GOING OCT. 4th--AIRLINE RESTRICTIONS

[ScubaJW]

We are flying out to Cozumel on Continental of Oct.14 out of SFO to Houston. If you get time please IM me about the restrictions. Also very curious about weight restrictions with Continental as everytime I call their story is different.

I would suggest you to go and google your airline. Every airline I notice so far has the information about baggage limit/etc... Here is the website that I already have done for you: http://www.continental.com/web/en-US/content/travel/baggage/default.aspx

 

[ggunn]

curious, was this a matter of weight limit, or a matter of how many - number - of batteries were allowed?

The year before last when I was leaving Cozumel, they stopped me at the screening Xray and told me that there was a four battery per person limit on carry-on, and they confiscated all the rest. There was no sign about it or notification of any kind. The year before, they took the carabiners from my hammock, same thing (no notice). I have been there twice since then with batteries in my carry-on, and they didn't count them or say a word about it. There was a problem with duct tape (I don't leave home without it) three or four years ago, but not recently.

Lately, I've been giving the dive shop all my leftover batteries when I leave. They were glad to get them, even the partially used ones.

I have not flown since the liquid restrictions, but it's been a somewhat different set of rules every time I've flown out of Cozumel for the past five years. Nothing major, though; one just needs to be flexible. They don't have the resources there to furnish the airport with all the high end equipment that many US airports have, so you have to expect to deal with the human element a bit more.

 

[Christi]

curious, was this a matter of weight limit, or a matter of how many - number - of batteries were allowed?

It's definitely not the number of batteries, at least in checked bags. Perhaps carry-on batteries are limited to the ones that go with whatever electronic device you have in your carry-on. I've traveled from IAH to Coz with as many as 100 batteries...and people bring them down for us all of the time...and yes, they are part of the weight limit. Batteries on the island are expensive, especially when you can get big packs of them at Sam's/Costco for $10 or so.

Here are the airlines baggage policies. Every airline has policies that are easy to find on their website. This took me about 2 minutes:
Continental
http://www.continental.com/web/en-US/content/travel/baggage/default.aspx

American
http://www.aa.com/content/travelInformation/baggage/main.jhtml;jsessionid=H2RGU1QDNTYWZEAJJMVU1EMQBFFS4VMD?anchorEvent=false

Delta (website is currently messed up, can't pull up exact baggage policies)
http://www.delta.com/traveling_checkin/flight_status_updates/advisories/us_security_measures/index.jsp

United Airlines
http://www.united.com/page/middlepage/0,6823,1031,00.html?navSource=HPDropdown&linkTitle=Baggage

TSA
http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/prohibited/permitted-prohibited-items.shtm

 

[MN Lakeman]

I began getting a little nervous about this issue of a reg/console cluster w/ a liquid filled compass, but as I recall, the compass pops out of the console boot much the same as the dive computer (yes?). There is NO WAY I'm checking my reg set - so pack the compass & carry on the reg?

 

[Damselfish]

It's definitely not the number of batteries, at least in checked bags. Perhaps carry-on batteries are limited to the ones that go with whatever electronic device you have in your carry-on. I've traveled from IAH to Coz with as many as 100 batteries...and people bring them down for us all of the time...and yes, they are part of the weight limit. Batteries on the island are expensive, especially when you can get big packs of them at Sam's/Costco for $10 or so.

Here are the airlines baggage policies. Every airline has policies that are easy to find on their website. This took me about 2 minutes:
Continental
http://www.continental.com/web/en-US/content/travel/baggage/default.aspx

American
http://www.aa.com/content/travelInformation/baggage/main.jhtml;jsessionid=H2RGU1QDNTYWZEAJJMVU1EMQBFFS4VMD?anchorEvent=false

Delta (website is currently messed up, can't pull up exact baggage policies)
http://www.delta.com/traveling_checkin/flight_status_updates/advisories/us_security_measures/index.jsp

United Airlines
http://www.united.com/page/middlepage/0,6823,1031,00.html?navSource=HPDropdown&linkTitle=Baggage

TSA
http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/prohibited/permitted-prohibited-items.shtm

Well the reason I asked it looked like the person was accused of complaining about batteries being included in weight limits, when it wasn't clear that's what they meant at all. Also because I've heard stories about people having problems because of the number of batteries they had, sometimes carry on, sometimes checked (nothing to do with weight limits, but actual number like they just thought you had an awful lot of batteries - and yes, maybe sometimes they just wanted some new batteries but the end result to you is the same.)

The problem with airlines policies is that no matter what they say, any random airline employee or security person sometimes makes up their own rules as they go along. Even if you carried a printed copy with you waving it in their face may or may not accomplish anything.

 

[ggunn]

Well the reason I asked it looked like the person was accused of complaining about batteries being included in weight limits, when it wasn't clear that's what they meant at all. Also because I've heard stories about people having problems because of the number of batteries they had, sometimes carry on, sometimes checked (nothing to do with weight limits, but actual number like they just thought you had an awful lot of batteries - and yes, maybe sometimes they just wanted some new batteries but the end result to you is the same.)

Well, either way you go, there are potential probs with taking a lot of batteries. If they are in checked bags, they contribute to the weight limit, and if they are in carry-on, it might be a security issue (real or concocted). What I do is check them on the way down and bite the bullet on weight, and then donate any unused and partially used batteries to the dive shop when I leave.

 

[scubasherry]

I have contacted TSA, Delta and the Airport we are flying out of. I got a response back from Delta but they did not answer the question, only redirected me back to their website for SCUBA related info. They must have saw the word scuba and decided not to read any further. So am waiting to hear back from them for the second go round.

I got this from GRR airport. Looks like a good solid answer and I plan on printing it off just to bring along with me to be safe, along with whatever TSA and Delta tell me also.

Sherry,
I spoke with Lori Moon, our TSA Manager in charge of passenger screening here at GRR. She stated that she does not see why the compass would cause a problem in your carry-on baggage, since the liquid is basically inside of a factory seal.
She did state that the compass would probably trigger a secondary screening where they would check for trace explosives. This additional screening usually does not take more than 2-3 minutes maximum, but you may want to allow for the additional time just in case.
If you have any more questions, I would recommend that you contact Lori directly at xxx xxx xxxx, since my answers will come from her as well.
If I can be of further assistance to you, please don't hesitate to contact me.

 

[ggunn]

I have contacted TSA, Delta and the Airport we are flying out of. I got a response back from Delta but they did not answer the question, only redirected me back to their website for SCUBA related info. They must have saw the word scuba and decided not to read any further. So am waiting to hear back from them for the second go round.
]

One thing that I have found is the the rules going down and the rules coming back are frequently different.

 

[scubasherry]

One thing that I have found is the the rules going down and the rules coming back are frequently different.

And that is fine by me. I just want to be able to take my computer and reg with me in my carry on on the way down without to much of a hassle. That is why I am trying to get verification from all the players in the game. TSA, Delta, and GRR. Got one, 2 to go....I also don't want the fear of it being confiscated.
I will pack it in checked luggage on the way back.... Save the carry on space for a change of warmer clothing for when we get back.

 

[rje634]

Just there last week, arrived and left through Cancun. My carryon contained, regs, computer with attached fluid filled compass, camera with strobe and accessories, dive lights, nitrox analyzer and I had no problem at all.
They are checking all carryons at the gate before your allowed on.