pelican case and the airlines

[Jim Ernst]

hey all, i am leaving in a week for the the phillipines, i have put all my camera equipment in a new pelican case, the pi airlines wont let you carry on anything over 15 lbs, so i have to check in the pelican case, do any of you feel that the pc is advertising $$$$$ and i am asking to have it stolen, as this is what i was told, am i being paranoid??? i am afraid haveing all my equipment stolen would ruin my trip!!!!!! any advice out there???

 

[Diver Dennis]

Hi Jim. I'm going to be in the PI at the same time you guys are. I was in Micronesia for a month in Nov - Dec and had no problems with my housing in a Pelican case. You should not have any problems either. I have heard the horror stories but I don't know anyone that has had any Pelican cases stolen but I think there are certain airports that are worse. I would use TSA locks or zip ties though.
Just to let you know, when we flew to Chuuk from Guam there was an embargo on and they would not accept any extra pieces of baggage to be checked so I ended up with 3 carry-ons including my Pelican case. This happened both ways.

 

[Jim Ernst]

Hi Jim. I'm going to be in the PI at the same time you guys are. I was in Micronesia for a month in Nov - Dec and had no problems with my housing in a Pelican case. You should not have any problems either. I have heard the horror stories but I don't know anyone that has had any Pelican cases stolen but I think there are certain airports that are worse. I would use TSA locks or zip ties though.
Just to let you know, when we flew to Chuuk from Guam there was an embargo on and they would not accept any extra pieces of baggage to be checked so I ended up with 3 carry-ons including my Pelican case. This happened both ways.

thanks a hole lot dennise!!! i can say i would love it if they made me carry mine on with me, it is all insured through depp, but i cant even imagin my first trip to warm water diving with out my best dive buddy (my camera) lol, thanks again jim

 

[Diver Dennis]

I know Jim, I feel the same way. I only did one dive in Micronesia without mine and they do become your friend. How many bags are you taking? I might have an extra again with my Pelican.

 

[bajashack]

I am sure you will have travel insurance. I was traveling domestic and had one layover. When I received my bag I could tell that someone went through it. Inside the bag I had a digital camera and some other things stolen. When I filled my claim with the airline they said "sorry we don't cover electronics or cameras". Anyway LSS I had too much gear and had to check something it. The camera was the cheapest! Be certain that any electronics you get are covered!

 

[Diver Dennis]

You could file with the TSA I think Baja.

 

[RonFrank]

hey all, i am leaving in a week for the the phillipines, i have put all my camera equipment in a new pelican case, the pi airlines wont let you carry on anything over 15 lbs, so i have to check in the pelican case, do any of you feel that the pc is advertising $$$$$ and i am asking to have it stolen, as this is what i was told, am i being paranoid??? i am afraid haveing all my equipment stolen would ruin my trip!!!!!! any advice out there???

I would put the case in an old duffel bag. It may not protect it from TSA theives, however it will keep it from getting as much attention.

I did a seminar with Stephen Frink, and he travels with a lot of his gear in Pelican type cases. I think it's the luck of the draw. So people travel for years without issue using bags that scream expensive stuff inside. Others get burned and don't do all that much traveling.:06:

 

[Jim Ernst]

I know Jim, I feel the same way. I only did one dive in Micronesia without mine and they do become your friend. How many bags are you taking? I might have an extra again with my Pelican.

dennis, i am thinking i will have my ,pelican case, my dive bag, and a duffle bag, and then carry on my lap top computer, that is all that i can think of right off hand, but i have to say that though i have flown many times, i have never been out of the country (except canada and mexico and didnt fly there) and have never gone on a 13 hour flight or any long flight, so this is all very new to me!!!

 

[RonFrank]

I am sure you will have travel insurance. I was traveling domestic and had one layover. When I received my bag I could tell that someone went through it. Inside the bag I had a digital camera and some other things stolen. When I filled my claim with the airline they said "sorry we don't cover electronics or cameras". Anyway LSS I had too much gear and had to check something it. The camera was the cheapest! Be certain that any electronics you get are covered!

This is COMPLETE and utter BS. The airlines force us to bend over backwards with weight restrictions, baggage restrictions, nit picking about what we can travel with in the name of our own safety.

Then when airline or TSA THEIVES Steel our stuff, they turn a blind eye, and act like it's somehow out of their control, and we must just tolerate this outrageous behavior.

If I was caught stealing on my job, I would be out of a job immediately.

I'm not sure what can be done about this, but something certainly needs to be done. I just wish that someone with a lot of money would sue the shirts off these guys, and set some standards so the airlines could no longer completely ignore these types of problems.

I mean, if the TSA personal are Crooks, what does that mean for our safety? Offer any of them a bit of cash, and one can get them to do just about anything? Because that is the mentality of a criminal mind, and this happens too frequently for it to be some isolated case of just a couple employees.

 

[Diver Dennis]

I think you are only allowed two checked bags Jim but both can be 70lbs. I had 3 going to Micronesia but I had to pay extra for the Pelican per bag and Continental only allows 50lbs. and I had to pay for overweight as well.
You guys will have a fun flight. It's always better to go in a group and everyone will be so excited on the way over. I think you guys are going to PG first, right?