The luggage weighting game

[Diving Dubai]

Personally all my gear gets checked. Only the camera and dive computer stay with me

Some international airports won’t allow your regs in carryon. Rightly so

I have never understood the US obsession with all dive gear as carry on- maybe I’m missing somthing

My dive gear flies internationally 4-6 times a year...


To the original question. I’ve seen carryons weighed once, often they can see by the size of the bag and the way you lift it if it’s overweight

 

[Lorenzoid]

I'm not a good respondent for your survey because I never try to game the system. I had my carry-on weighed by a budget European airline on the way to Egypt, but my allotted "personal item" was just a small case in which I had my GoPro, lights, charger, etc.--in other words, exactly the kind of thing that is supposed to qualify as a personal item. I also recall having a carry-on weighed in Indonesia on one of the smaller airlines. I have never tried gaming the system by stuffing the pockets of a vest or something with heavy or bulky objects. What if everyone did that? I like rules and everyone abiding by the rules. Equality in our travel misery, I say.

 

[Damselfish]

last time we left the philippines we paid one of the baggage guys 20 bucks and he whisked us up to baggage check and through then walked us through employee areas back OUT to where people wait to meet people so we could hang out with relatives etc. then they completely bypassed all the lines and check in through employee areas back to our gate. We could have walked in bombs, drugs, and nuetered komodo dragons as we didnt do ANY security checks at all after we had left the secure area

thats 100 percent a true story that happened to me and our cebu friends.

I believe you. We had a short connection (I think in one of the crappier Manila terminals) on a trip my LDS ran some years back. He is a good "fixer." Somehow a local whisked us off the plane before everyone else and through some special dignitaries line. We did go through some kind of security but we made our flight. I assume $ changed hands. IIRC our luggage was a few hours late, but that got taken care of too.

Nothing seems to get weighed if you have the right local "escort", who will always know people.

 

[lexvil]

Just do whatever the airline says, they are the only enforcing their rules. When I’ve seen carry on weighing they usually tag it but don’t include laptops or camera gear.

 

[ibj40]

Personally all my gear gets checked. Only the camera and dive computer stay with me
Some international airports won’t allow your regs in carryon. Rightly so
I have never understood the US obsession with all dive gear as carry on- maybe I’m missing somthing
My dive gear flies internationally 4-6 times a year...
To the original question. I’ve seen carryons weighed once, often they can see by the size of the bag and the way you lift it if it’s overweight

I agree with you on trying to game the system with carry-on's. I've been diving for over 30 years, and always checked my full kit (including regulators). Only thing we carry-on is computers and camera.

As to the OP's question, the only time we ever flew to a dive destination where the airline had a weight limitation was from San Juan, PR to the island of Culebra. We had to re-pack our gear from our rolling duffels to our mesh bags; and had to pack extra clothing and toiletries into what is usually our carry-ons. Fortunately the San Juan Airport Hotel, where we stayed the night before, stored our suitcase and two duffels, free of charge.

At the airline counter, we were asked to declare a personal weight, and everything else was put on a scale.

Granted it was a smallish plane, but we took a flight from Belize City to Ambergris, on what appeared to be similar equipment, and gave them the bags just as they came off our flight from the US, no questions asked.

 

[Damselfish]

For Utila, they had limits on paper, which would be perfectly understandable on those small planes. In reality, when too many people showed up for a flight (along with too much luggage that they never weighed) they didn't seem give a hoot. Another plane was found and another flight added 10 minutes later. Flexible, that airline was. YMMV. (They changed itinerary while in flight too.)

 

[Scared Silly]

I recently had my two carry-ons weighed by AirFrance (one small the other a pack). The bags combined were like 2-3 kilos over, the agent wanted me to check the bag. I said no thanks as I had just put my coat and everything else in the bag. They insisted it be checked. So I said please wait, then proceeded to put my sweater-on, then my jacket, then I put my phone in my pocket, then my camera around my neck. I was getting ready to put on a second pair of pants when the agent realized they were going to lose the game and said I could take both bags on but the smaller one had to go under my feet. Mais oui!!

 

[EireDiver606]

I’ve heard of people wearing rebreathers on a small plane to a remote location. Saw a photo somewhere and have have no idea how it was allowed.

 

[Lorenzoid]

I’ve heard of people wearing rebreathers on a small plane to a remote location. Saw a photo somewhere and have have no idea how it was allowed.

I saw it on a flight to or from Bonaire. Someone on SB also mentioned they have done it. People have worn steel backplates with a bag attached as well. I wish the airlines would stop the shenanigans and just weigh each passenger's total baggage--however many pieces--along with the passenger, and charge the passenger for any excess weight or bulk.

 

[EireDiver606]

I saw it on a flight to or from Bonaire. Someone on SB also mentioned they have done it. People have worn steel backplates with a bag attached as well. I wish the airlines would stop the shenanigans and just weigh each passenger's total baggage--however many pieces--along with the passenger, and charge the passenger for any excess weight or bulk.

It would be good way to cut down on obesity!