How to take a Wombat on a plane...

[Berlin]

Hi everyone, I have a rather unusual issue and would like to get your opinion on this... I'm going to Europe with my partner at the end of next week and we'll be spoiling ourselves for this holiday by flying First class on Thai (using US airways redemption rather than paying outright, of course ).

Now- I could tell you that we want to bring a present to my cancer-stricken young niece or similar lie (which very well might be what I'd tell the guys at Airport security if it comes to it...) but I'll be honest and just admit that we would LIKE to take our giant plush wombat with us on that trip. We're both always take some -admittedly smaller- plush animals on our trips in the hand luggage (quite a few flight attendants might know me as the weird guy who always flies in Business or even First with his Winny the Poo ) but have never dared to take Mr. Wombat for obvious reasons.



The above picture gives you an idea of the size we're talking so my questions are: Do we have to fear to get him taken away somewhere on our trip? I would imagining going First class to be THE chance to take him somewhere so we'd really love to (and I bet he'll make for great pictures in front of the Eiffel Tower and the likes!) but we wouldn't do it if there was a risk of loosing him- we'd be heart broken! So... Are there any dangers you guys think? Would the cabin crew on one of our J class inter-Europe flights potentially have an issue with him? Or security somewhere? I'd imagine him to fit through the X-ray machines, maybe tucked onto one of those trays but not entirely sure- you can see the size above.

We're going First class on Thai from Sydney to Bangkok and then Bangkok to Paris, from there we'll fly on LH in Business to Frankfurt and onto London. We then have a little interim flight on BA from London to Amsterdam, also in Business or whatever Club Europe or similar BA calls that. On the way back, we go Berlin to Frankfurt on LH in J and then onto BKK on Thai First and then back to Sydney, also in First.

Just in case- I'm being serious. Both myself and my partner have been in turmoil about this for quite a while now and the trip is now just around the corner so we really need to make a decision. Any help/suggestions will be greatly appreciated!

 

[Ausbt]

"Pardon me miss? No, that's not a wombat, it's actually my hat."

 

[Hvr]

Maybe they're concerned about who will clean up when he eats, roots and leaves?

 

[Fantic125]

Don't you get extra luggage allowance flying F?

If so, why not pack him into check-in?

 

[RooFlyer]

it LOOKs like it would fit into a normal carry-on wheelie bag, and if so, I'd just shove and stuff ... er ... gently emplace said marsupial in the bag and tote it as normal.

You'll probably get the bag opened a couple of times at x-ray, as it'll appear as if the bag is completely empty and they might wonder why. If not, wouldn't it go into regular checked luggage? Then you might need to max out your carry-on allowance.

You say its 'plush' so I guess there is no doubt that it looks and is entirely artificial, even to European security folk? Yeah, I know, but you never know at airport security :shock:

 

[SeatBackForward]

Declare its a computer bag, Apples latest iMarsupial. Carry it on and place into the first empty Y seat you can find. Then ask the FA if a friend travelling with you can swap seats ...wait, wrong thread.

Your concerns shouldn't end with the flights, how are you going to sightseeing carrying wombat around? got yourself a baby bjorn carrier?

 

[Berlin]

Apples latest iMarsupial.

Lol- love those comments, that's my favorite! And yes, he looks quite real but you can tell it's definitely a plush version- still has a tag sticking out on the side too, this should convince even the worst-paid security guy at CDG, LHR or FRA I'd hope!
Saying that- I just realize we're going through some of the very worst airports in Europe :shock:

Checking him in is what we'd like to avoid if possible as we had too often too many cases of delayed or lost luggage in our life so it's a bit of a risk. Though I'd think in the worst case if one of the J class flights has a space issue, that's what they'd do, check him from the cabin rather than throwing our poor fluffy wombat onto the tarmac...

 

[RooFlyer]

<snip>
.... throwing our poor fluffy wombat onto the tarmac...

OK, now I'm getting flashbacks to the Sydney Olympics and the diving competition between the official mascots and Fatso, the fat coughd wombat.

 

[Archphoto]

I remember being given an enormous teddy bear, by the marketing manager of a hotel in Singapore, as a thank-you gift. I ended up packing him in a box and he travelled all over the place with me, on quite a few photo shoots.

At the end of 5 months, he had enough baggage tags to be used as extra padding. My partner loved the (extra) Christmas gift; he arrived at each and every airport - can't say the same for some of the more important baggage. . . . .

 

[NM]

Surely its counts as one piece of carrion

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Now you do realise that a TR is expected with plenty of photos of the wombat at key tourist attractions.

 

[Berlin]

Now you do realise that a TR is expected with plenty of photos of the wombat at key tourist attractions.

I was waiting for someone to ask for it, actually! Will definitely do, I promise!

 

[Berlin]

He's all ready for the big trip- we'll try and take him as hand luggage in this bag.

 

[Berlin]

Now you do realise that a TR is expected with plenty of photos of the wombat at key tourist attractions.

Just posted the first part of our trip report with lots of photos under the "Trip report" section. Wombat made it back to Australia all safe and happy and apparently, he had an awesome time overseas!

 

[jukebox333]

I've got visions of the wombat getting a full cavity search.

And when zippo is revealed, them turning to you.... :shock: :shock: :shock: