For 2024 Pilgrims: €50,- donation = 1 year with no ads on the forum + 90% off any 2024 Guide. More here. (Discount code sent to you by Private Message after your donation) |
---|
Couldn't have said it better Doug.@grayland, I am more sanguine about this. I check my bag and carry a small carry on bag with my critical documentation and air travel pack. I realise that I might become one of those whose baggage is lost, but accept that risk, and know how to deal with it should it happen. So far, over 35 years of international travel I have not had any lost or delayed bags, although I have had some delayed bags on domestic flights in Australia.
Unfortunately, bad news stories make good press, and not the reverse. And clearly, when baggage is lost it is has a dramatic effect on those involved. However, I am unlikely to change my approach based on this one incidence of poor performance.
And neither could I, (although I have had one time when my backpack did not arrive on the same plane as I did)......whenever luggage is checked, one receives a receipt (or whatever it is called) and if the worst scenario happens, one should go to the Help desk for whatever airline it was that one is flying with and present this and then it should be followed up by the airline. I would hope that this person had or has, travel insurance and, if so, there is usually cover available for times such as these...Couldn't have said it better Doug.
Regds
Gerard
Well, you just mentioned two of the reasons why you won't be allowed to carry on your pack - it is over the weight limit or exceeds the maximum allowable dimensions. A full 58li pack will exceed the dimensional limits and possibly the weight limits for most major international airlines. It might fit into the locker, but you may not be allowed to get it onto the aircraft.There is ZERO reason not to carry on your pack. My 58L fits easily in the international overhead. For smaller planes you can tag and check at the gate. Just don't overpack and stay within the dimension limits (it's okay to squish the pack to fit but you have to stay within weigh limits).
When I fly in June I may ditch my nice graphite poles and just buy a traditional walking pole. There goes that stressor. ;-)
What is it what makes you so upset about this specific topic? It sounds to me such a thing for a normal risk. There are many reports on many risks on the Camino: people injure legs, things get stolen, die in heart attacks and traffic accidents, they divorce on camino, or fall in love with some Jacob. It is all a risk, I cannot choose to take no risk.DO NOT CHECK YOUR PACK! Rambler
Thomas:What is it what makes you so upset about this specific topic? It sounds to me such a thing for a normal risk. There are many reports on many risks on the Camino: people injure legs, things get stolen, die in heart attacks and traffic accidents, they divorce on camino, or fall in love with some Jacob. It is all a risk, I cannot choose to take no risk.
This was also confusing, until I realised that the suggestion you are referring to was made in comments on the reddit.com post, and not here.So for those of you suggesting he could purchase stuff and expect a refund he didn't have that option right away.
I think too, that the frames of some packs, particularly for tall men create a pack that is too long for the critical dimensions. It does not make sense to buy a smaller pack just to allow it to fit in the overhead locker if it then will be uncomfortable to wear on the trail. My husband's pack did not fit in the cabin, but mine did - because I am a shorty…..Well, you just mentioned two of the reasons why you won't be allowed to carry on your pack - it is over the weight limit or exceeds the maximum allowable dimensions. A full 58li pack will exceed the dimensional limits and possibly the weight limits for most major international airlines. It might fit into the locker, but you may not be allowed to get it onto the aircraft.
I have read the story linked in the OP, and would suggest that the individual might have been both better prepared and had some better responses to the circumstances he faced. For example, they appear not to have made some simple purchases on arrival that might have addressed their optical hygiene concerns. That would have been a pretty easy thing to do.
I travel pretty much prepared to walk - ie I wear one of my two sets of clothes, as well as my hiking boots and trekking socks, and have the light fleece I will be using in my cabin bag. I don't expect that I look the most dapper of passengers, but that never seems to bother the cabin crew or other passengers.
Finally, without trying to read too much into the story, it appears to be a good example of why travel insurance is so important. It's not just about replacing lost items. Most insurers run a help desk that might have been able to do much of the liaison with the airline that seems to have caused the complainant so much problem.
I seem to have lost perspective here. Where is the horror story? Surely not that there was a misplaced bag - which is, after all, a normal risk for any air travel. Some of us accept that risk, and check our bags, others don't.At least you got it back Curt! But DANG what a horror story!
Always carry your backpack on the plane. If it won't fit, get a smaller one!Here is the short version of my 'horror' story from 2012.
I mailed 3 boxes of gear and gifts and stuff to my cousin in Santander, 10 days before our departure from the U.S.
We were going to visit Santander before heading to Sarria, and return there after Santiago. No brainer, right.
Except, some fool in Customs at the Madrid airport decided that we were trying to circumvent the import laws, and sent a letter to my cousin demanding a detailed list of the shipment contents, a 27% duty assessment, and a 12% administration fee. Needless to say we judged that to be out-of-the-question. Fortunately, we had checked a duffle with our backpacks and a few essentials, but the bulk of our well planned, tried-and-true hiking gear was "stuck in customs", as they say.
Hooray for Decathalon, and the Columbia knock-offs they stock. We shrugged off our first Camino challenge, and went on to our great adventure.
The boxes were finally returned a full six weeks after our return home. Because the U.S. Customs can be just as mussed up as their Euro-brethren, one of the boxes made 2 round trips before I was able to convince someone in Miami to manually handle it.
Lesson learned; carry essentials, always.
It seems to me that it is a 'no brainer' that if you send items to another country then you will be subject to the import regulations of that country, including any customs duties. Calling a diligent official names does little to cover the naivety of thinking otherwise.I mailed 3 boxes of gear and gifts and stuff to my cousin in Santander, 10 days before our departure from the U.S.
We were going to visit Santander before heading to Sarria, and return there after Santiago. No brainer, right.
Except, some fool in Customs at the Madrid airport decided that we were trying to circumvent the import laws, and sent a letter to my cousin demanding a detailed list of the shipment contents, a 27% duty assessment, and a 12% administration fee. Needless to say we judged that to be out-of-the-question. Fortunately, we had checked a duffle with our backpacks and a few essentials, but the bulk of our well planned, tried-and-true hiking gear was "stuck in customs", as they say.
Doug, since I was shipping exactly what I would have carried into Spain in excess baggage, it is difficult to see how I was violating import regulation. Nothing I was taking was for resale, so my conscience is clear.It seems to me that it is a 'no brainer' that if you send items to another country then you will be subject to the import regulations of that country, including any customs duties. Calling a diligent official names does little to cover the naivety of thinking otherwise.
In the past, I have used unaccompanied baggage to overcome some of these import issues, but it does not entirely remove the liability for customs duties, it just allows one to be present to declare the items are your personal possessions, not commercial imports. Given the context of this discussion, it appears unlikely to be useful for those travelling to their Camino start point, and of relatively limited value on departure.
I seem to have lost perspective here. Where is the horror story? Surely not that there was a misplaced bag - which is, after all, a normal risk for any air travel. Some of us accept that risk, and check our bags, others don't.
Always, carry your backkpack on the plane. If it won't fit, get a smaller one!!!!!!
Always carry your backpack on the plane. If it won't fit, get a smaller one!
Going to the last thing first, I am completely neutral on whether your post should be deleted. It could make sure others understand how postal imports might be treated.Doug, since I was shipping exactly what I would have carried into Spain in excess baggage, it is difficult to see how I was violating import regulation. Nothing I was taking was for resale, so my conscience is clear.
I would think that a diligent official would have reviewed the documentation that was provided with the packages, and tried to work with me to find a fair resolution.
Travelers do this all the time, around the world. Especially sports or photography travelers. There is nothing underhanded about it.
As for the fit of the post, I think it is good to learn from other peoples' mis-adventures and adventures.
But if you like, I will delete the post. Not a problem.
So we both accept it happens, and it is unfortunate that it happened to you. And it might not be 'acceptable' inasmuch as you want your luggage to arrive with you every time you fly. But to suggest that one should not accept that there is a risk is just fanciful. Clearly is happens, and it is advisable to take some practical precautions against baggage being delayed.Very similar situation up n this spring with United Airlines through Newark to Paris. Sorry Doug it isn't acceptable nor should one accept that there is a risk of your bags not being when your plane lands.
I normally arrange to have travel insurance that covers the costs of such things. You generally need to have the wherewithal to pay up front for things, but I that aside, I don't think its worth not making some insurance arrangement.Three days at the airport in Paris waiting for bags becomes very expensive. In our case train tickets and hotel reservations lost.
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?