British Airways changing it's baggage policies - scuba tanks still carried

Ally · 10-22-2007, 12:55 PM

From next month, British Airways will no longer allow passengers to take surfboards and certain other types of sporting equipment with them on board flights.

New rules effective from November 6 will prevent customers checking in surfboards, windsurfing boards and sails, hang gliders, kayaks or canoes, pole vaults and javelins. People wishing to take these items will need to contact a separate freight company and arrange for the delivery of these items to their destination.

The change is due to "the large size and handling complexities" of the items, BA said, and will disappoint those surfers who travel with the airline to surf hotspots such as Newquay and further afield.

Sporting items which are still accepted on BA flights include bicycles, scuba diving tanks, and skis/snowboards.

These items must be packed in a travel case that is specifically designed for that piece of equipment, with bags weighing no more than 23 kilograms.

MgicTwnger · 10-22-2007, 08:26 PM

I don't think US airlines allow scuba tanks. Why bring them? Any op rents tanks and weights, usually part of the price of the dive.

**Kev Martin** · 10-26-2007, 07:19 AM

I agree. One of the highlights of diving abroad for me is not having to worry about transporting cylinders and weights.

On one trip to the Red Sea one of our party decided that he would take a pony cylinder with him. He was made to empty the cylinder at the airport.

On arrival in Hurghada he had to pay for the cost of filling the cylinder.

During the whole week's diving he didn't even fit the cylinder onto his scuba kit (the twit had forgotten to bring the pony clamp) and when it came time to leave he had to empty the cylinder before he was allowed to pass through the airport.

If some sort of certification could have been awarded for wasted effort he would have earned a high commendation.

Ally · 10-26-2007, 07:41 AM

Tbh I hadn't realised that airlines allowed scuba tanks to be carried.

I know that the surfing fraternity are absolutely furious over the ban on carrying surfboards by BA. It is causing all sorts of repercussions.

**Kev Martin** · 10-27-2007, 12:41 PM

I must admit that some of the current regulations imposed by airlines leaves me a little baffled.

When we went out to the Red Sea recently we were told that carrying our regulators in our hand luggage was not allowed. It seems that we can use them as offensive weapons should we wish to do harm to anyone!!

Using my lap top to cudgel someone unconscious is quite acceptable.

MgicTwnger · 10-27-2007, 02:45 PM

I always carry my regs in my carry-on and have never had a problem going to the Caribbean or US destinations. I just bring on what I really need: regs, mask, dive computer, bathing suit. Everything else I feel OK renting if I have to. And the wife has a toothbrush.

Ally · 10-27-2007, 02:47 PM

When I go off cruising I take my laptop with me in my carry on luggage plus a suitcase that is overpacked (as usual). There was once the time when I managed to bring an airport to a complete standstill for a few hours....but that is a whole different story

MgicTwnger · 10-27-2007, 04:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ally

There was once the time when I managed to bring an airport to a complete standstill for a few hours....but that is a whole different story

Oh, do tell!

Ally · 10-27-2007, 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MgicTwnger

Oh, do tell!

Well, I went skiing in Austria over Christmas/New Year 1982/3 and my dad wanted an artificial ice-pick as a souvenir brought home. So I bought one for him and when it came to leave the hotel for the airport, I taped the ice-pick onto the outside of my suitcase really well (used two rolls of duct tape).

Got to Munich airport check-in and the woman behind the desk insisted that the ice-pick went into the hold on it's own, so took a while, but I got the tape off the case, she stuck a label onto the shaft of the ice-pick and I waved it bye bye along with my case.

Arrived at Luton airport and waited....and waited....no sign of the bags at all.

A call bellowed across the baggage reclaim.....

a sinking feeling hit me, they wanted me to go see the baggage handlers manager.

That damn ice-pick had fallen tween two of the conveyors and had jammed the entire airport baggage system. They asked why I hadn't taped it to my case, I explained that I had done but was told to remove it at Munich.

Five hours later, I got my case and that damn ice-pick, found my parents and drove home.

Dad was so grateful for the souvenir ice-pick, he mounted it on a wall directly opposite the door to the lounge.....so there it was, staring at me from that day on...reminding me every day of the conveyors at Luton airport