Weight & Luggage Limitations on flights to the Galapagos

[tstormdiver]

Hey all,
Going to the Galapagos at the very end of Aug. I will be going with my LDS on the Humboldt Explorer. The paperwork for Explorer Ventures mentions that passengers are limited to 1 checked bag at 44lbs & 1 carry- on at about 18lbs. This seems a bit excessive in limitations for diving gear IMO. No,.... I don't plan on weights or cylinders, but I'm talking 2 drysuits with a couple of 200gm undergarments , fins (big enough for my drysuit), mask, BCD, Recreational Regulator, a couple of computers, emergency equipment (sausage style lift bag & finger reel, an air horn) & maybe a small camera & strobe (point & shoot). Normal diving stuff. That looks like that alone will take up most, if not all of the weight allowance, before minimal clothing. I know the paper work says that there is an over weight cost of about $.75/ Kilo (2.2lbs). What do they flat charge for a second bag? Or is it still $.75/ kilo? Or do they even allow a second bag at any cost? We won't know which airline we'll be on until right be for we leave. I believe Explorer Ventures uses TAME or Aerogal for flight from Ecuador to the Galapagos. What kind of creative packing ideas does anyone have? Thanks for any information,..... just want to do the best I can & prepare.

 

[Mossman]

That's something you should check with Explorer or your LDS, who can relay the question to their local reps. Both Aggressor and Peter Hughes somehow manage a group check-in at the airport that avoids all excess baggage charges on the flights to and from the islands, but I have no idea what Explorer does.

You also might want to be aware of luggage embargos on your mainland flight. For instance, Continental has a luggage embargo on flights out of Quito between June and August and they tried to enforce it against us on my first trip there. The embargo means they will not accept any bags or excess weight, from coach passengers at least, exceeding the allotted 2 50-lb bags per passenger no matter how much you try to bribe them.

 

[tstormdiver]

From my readings Explorer Ventures does the same with their getting gorups & "sometimes" skirting the excess baggage fees. We're flying Delta for the international legs of the flight. As far as I know, they don't have any of those jkinds of "embargos", but sounds like I may be wise to take a small duffle bag to catch any overweight. I just don't see where I can pack all that equipment (even as bare bones as it is), & stay under 44 lbs + clothes. Heck, I am even getting a wheeled 8# bag to carry it in.

 

[Misa]

I`m going in June to Galapagos and it seems we`re allowed to carry 46 kgs. The spanish airlines allowed us 25 kg of scuba diver to have it and not paying for it. I think you have to infor your LDS that scuba gear and ski gear are allowed free on board IF you announce flight company within few months of your flight.

 

[Mossman]

From my readings Explorer Ventures does the same with their getting gorups & "sometimes" skirting the excess baggage fees. We're flying Delta for the international legs of the flight. As far as I know, they don't have any of those jkinds of "embargos", but sounds like I may be wise to take a small duffle bag to catch any overweight. I just don't see where I can pack all that equipment (even as bare bones as it is), & stay under 44 lbs + clothes. Heck, I am even getting a wheeled 8# bag to carry it in.

Yeah, both Peter Hughes and Aggressor claim that it only works "sometimes" as well, probably to cover their butts if some inspector is on duty that day and they can't get away with bribing their normal contact. It worked for us in both directions on both trips and I'm not normally a "lucky" person, so I assume that "sometimes" really means "more often than not". If you do get stuck paying an excess charge, so be it, but I seriously doubt they'll refuse to take the excess baggage and your Explorer rep can haggle for you if there are any difficulties (but it sure can't hurt to personally verify this with Explorer before you go). It's already an expensive trip so it's assumed another few hundred bucks for excess baggage ain't gonna break you, just seriously cut into your beer budget for the trip. To hedge your bet, you can legally gamble in casinos in Quito or Guayaquil and try to win some back, just remember to wear long pants if you're male as they're sticklers for that. Even the Quito streetwalkers won't do business with you if you're wearing shorts.

As for Delta, scroll down to the bottom of the following page:

Excess Baggage

The embargo affecting your trip runs from 6/3/10 to 8/31/10:


"No excess baggage (extra piece) allowed. No bag over 50 lbs. or 62 linear inches will be accepted for travel to/from the following destinations:

• Guadalajara, Mexico (GDL)
• Guayaquil, Ecuador (GYE)
• Leon, Mexico (BJX)
• Quito, Ecuador (UIO) . . ."

 

[tstormdiver]

Thanks for the add'l information. We are leaving for Ecuador on 8/30/2010 & will be leaving back for the US on 9/8/2010 (a day or 2 to sight see), so hopefully this silly baggage embargo will be over by then. I, right now, plan to take only 1 checked bag, though it will be overweight & may even stuff in an extra duffle bag for the trip home, if need be. As for the streets of Quito,.... I'm quite female:blinking:,.... last I checked. Although my ultra short hairstyles have confused me for the other sex. I'll be with quite a large group (there's 16 of us) so safety in numbers.

 

[Mossman]

Thanks for the add'l information. We are leaving for Ecuador on 8/30/2010 & will be leaving back for the US on 9/8/2010 (a day or 2 to sight see), so hopefully this silly baggage embargo will be over by then. I, right now, plan to take only 1 checked bag, though it will be overweight & may even stuff in an extra duffle bag for the trip home, if need be. As for the streets of Quito,.... I'm quite female:blinking:,.... last I checked. Although my ultra short hairstyles have confused me for the other sex. I'll be with quite a large group (there's 16 of us) so safety in numbers.

Sorry, didn't see your photo and the Tammy part until after I replied - "tstormdiver" is quite ambiguous (Ok, the photo doesn't help much either with the short hair and dry suit). Quito is safe enough by day and no one roams around much at night, even in groups. When my buddy and I were prowling the neighborhood near the Mercure Hotel late at night on my first trip, the only other souls braving the streets were the streetwalkers and machine-gun-armed police with Rottweilers on chains. Even many restaurants lock their doors and only open them if you look like you're planning on dining there.

You might also want to avoid the coca tea and strong coffee at night. On my last trip, that and the horrific altitude left me awake all night with my heart pounding, having trouble breathing. Take it very easy in Quito unless you already live on the top of a mountain. On my next trip, I'm flying through Guayaquil, which I understand has cleaned up its act a bit.

Apparently the Delta embargo lasts through 8/31/10 and includes flights to Quito or Guayaquil, so you might not be able to check in an overweight bag on the way down. Probably best to call first so you don't get a nasty surprise at the airport.

 

[tstormdiver]

No problemo on the confusion. I don't even bat an eye anymore, when call "sir". I just correct them & go on. This information will be quite helpful. I don't even think our group leader is aware of this (but soon will be). I guess what I might do is use 2 bags to get to & from the US & Ecuador, & then consolidate them for the flight to Galapagos. Good stuff.

 

[Mossman]

It was a surprise for our group as well when we checked in for our flight back from Quito and I was told that I had to "remove 6 kilos". I offered to pay the excess charge and that's when we found out about the embargo about which "our travel agent should have informed us". Group leader had a fit, especially since CO had taken 3 days to get the remainder of our group's luggage to Ecuador and thus delayed our Aggressor boat's departure to Wolf and Darwin. Check-in counter clerk consulted with her supervisor who fortunately OK'ed my heavy bag and they didn't even charge me the fee, but it taught me a valuable lesson to always check the embargo list that most people (including travel agents) don't even know exists.

Have a great trip, sir!

 

[DiveTheGalapagos]

Going to Galapagos tomorrow, flying Tame, and from there for awhile to the US. Which equals a large piece of luggage. EV are using Tame. Lately, they have been nitpicky about charging for overweight. Still, I've only paid $10 or so for a lot of extra weight. Can't remember how much now, but substantial. Yes, they will let you bring a second bag and a carry on. Will let you know how they receive me tomorrow.