Need some advise -re current air travel restrictions

[scottg_Bonaire]

>>.Well this is my first post..so lets see how it goes!

I'm newly certified..and have not yet bought a computer..

And have a very good friend in Europe who is about to fly out and join me..and will be bringing her dive gear..including a wrist mounted Suunto Gekko..

She always travels with her Regulator and Computer in hand luggage..but ..with the current US/European security air travel alerts is concerned she will be made to put both in checked luggage..

..I've looked at the Suunto manuals (its a Gekko) and there's no info on air travel..

Soo I'm looking for some advise..do regulators and switched of computers survive in baggage holds..

(Slightly surprised I cant find any discussion on this..so suspect its not an issue..and we are both over reacting...so scubaboard experts...folks with zillions of dives and airmiles with their kit..your help will be hugely appreciated)..

Appreciate it!

 

[Allison Finch]

I travel extensively and always check most of my dive gear. I carry my computer and prescription mask and most of my camera gear. everything else is packed with regulator inside a padded bag wrapped in my BCD under my wetsuit. Never had a problem....<knocking on wood>.

I'm leaving for Borneo in two weeks. I will have to keep alert for any carry-on rule changes that will affect my routine.


Bye the way, welcome to the board and hope your diving is always in clear warm water! Fill out your profile!!

 

[HowardE]

Baggage holds are pressurized. Everything would be fine in a baggage hold - it's just colder than in the cabin, but the same pressure.

 

[Diver Dennis]

howarde is right, there is no problem checking all your dive gear. Except maybe theft.

 

[scottg_Bonaire]

Thanks folks..your prompt responses are much appreciated.

 

[Vicente]

I was in Cozumel once and AeroMexico lost all my luggage and I didn't get it back until about time to go home. I had my mask and regulator in carry-on rented everything else. If I had to pick just one item it'd be the mask. Once you get a mask that fits your face just right it's a PITA to deal with some ill-fitting rental POJ. Regulator should be obvious it's life-support so I'd prefer something I know it's maintenace record. I can't see TSA having any problem with it.

 

[victor]

My 2c
Carry on what you can, for me it’s the camera, reg, and computer.
Buy a generic hard suitcase in a common color, e.g. Samsonite.
Put no dive stickers or anything else that would indicate there is anything valuable in it.
Get a multicolored security strap or equivalent to make it ease to recognize on the carousel.
Pack from the outside in, indestructible stuff on the outside, e.g. fins in one half, BC or BP/W in the other, masks or regulators in the middle.

Not sure what I am going to do with my housing. There is no way it will fit inside a suitcase, wrong shape, and the new rules mean that I will not be able to take it as hand luggage, bummer.

 

[miketsp]

..snip..
Regulator should be obvious it's life-support so I'd prefer something I know it's maintenace record. I can't see TSA having any problem with it.

Unless you have a liquid filled compass in the console. We've seen a few reports in the last few days of these not being allowed.

 

[Dive-aholic]

Funny, they didn't even look at the compasses yesterday. We flew from Philly to Tucson yesterday and carried on our cameras, housing, computers, canister lights with batteries, compasses, regulators. It was a domestic flight, but we didn't get any problems coming through security. They checked the carry-ons, as they usually do, but didn't question any of the items.

 

[Tassie_Rohan]

I travel with camera, reg, light and dive computer as carry on and rest check in. Have no problems except people curious about my can light battery.

However......

Last week there were stringent rules in place for flights to the US, especially UK to USA flights. This included NO electronics (laptops, ipods etc) and NO liquids as carry on. Ditto no books and if I remember no batteries.

Some of these rules were relaxed this week - however get your friend to check with the travel agent what the latest is: their dive computer may no be allowed on, ditto anything liquid-filled.

Cheers,
Rohan.