So, regarding carry-on luggage and fees...

I'm not sure if this is applicable in the other countries, but I suspect it is...

On today's news up here in Canada, there were reports that airlines are going to start cracking down on overweight/oversize carry-on luggage. No doubt this has been necessitated by the increase in carry on bags as people try to avoid checked-baggage fees.

I use a Pelican case which is the max size for carry-on, but it weights about 44# loaded... more than double the allowable 20# limit! I've become adept at making this puppy look light as I expect many of you have as well. But, I live in fear at being stopped at the gate and being "forced" to check my case. This almost happened last year on a US Air flight (which was filled with young families heading to Disney I think... every three-year old had a back-pack the size of a Jetta). I advised the airline person that the case held about $12,000 worth of gear and I really didn't want to check it. Thankfully, she didn't weigh it. My initial thought is to add a second smaller case that my wife/photo-sherpa can take. (She normally only has a small backpack with my laptop and miscellaneous stuff...

Does anyone know what the usual "penalty" is for overweight carry-on luggage? Is it a fee, or do they force you to check the bag? I'm heading to Belize in a couple of weeks and the trip involves a commuter flight on some little puddle-hopper. I could care less if my clothes or dive gear go astray, but I would cry like a boiled baby if my cameras went astray...

In the UK at least one airline (Thomson) have been taking a draconian position on hand luggage and weighing everything that has the potential to be over-weight of the 5kgs allowed. They also have a policy to restrict items taken as hand baggage to those which are required in-flight. I used to pack 15kgs as hand baggage on flights to the Red Sea but alas, no more... My last checked baggage weighed 75kgs, with a bill to match :-(

On the flipside, the bucket shop airline Easyjet allow unlimited hand luggage within the size regulations but only a single bag. On boarding an Easyjet flight once I was challenged about a bum bag which I was wearing as I already had a shoulder bag...

I'm not sure if this is applicable in the other countries, but I suspect it is...

 

On today's news up here in Canada, there were reports that airlines are going to start cracking down on overweight/oversize carry-on luggage. No doubt this has been necessitated by the increase in carry on bags as people try to avoid checked-baggage fees.

 

I use a Pelican case which is the max size for carry-on, but it weights about 44# loaded... more than double the allowable 20# limit! I've become adept at making this puppy look light as I expect many of you have as well. But, I live in fear at being stopped at the gate and being "forced" to check my case. This almost happened last year on a US Air flight (which was filled with young families heading to Disney I think... every three-year old had a back-pack the size of a Jetta). I advised the airline person that the case held about $12,000 worth of gear and I really didn't want to check it. Thankfully, she didn't weigh it. My initial thought is to add a second smaller case that my wife/photo-sherpa can take. (She normally only has a small backpack with my laptop and miscellaneous stuff...

 

Does anyone know what the usual "penalty" is for overweight carry-on luggage? Is it a fee, or do they force you to check the bag? I'm heading to Belize in a couple of weeks and the trip involves a commuter flight on some little puddle-hopper. I could care less if my clothes or dive gear go astray, but I would cry like a boiled baby if my cameras went astray...

Be prepared to have all your bags, including your carry-ons weighed prior to boarding the Flight from Belize City to Ambergis Caye.

Be prepared to have all your bags, including your carry-ons weighed prior to boarding the Flight from Belize City to Ambergis Caye.

Conveniently, we are taking a boat from BC to Turneffe... It's the Buffalo-Charlotte one I am most concerned about.

I'm not worried about my gear getting damaged if they make me check it. The Pelican cases seem to do their job... I'm more concerned that it might disappear at a transfer and end up someplace where I am NOT!

I gave up the Pelican cases years ago (too heavy) and have started using the the Samsonite hard case 4 wheel roller cases for my airline travel.

http://www.samsonite.ca/detail/39

I routinely fly charter with Sunwing airlines and always upgrade to "Elite plus" for the additional baggage allowance. Basic luggage allowance is 20 kgs with an extra 20 kgs for scuba gear free, and 5kgs for carry-on. Elite Plus bookings are allowed a further 10 kgs as well. They do check to see you are indeed carrying scuba gear.

The Samsonite hard cases have worked well, compared to a Pelican case, they are extremely lightweight and very durable, price is about the same. I have sent all my photographic gear in "check-in baggage" without any worries as I wrap my equipment with my clothing for a little extra cushioning.

The real beauty in these cases come from the four rollers on the bottom of the cases. I can maneuver the two bags weighing in at about 50 kgs combined weight with one hand in a busy airport easily, and scuffs from the conveyor systems are easily cleaned up with a little furniture polish so they continue to look like new after years of travel.

Hope that helps

Why don't they weigh the passengers, too, if weight is such an issue?

Why don't they weigh the passengers, too, if weight is such an issue?

I used to ask that question since my wife weighs a whomping 98#s. I figured I should be able to take an extra 100#s of gear anyway...

Apparently it's a baggage-handlers' occupational health/contract thing. Their contract specifies that bags can't be more than 50#s...

I gave up the Pelican cases years ago (too heavy) and have started using the the Samsonite hard case 4 wheel roller cases for my airline travel.

 

http://www.samsonite.ca/detail/39

Polliwog, your post got me wondering, but the weight difference between the two cases is negligible... The Samsonite case is 12.94 pounds and the Pelican 1510 is 13.6 pounds.

I have an old Pelican 1450 which I might fire up and stuff with some of my gear. My wife doesn't typically have a piece of carry-on, so she could carry that.

I noticed that on their website and thought it must be a typo.

Have just weighed my case with my travel weigh scale which is fairly accurate, and my case, identical to the one on the website, weighs in at 3.5 kgs or 7.7 lbs. Just a little more than half the weight they are quoting.

If you are still interested in these cases, it might behoove you to take your pelican case with you to the luggage store and do a direct comparison.

The roller system on these bags really work well. A few of my dive buddies were asking about the bags on my last trip after watching me push the bags through Pearson in Toronto.

Why don't they weigh the passengers, too, if weight is such an issue?

Its not politically correct to fleece overweight people. Perhaps related to the number of overweight politicians.

But it is P.C. to fleece photographers, underwater or above.

I have been on flights where they weighed each passenger with their carry-on luggage. They did not care what the weight was..just needed to know how much wt. was coming.

Its not politically correct to fleece overweight people. Perhaps related to the number of overweight politicians.

But it is P.C. to fleece photographers, underwater or above.

 

I have been on flights where they weighed each passenger with their carry-on luggage. They did not care what the weight was..just needed to know how much wt. was coming.

Good points - but I would point out the reason airlines cannot just charge by weight is not just a PC thing. People should not be penalized for their gender or genetics. A skinny person who is 6'3" will still weigh almost twice as much as a skinny person who is 5' tall. The airlines *could* start charging more for the tall person, but then they would probably get a class-action lawsuit for making the tall person sit in a seat designed for someone who is 5'7".

I'm already paying from $50 to $75 extra on each leg of a flight for the "extended economy" section just so I don't get my knees crushed by the inconsiderate person in front of me

JP

John,

I see you are from Denver. I will be there this weekend so I will wave when we land. Look for waving from an passing airplane.

dave

The roller system on these bags really work well. A few of my dive buddies were asking about the bags on my last trip after watching me push the bags through Pearson in Toronto.

I might try that comparison... Although saving 5 pounds still leaves about 17 over. Mrs. Stoo has a similar roller bag and I think we're just going to stuff a unch of stuff into that.

I see we're neighbors by the way... I live up towards Guelph!

John,

I see you are from Denver. I will be there this weekend so I will wave when we land. Look for waving from an passing airplane.

dave

Hopefully, you are going somewhere to dive!

cheers,

John

Apparently it's a baggage-handlers' occupational health/contract thing. Their contract specifies that bags can't be more than 50#s...

That may be a factor but it can't be the only thing. I could check two bags, each of 15kg and they'd charge me for being over my 20kg limit by 30kg. i.e. they are charging me for my total checked baggage not the fact that one bag is overweight.

I have been told it is because of the increasing cost of fuel and if it is, then a lighter person shouldn't have to pay the same as a heavier person.

What's wrong with you guys? Think out of the box. Wear your dive kit, carry your camera in your hand.

I see we're neighbors by the way... I live up towards Guelph!

Just a hop, skip, and jump away.

I often thought there were other underwater photographers from Ontario here on Wetpixel but for one reason or another were too shy to come forward.