Is it good idea to rent diving equipment in Cuba?

Greg Mossman wrote:
>
> Perhaps it was the "most airlines" part that was lost in translation.
As in
> "Most airlines give an extra baggage allowance". That could really
screw
> someone up if they actually believed it, almost as bad as telling
people
> that they can fly with their hair still wet.
>

I can't remember if my hair was wet or not. WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN TO
ME????

Cam

"Greg Mossman" <mossman@qnet.com> wrote in message
news:4230abde$0$107$6c56adcd@news.qnet.com...
> <cam.barr@beer.com> wrote in message
> news:1110463130.617778.62080@z14g2000cwz.googlegro ups.com...
> >
> > Greg Mossman wrote:
> >> Right. So how are they giving you an extra baggage allowance?
> > That's what
> >> confused me. cam.barr made it sound like I was missing out on
> > something by
> >> not getting my extra baggage allowance. Maybe something was lost in
> >> translation.
> >
> > Nothing was lost in translation. We flew with SkyService. Regular
> > checked baggage limits are 2 pieces, 44lbs total. You are allowed an
> > extra piece of luggage if it is sporting equipment.
> >
http://www.skyserviceairlines.com/en...portsequipment
>
> That's very interesting, but it's from a small charter airline, not a
"real"
> airline, and one that has a ridiculous European-like baggage limit of 44
lbs
> total. Real airlines have baggage limits of 50 or 70 lbs per bag, two
bags
> per passenger.
>
> Besides, you said:
>
> >> Of course if you own your own gear bring it with you. Most airlines
> >> give an extra baggage allowance for sporting gear whether that is golf
> >> clubs, skis or SCUBA equipment. Check with your travel agent.
>
> Perhaps it was the "most airlines" part that was lost in translation. As
in
> "Most airlines give an extra baggage allowance". That could really screw
> someone up if they actually believed it, almost as bad as telling people
> that they can fly with their hair still wet.
>
> Air Canada allows two 70 lb bags. Scuba gear will be accepted in lieu of
> one of the two bags.
>
> http://www.aircanada.com/en/travelin...cked.html#r1s0
>
> Continental allows two 50 lb or 70 lb bags, depending on the final
> destination. A dive bag will be included as one of the two bags.
>
> Etc.
>
> P.S. Travel agents lie when they don't know the answer. Airline
> restrictions change often, can be complex, and vary widely among the
> hundreds of airlines in the business. When in doubt, do not call your
> travel agent because "my travel agent said so" is not considered a valid
> excuse and you will be subject to potentially expensive surcharges or even
> the risk of them denying some of your luggage altogether.
>
> One example of this: Coming back from a group charter in the Galapagos,
we
> were confronted by a luggage "embargo" in Ecuador. Continental absolutely
> refused to take my overweight bag unless I removed 6 kg. I have no idea
how
> my formerly 70 lb bag got 6 kg too heavy,

Maybe some of your gear was wet?

>but it was not because I was
> smuggling large amounts of cocaine. Bringing a full set of open circuit
> gear, including thick wetsuit, along with a Draeger rebreather and
> absorbent, and a camera housing and twin strobes, plus a few articles of
> clothing, does not make one a light traveler. Yet I had no problem
getting
> down there by paying only an extra piece charge. On the way back,
> Continental said no. I opened my wallet and prepared to shed lots of cash
> for overweight and extra piece charges, but they again said no. I would
> have to remove 6 kg of luggage and leave it in Ecuador.

No you wouldn't have. You could have just put 6 kg of crap on your body as
clothing, personal articles, etc. You know that doesn't make the plane any
heavier. Sheesh.

> I began to weigh my options, a

So to speak.

>s the hostile line of cocaine-smuggling
> Ecuadorians grew behind me. There was no fitting it in my carry-on
because
> that was already over-stuffed. I could ditch the T-shirts I bought, or
> perhaps my pony bottle, my worn booties,

Or you could have just worn the T's and stuffed the booties in your pockets.
Would have made all the difference.
(snip)

<cam.barr@beer.com> wrote in message
news:1110490238.595805.153470@o13g2000cwo.googlegr oups.com...
>
> Greg Mossman wrote:
> >
> > Perhaps it was the "most airlines" part that was lost in translation.
> As in
> > "Most airlines give an extra baggage allowance". That could really
> screw
> > someone up if they actually believed it, almost as bad as telling
> people
> > that they can fly with their hair still wet.
> >
>
> I can't remember if my hair was wet or not. WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN TO
ME????

"chilly" <slarson@shaw.canada> wrote in message
news:f4fYd.640923$8l.546437@pd7tw1no...

>> my formerly 70 lb bag got 6 kg too heavy,
>
> Maybe some of your gear was wet?

I think it had something to do with the altitude. Our itinerary had us
landing in Guayaquil (sea level) and taking off out of Quito (9,000').
Clearly my bags weighed more because of the pressure change. They expanded.

> No you wouldn't have. You could have just put 6 kg of crap on your body
> as
> clothing, personal articles, etc. You know that doesn't make the plane
> any
> heavier. Sheesh.

I was already woozy from the high altitude and the events of the night
before. It was still night, just a few hours later at 5:00 a.m. There was
no way I was going to start donning my gear in the airport. Besides, those
Ecuadorians are real trigger happy and probably would have killed me as soon
as I put on my mask, never mind the snorkel. Yelling in English was my only
valid option.

"chilly" <slarson@shaw.canada> wrote in message
news:f4fYd.640923$8l.546437@pd7tw1no...
>
> "Greg Mossman" <mossman@qnet.com> wrote in message
> news:4230abde$0$107$6c56adcd@news.qnet.com...
> > <cam.barr@beer.com> wrote in message
> > news:1110463130.617778.62080@z14g2000cwz.googlegro ups.com...
> > >
> > > Greg Mossman wrote:
> > >> Right. So how are they giving you an extra baggage allowance?
> > > That's what
> > >> confused me. cam.barr made it sound like I was missing out on
> > > something by
> > >> not getting my extra baggage allowance. Maybe something was lost in
> > >> translation.
> > >
> > > Nothing was lost in translation. We flew with SkyService. Regular
> > > checked baggage limits are 2 pieces, 44lbs total. You are allowed an
> > > extra piece of luggage if it is sporting equipment.
> > >
>
http://www.skyserviceairlines.com/en...portsequipment
> >
> > That's very interesting, but it's from a small charter airline, not a
> "real"
> > airline, and one that has a ridiculous European-like baggage limit of 44
> lbs
> > total. Real airlines have baggage limits of 50 or 70 lbs per bag, two
> bags
> > per passenger.
> >
> > Besides, you said:
> >
> > >> Of course if you own your own gear bring it with you. Most airlines
> > >> give an extra baggage allowance for sporting gear whether that is
golf
> > >> clubs, skis or SCUBA equipment. Check with your travel agent.
> >
> > Perhaps it was the "most airlines" part that was lost in translation.
As
> in
> > "Most airlines give an extra baggage allowance". That could really
screw
> > someone up if they actually believed it, almost as bad as telling people
> > that they can fly with their hair still wet.
> >
> > Air Canada allows two 70 lb bags. Scuba gear will be accepted in lieu
of
> > one of the two bags.
> >
> > http://www.aircanada.com/en/travelin...cked.html#r1s0
> >
> > Continental allows two 50 lb or 70 lb bags, depending on the final
> > destination. A dive bag will be included as one of the two bags.
> >
> > Etc.
> >
> > P.S. Travel agents lie when they don't know the answer. Airline
> > restrictions change often, can be complex, and vary widely among the
> > hundreds of airlines in the business. When in doubt, do not call your
> > travel agent because "my travel agent said so" is not considered a valid
> > excuse and you will be subject to potentially expensive surcharges or
even
> > the risk of them denying some of your luggage altogether.
> >
> > One example of this: Coming back from a group charter in the Galapagos,
> we
> > were confronted by a luggage "embargo" in Ecuador. Continental
absolutely
> > refused to take my overweight bag unless I removed 6 kg. I have no idea
> how
> > my formerly 70 lb bag got 6 kg too heavy,
>
> Maybe some of your gear was wet?
>
> >but it was not because I was
> > smuggling large amounts of cocaine. Bringing a full set of open circuit
> > gear, including thick wetsuit, along with a Draeger rebreather and
> > absorbent, and a camera housing and twin strobes, plus a few articles of
> > clothing, does not make one a light traveler. Yet I had no problem
> getting
> > down there by paying only an extra piece charge. On the way back,
> > Continental said no. I opened my wallet and prepared to shed lots of
cash
> > for overweight and extra piece charges, but they again said no. I would
> > have to remove 6 kg of luggage and leave it in Ecuador.
>
> No you wouldn't have. You could have just put 6 kg of crap on your body
as
> clothing, personal articles, etc. You know that doesn't make the plane
any
> heavier. Sheesh.
>
> > I began to weigh my options, a
>
> So to speak.
>
> >s the hostile line of cocaine-smuggling
> > Ecuadorians grew behind me. There was no fitting it in my carry-on
> because
> > that was already over-stuffed. I could ditch the T-shirts I bought, or
> > perhaps my pony bottle, my worn booties,
>
> Or you could have just worn the T's and stuffed the booties in your
pockets.
> Would have made all the difference.
> (snip)

I was thinking much the same thing... Hey, have you ever seen the outtakes
from Eurotrip?