Airlines/Airports with strict hand/cabin luggage rules

 

Coming back from Aqaba in June, I ran into problems in Amman. Like most of you I presume, I normally hand carry both my computer and regulator, and my video system. I have never had a problem with this on any prior flight. In Amman, as I was going through the security screening, I got pulled aside for them to look at my hand luggage after going through the X-ray machine. No problem, that's normal and expected by now. However, I got an inspector who had no idea what I was carrying and would not allow me to carry either of those bags onto the plane. I fussed, and got him to bring his supervisor over - who agreed with him. They forced me to go back to check in and check the the two additional bags, and made me pay for the additional baggage. Of course, I had carefully gotten rid of all my JD's by now, and their VISA card reader was having computer problems at the time, so that was an additional aggravation. Additionally, since I always hand carry my video camera, there were no locks on my Pelican case. Needless to say, I was extremely unhappy about the entire process and worried if my gear was going to be pilfered before I got it back. As it turned out, everything arrived safely back home, but I was a mess for the entire flight back home. It really put a sour taste onto what had been a good trip.

Sorry, I just provided my PERSONAL subjective experience without any attempt to generalize it. And I'm very sorry to hear such a story from you - I can imagine the frustration...

Sorry, I just provided my PERSONAL subjective experience without any attempt to generalize it. And I'm very sorry to hear such a story from you - I can imagine the frustration...

No, I understand that you were giving your personal experience. I just had to vent and relate my frustration. It was no reflection on you. I just got unlucky, and happened to cross paths with an inflexible idiot, that's all.

 

No, I understand that you were giving your personal experience. I just had to vent and relate my frustration. It was no reflection on you. I just got unlucky, and happened to cross paths with an inflexible idiot, that's all.

I'd add: inconsistent idiots.

By the way - how was the Aqaba diving?

I'd add: inconsistent idiots.

By the way - how was the Aqaba diving?

Agreed about inconsistent.

Aqaba was very nice. The reefs were quite healthy, and we saw quite a lot of interesting fish and critters - especially for me, since all of my other clear water diving has been in the Caribbean. The first day that we were there, there was no wind, so the water was very flat and we could see the bottom at 75 feet quite well, so the vis was very good. My only complaint, if you'd call it a complaint, was that I am used to doing 4 or 5 dives a day at Coco View, and I was limited to 2 dives per day in Aqaba. However, I did enjoy the down time seeing an area that was very different from anything that I was used to. I hope that helps.

Philippine Airlines have a 10 kg checked-in limit for domestic flights, which they enforce strictly. This can get very expensive due to most island-to-island travel being via Manila with a change of flights - so you have to pay twice.

At Busuanga airport (for Coron) they didn't have a card machine, so as I didn't have enough cash to pay the excess, I had to pay at the Manila end before they released my luggage. It was great to have that option, but there wasn't a credit card machine in the Arrivals hall either, so I had to go through to Departures and pay there. 30 mins delay. I'll definitely take enough cash next time.

Fortunately I never got my cabin baggage weighed.

Any one out there have recent experience traveling within the Philippines with camera gear? I am trying to figure out what I can carry on and what I will have to check.

Thanks,

Joe

Yes, I have. Never have I seen enforcement of weight limits for carry-on baggage on a domestic flight. But maybe I am lucky, as my m4/3 system fits in what looks like a normal backpack. Size is a different matter - maybe if I was using a Pelican hard case or a big Think Tank roller it would be different. But when I see the stuff locals drag on board (two bags plus a purse or backpack plus a box of donuts is not uncommon), I'd be pretty unhappy if they stopped me with one bag. Just be nice, look normal, use an international size bag, and don't push your luck is my motto.

We travelled Manila/Busanga on Cebu Air in March this yr, it was an ATR flight and all our hold luggage was over and charged, pretty cheap. Cabin carry-on baggage wasn't weighed which was just as well as there were many camera s/regs/Rb bits, the overhead bins were quite shallow and a regular wheelie wouldn't fit. Check the airline dimensions.

Wife and I just returned from Tubataha/Manila via Cebu Air.

175 lbs of luggage on 2 tickets cost US$80.00 over and US$135 return and gear was practically dry?

In Manila I used US credit card, but in Puerto Princess we returned via the newly opened airport.

No credit cards accepted and no money changers!

Thankfully a friend converted US$ for us or we would have been in the creek!

I had a small back pack, computer case and roll on, wifr had roll on.

No weighting or questions.

Push to get on early!

I'm flying LAX to Cairns (on my way to PNG) on Virgin Australia. I've gone over their baggage rules. No where in it does it mention a personal bag. The carry on does state the 7kg/15lb limit so I'll have my photographers vest all set up to pull out to make weight.

Is it fair to assume a personal/computer backpack is OK? I could probably bet by without it.

Cebu Pacific seems to be a lot more tolerant with excess baggage than Philippine Airlines. You can also book your excess allowance upfront. Gratefully we got this advise beforehand so booked with them. We had no issues at all with Cebu Pacific, also not with over-the-top handluggage.

Recently flew with SAA and Air Avianca to Galapagos and was surprised to pass through all airports without hand luggage being weighed. You ate still only allowed one hand luggage item per person plus a camera or laptop or jacket( see webpage for more details).

Flew EVA Airlines last Feb to Bali, very strict with 7kg carry on bag but they didn't check weight of personal item. I have a laptop/Regulator bag as personal item that comes in handy.

Also limited to 10kg carry on and personal item total on NAM Air from Bali to Komodo

EVA was also strict when I flew Taipei to Vancouver in 2018. But as in quite a few of these stories, they didn't care that I carried the stuff that I removed from the roller. My roller contains two padded soft bags with handles, so not too annoying.  Of course I put the soft bags back in the roller at the gate.

Qatar Airlines from Cardiff ruthlessly enforced hand baggage to the gram.

The other one now is all flights at KLIA2 (so Air Asia main hub) they now weigh after checking and before immigration.  I end up wearing 2 pairs of shorts and hiking trousers with stuffed pockets every single time going through there now as a result.

3 hours ago, String said:

Qatar Airlines from Cardiff ruthlessly enforced hand baggage to the gram.

That's either local or new. I flew Qatar Airlines to Philippines in October (from Israel, so one extra connection in Athens and Larnaca on the way out and back respectively) and nobody batted an eye at my 15kg carryon backpack or 32kg checked bag. 

Cardiff specifically, Doha and other places they didnt care less.

I was 7.2kg, had to lose 200grams (and then unknown to them collect the other 7kg id left with relatives outside the check-in area....

I traveled out of Abu Dhabi on Etihad to Manila

Then returned from Manila to Abu Dhabi on Etihad

I had my 1st/2nd stage as carry-on during both trips

Both times I was asked what I had but no qualms

I mention this because I recall reading somewhere that Manila airport does not allow 1st/2nd stage as carry-on

Maybe domestically only?

Etihad on both trips didn't pay attention to carry-on weight

I believe it is Philippine airlines that has this restriction, not the airport.  Last I knew, the airline still has this rule, but not sure exactly how they know what is in your carry-on when coming into the country.

8 minutes ago, Draq said:

I believe it is Philippine airlines that has this restriction, not the airport.  Last I knew, the airline still has this rule, but not sure exactly how they know what is in your carry-on when coming into the country.

Exactly. 

I don't think it's Philippines airlines as they cannot search your carry on.