro]

I don't know who you were talking to but we did ask at LAX and Guam. The supervisors there told us the allowances are now these:

Scuba Equipment
Continental does accept one dive bag containing equipment used in the scuba-diving sport as part of the free baggage allowance. Scuba equipment in addition to the free baggage allowance will be assessed at the excess baggage charge applicable in the market for a single piece.

An empty dive tank will not be included in determining the Free Baggage Allowance and will be subject to a service charge of the applicable excess baggage charge. Contact Continental Airlines Reservations, worldwide, for service charge rates.

An empty dive tank or up to 3 rebreather tanks will not be included in determining the Free Baggage Allowance and will be subject to a service charge of $80/125 CAD from travel to/from USA/Canada/Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands. The service charge to/from international destinations is $100/151 CAD.

The empty dive/rebreather tank must have the regulator valve completely disconnected form the tank. The tank must not be sealed (i.e. the tank has an open end). The tank must have an opening to allow for a visual inspection by a TSA Security Screener.

Note for Rebreather Equipment: Soda lime that is 4% Sodium Hydroxide or less will be accepted in checked baggage. Soda lime that is 4% Sodium Hydroxide will not be accepted in checked baggage.

An item of SCUBA equipment consists of one empty SCUBA tank, up to 3 rebreather tanks or one dive bag containing equipment used in the scuba-diving sport. The empty scuba/rebreather tank and a separate dive bag containing SCUBA equipment will be charged as two separate pieces.

Continental is not liable for damage to Scuba diving equipment.

Excess Valuation may not be purchased for Scuba diving equipment.

Thats the regs published on ther website, but there has always been some addtional guidlines unless they recently changed them.. Last time I needed the extra allowance was in september 2005.. one of my bags weighed almost 100lbs with no charges.. I did this both in newark and san diego.. I had to get a supervisor, but I did get the allowance..