Beware the Check-IN naz_'s

[shillard]

- mine is a sturdy Samsonite unit that normally accomodates 1-2 suits. .

I've had various Samsonite bags but the latest one that I got for the hold was the all hard & flexible shell plastic one with the key latches at the side & combination on the top. The FA's use a similar type.
If you know someone at QF they can buy them really cheap.

The best source of Samsonite gear is David Jones during one of their two major annual sales. You can usually score up to 50% off GOOD hardside samsonite cases (my major bag for checked luggage is similar to yours - hard sides, flexible top, the better ones have metal rather than plastic handles & anchors). Use Djs vouchers scored with Amex points, and the victory is twice as sweet. All other luggage I've tried - Antler, Monsac, Triplite, etc is cough. It just doesn't last.

 

[redrat]

Re: Gas Canisters

I use an electric razor, pump-spray deoderant, and have hair that often leads me to be mistaken for Captain Jean-Luc Picard of the Starship Enterprise, so no - I can't say I ever experience the same problem....

The electric shaver I carry was very carefully inspected on the trip NAD-LAX by the local customs. This was end of Sep01, and the Fijians had put in the most stringent requirements post 11Sep01 that I had seen. Now it's commonplace but I reckon they were one of the first.
They ran it, saw the bits of bristle but still made me put it in the main luggage. The laser pointer was a definite no-no.

These days I try to pack the most innocent objects I can find into the carry-on and try to not to sweat in the over humid terminals while looking as non descript as possible. The shaver powder & electric shaver works well.

 

[icemann]

Carry-on Shirt Pack

Quick Question - I don't mean to repeat a post, but does anyone know anywhere else I could get a Twin Shirt / Blouse Pack at all (as in QC Collection) ?

http://www.monocrafts.com.au/qc/luggage/twin_shirt_blouse.asp

Contacted Samsonite directly, they don't have anything like it.

DJ's and Myer - can't see anything, and I wouldn't mind one just to stick in the filing cabinet at work or in my carry on. After 13-14 hours on a MEL-LAX flight, a fresh shirt and a shower would be beaut.

Strandbags - Nope.

Is this just a niche market in the luggage industry ? They look heaps useful.

:?:

 

[straitman]

I turned around to her and said very quietly (so as not to cause mass panic) "You realise that if you do that, they'll explode ?" and then explained to her the basic physics of pressurised containers and why they can't go in the hold. She quickly agreed that carry on was the best place, especially since it was in a pressurised cabin. What was this person doing working on an airline desk ?!

Not sure what the problem is here Iceman. Am I missing something?

The baggage hold on all modern jets is pressurised. Some to different degrees to others however all to a standard thats OK for the items you mentioned.

 

[icemann]

I always understood that (from FIA regulations) you weren't meant to put gas canisters in the hold of the plane (e.g. scuba tanks), because they would explode.

I'm not sure if the hold is now pressurised, but I was under the impression that it wasn't (which would explain why you can't take scuba tanks on).

If you were to, you would have to remove the tank valve to show that the tank is completely 'open' (but you never take tanks anyway because they're just too heavy).

Anyway - shaving cream not being allowed on the carry on ?! Hardly an offensive weapon.

 

[redrat]

The hold is pressurised but I think the pressurised bottle restriction is more to do with loss of pressure/pressure fluctuation versus safety. Some gases or even the container under ground level pressure exhibit different characteristics when subjected to the fluctuations at 38k feet.

 

[straitman]

I'll check the IATA reg's tomorrow if I get a chance :!:

 

[redrat]

This is off the Alaska/Horizon Air FAQ section:
http://www.alaskaair.com/www2/help/faqs/Baggage.asp#DoNotBring

What items are restricted from being in my baggage?

Many common items used everyday in the home or workplace may seem harmless; however, when transported by air, they can be very dangerous. In flight, variations in temperature and pressure can cause items to leak, generate toxic fumes or start a fire.

Items that may not be packed in your carry-on or checked baggage include:

Pressurized Containers: Butane fuel, scuba tanks, propane tanks, CO2 cartridges, self inflating rafts, spray cans (limited amounts of personal toilet articles, such as hair spray, are allowed)

 

[icemann]

Carry ons

So, if I travel with one in-flight bag and a garment bag, will they take the garment bag from my hands and ask for it to be checked in /
hung up inside ?

I would read into this that if I'm flying in business / first, they would allow me to hang it up inside in the closets, and if I'm in economy, they would ask me to check it in at the check in desk and not allow me to use the
overhead bins / closets.

Any answers to this ?

:?:

 

[redrat]

7kg apiece & 2 items max. That's how I read it.

 

[shillard]

Re: Carry ons

So, if I travel with one in-flight bag and a garment bag, will they take the garment bag from my hands and ask for it to be checked in /
hung up inside ?
:?:

I've gotten away with carrying on a garment bag AND laptop bag in Y both domestically and internationally. I usually ask at check-in if I can "get away with that". Only when need-be (such as wanting to have a shower in the QC), never been denied. As I've previously stated, I grossly exceed the carry-on limits on EVERY flight, and have only ever been pulled up exiting BNE through the lower level gates on a CRASH-8 to NTL.

I even used to get on 1900Ds with two carry-ons before Impulse ditched them. Of course, I was doing NTL-SYD so often that I knew most of the aircrew by name at the time....

(This prompted me to check, I flew NTL-SYD or SYD-NTL 91 times between Jan 2001 and Dec 2002).

 

[redrat]

Gross Excess

That's me to a tee. However, never again out of BNE International.

 

[davidtcohen]

Carry on and baggage limits

I have been living in europe for the year and travelling extensively.

Now on my way home to Oz, I travelled BA on a packed full flight from Ams to LHR. Not only did they let me check 2 huge bags (ok allowed under the 2pc via US rule) but I also carried a Samsonite roll on and another overpacked backpack onto the plane. No-one said a thing.

I have always found that if you put all the heavy stuff in your carry on and don't appear to struggle in carrying it yourself, no one will say boo. The only time I had it weighed was flying Perth to Jhb and whilst it was a SAA flight it was the Qantas staff who were being picky (the flight was half empty anyway!)

Ps: Overseas, be nice to check-in...they particuarly like aussie accents in europe, you'd be surpirsed where it can get you!

 

[redrat]

I remember being nice, but the woman in this case had me singled out from the start. QF lost a full fare in this case and it's not often you have that sort of power at that stage of the flight. Secondly, being a bad experience I remember it very well and will do everything in my power never to fly INT out of Bne on QF again.
With that said occasionally I have to fly ANZ (when QF is fully booked or good business sense dictates the flight) and they've just recently announced they will strictly enforce the 7kg rule on the Tasman Express run. I'm travelling that run in half an hour from now AKL-MEL on their new A320 but making the 10kg bag look like 5kg worked

Cheers...

 

[Guest]

stuff

Anyway - shaving cream not being allowed on the carry on ?! Hardly an offensive weapon.

I always carry a presurized can of deoderant with me in carry on. Never had any problems..even in usa.
Although the BNE Intl naz_'s did take away an alan key of mine (ones used on qld car plates..very small)

go figure

 

[icemann]

Last week at MEL the sirens went off on the x-ray baggage before I had even stepped through the metal detector.

What was it ? A can of deoderant and some shaving cream.

I had to laugh though, because the security guy who came over to check made his posture look like that of a chimpanzee...but I am a pretty stocky guy, so that may explain that.

 

[redrat]

How 'bout this one...
A QF staff member friend got stopped when going through the xray at MEL to go back to SYD with a fork in his carry-on. It made it through the xray coming down. What's even crazier is that we all know that J uses metal forks with meals.
It doesn't figure :?

 

[danielh]

Additional Tips.

In regards to carry on luggage. It is also important to note whether or not the flight is very busy or not. If you think it is going to be a busy flight then perhaps popping into the airport a bit earlier will get you a more relaxed Check in person. It is later on when 80% of ppl have checked in and the weight limits look bad when they can be quite strict.

Personally, I carry on two things. One is my laptop bag that is filled up with all things electrical in nature and heavy as hell but I carry it like a feather (approx 10kg) and two, a standard small carry-on that looks big but is quite light (approx 6kg).

Some times when I am a bit worried, I might have one bag slightly emptied out one with a friend or relative on the side while I check in. Once ok'ed through the check-in counter I just fill it up again.

A tip for Hong Kong travelers is to check in by the Airport express stations. You can just check in your big 20kg+ bags and the attendants don't seem to care too much about your carry-on. (NOTE: This is from personal experience only).

FYI. I travel business and my class is a D one whatever that means. I am also a Qantas club member and so perhaps that gives me some additional leeway.

Regards
Daniel

 

[danielh]

Just got back from Hong Kong and I managed to check in my 32.3kg and 12.7kg bags with no questions asked at the Kowloon Airport Express. Techincally I think I only had a 30kg limit as a Business traveller and that as my Qantas Club card had expired on Dec 31 2003, I should not be entitled to the 10kg bonus.

I also had a 12.3kg and 8kg hand luggage there as well but they didn't even bother to weigh them up (I had already taken out my laptop and a few other things to lighten the load. They were being looked after by my fiance).

Going through HK airport security brought no questions as to the weight of my hand luggage and so I managed to come back into the country with 65.3kg.

I think the flight was not full as I had an empty seat next to me and in Business there were about 3 other empty seats. A quick look in Economy showed me a about a 1 in 8 seat empty scenario.

Regards
Daniel

 

[arun]

I checked in at Chennai (India) Airport with about 32kgs. The Sri Lankan Airline check in girl was so sweet that she did not complain. But I had a hand luggage (a trolley bag) with 17 kgs of books. She asked me to weigh it - and was quite shocked. She said even if she allowed it, I might have problems at the boarding and asked if I could check that too in. I took out some valuables and gave that bag too to be checked in. She checked that in and wished me a good journey. Excellent service! As an award ticket passenger I was technically allowed only 20kgs.

Then I checked in to SQ flighr from Colombo to Sydney with 97 kgs for three of us. Again technically we were eligible for only 20kgs each.

Both these experiences have really elevated the status of the check in clerks in my mind!