Sadly, the future of air travel is here

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17052723/

Granted that it'll never happen to me, but don't you think they should charge less for people who only bring carry-on luggage? Seeings how they are going to now get upwards of 1/3rd of the price of a ticket additional for bringing a second bag aboard the plane?

I do not have much experience with duties on items that you ship overseas, but the more I travel for diving, the more I think about FedEx-ing well packed camera gear to my destination before the trip, and back home afterwards.....Wouldn't it be nice to travel with only carry-on luggage again [/star-filled dream off]

but the more I travel for diving, the more I think about FedEx-ing well packed camera gear to my destination before the trip, and back home afterwards.....Wouldn't it be nice to travel with only carry-on luggage again [/star-filled dream off]

Can do and don't need Fedex - there are a no of companies like this one: http://www.carrymyluggage.com/

Well looks like British divers are in luck... The article points out this exception for "sports" equipment. Now to argue with the counter person that housing and strobes are an integral part of your scuba gear...

"Under BA's new rules, passengers will not be charged for checked sporting equipment, even if it constitutes a second bag."

Moved this to the Travel Section

...but don't you think they should charge less for people who only bring carry-on luggage? Seeings how they are going to now get upwards of 1/3rd of the price of a ticket additional for bringing a second bag aboard the plane?

Well, when they start charging by weight including passenger is when it'll be fair.

Can do and don't need Fedex - there are a no of companies like this one: http://www.carrymyluggage.com/

Those services are usually limited in destinations. As an alternative, I've actually used the unaccompanied luggage services offered by many airlines. It's cheaper than having the excess luggage go with you and I usually use it for stuff I don't need. They fly it as cargo and you have to pick it up at the airport. What I do is send it ahead of me so it's waiting for me when I land.

Of course, with TSA regulations, unaccompanied bags aren't allowed from the US but this service I've used before isn't too bad either:

http://www.xsbaggage.com/

but the more I travel for diving, the more I think about FedEx-ing well packed camera gear to my destination before the trip, and back home afterwards

I just checked the Air Canada website. It seems they are now giving very detailed instructions on how to ship your downhill skis by FedEx to anywhere between Canada and the U.S. . I guess their are hoping a lot of people will take the hint.

It shouldn't take to long before they start including dive equipment under the program.

On another note, I just got back from San Andres Columbia with Air Transat. They asked me to open my second bag that contained my dive equipment to verify it was actually dive equipment before they would accept it as check-in baggage.

Westjet Airlines, another Canadian carrier is actually specifying what is considered to be a complete set of dive equipment on their website. It is not a long list to say the least.

The funny thing about all of this is, that they will still ship your tank and dive weights for free, subject to certain conditions for the tank and valve. Duh!! It's easier to rent that stuff for a few bucks at your destination!