bump. Keep working beeyatch
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bump. Keep working beeyatch
bump uhhhh YOSS! You ain't done yet dude.
Froz- can you make this a sticky?
tip: Being clean shaven and reasonably dressed can only ease your trip through passport control and customs.
emphasizing one more time about recent increase in sesitivity to overweight baggage. On a recent trip to Nepal, via Thai air from Bangkok to Khatmandu, I was politely informed that the fee for exceeding the baggage weight was $1100. ! ! !. That's right, US$, not Bhat. Luckily I have rock solid FF status in Star Alliance, of which Thai Air is a member. They waived it.
If you are going on a climbing/mountaineering trip, it is getting increasingly difficult staying under the alloted weight limits.
This is an awesome thread Yossarian.
Okay, someone linked to this thread in response to mine http://www.tetongravity.com/forums/s...ad.php?t=36534
and this is great. Thanks Yossarian. I have a question regarding the ski/snowboard bag size. How do you stay under the 62 linear inches? I just measured my bag and it is about 73x15x7" !!!!. I am also thinking that a lot of the skis you mags use are way longer than my board (which is 159cm). I know it was not a problem with Delta last year except when we came back the bag was somehow "overweight". I am seeing special sporting goods allowences on some airlines, but it is hard to tell if this overides the weight or size limits. Here is a copy of America West which is what I am looking at for the trip I currently need to book. But this looks like a no go since my linear diminsions are over the 80" allowed even with extra fees. Is it really this hard to fly with my gear?
Size Restrictions
Total dimensions for checked bags may not exceed 80 inches (add length + width + height); however each bag greater than 62 inches will be subject to a fee of $80.
Bags greater than 80 inches may not be checked.
Checked Bag Dimensions Fee Per Bag
Less than 62 inches Free
62 inches-80 inches $80
Greater than 80 inches Send via Sports Express or other commercial shipper
Weight Restrictions
Total weight allotment per checked bag is 100 pounds; however, bags weighing 51 pounds or more are subject to the following fees:
Checked Bag Weight Fee Per Bag
50 pounds or less Free
51 pounds to 70 pounds $50
71 pounds to 100 pounds $80
More than 100 pounds Send via Sports Express or other commercial shipper
Bags heavier than 100 pounds may not be checked.
Special Items
Ski Equipment*
*One unit of sporting equipment can be checked for free in lieu of one piece of checked baggage with a few exceptions. Sporting equipment that exceeds the number, weight, and size restrictions is subject to excess baggage fees (I am thinking this means it is still a no go at 73x15x7"). Sporting equipment that carries a mandatory charge is listed below.
Ski Equipment:
Ski equipment may be accepted in the normal free baggage allowance in lieu of a piece of baggage. One unit of ski equipment consists of:
One pair of skis or one snowboard
One pair of ski poles
One pair of ski bindings
One pair of ski boots
America West will accept double ski bags, however, the maximum free allowance, per passenger, is one pair of skis, one pair of ski boots, one pair of ski poles and one pair of ski bindings.
The passenger must provide acceptable encasement/packaging for the ski equipment, such as fiberglass or cloth bag to protect the ski equipment and to prevent damage to other bags. (America West may provide plastic ski bags if available). If the ski equipment is not properly packaged/protected, the customer assumes all risk of damage.
Edit: Just took this off American's website
Item; Allowance/Requirements; Cost; Maximum Size and Weight
Snowboard; 1 Snowboard with boots; Free in place of one 62 inch bag; 50 lbs 62 inches. There are some baords under 62", but a lot are over and how can you get under 62" for total diminsions when one diminsion is already greater.
whoops! sorry, I'll finish my thoughts this week. But hey, thanks all, for adding great info. Please don't hold back. The Collectif by definition has more good nowl-ledge than I alone.
sweet, thanks Yoss. Have a nice barfday party?
Mark- They bend space and time to let you bring a long ski bag onto the plane. The difficulty comes in when they unbend it to get the bags off the plane, frequently they go missing.
Stay under the weight restriction and you s/b golden on your ski bags.
Mark, I'd concur with the Yellow Tart, mostly generally usually, weight is all that matters (within reason). If you have a ski/board bag, no one will look twice at the size issue. The only time I've gotten shit for size (instead of weight) was once, traveling with the PM Gear Double Trouble bag, which - while bomber and perfect by all other measures - clocks in as HUGE. I once fit three pairs of skis in there (190cm Tankers, 188cm AK Enemies, and a 184cm 10.EXs) along with other gear. And even then, they eventually let it go, although that might have been the result of my pleasant demeanor and so-suave threads.
Ok well thats good then. Thanks. I was just getting a little sketched because most were supposed to be under 62" and then up to 80" with the extra charges and beyond that not allowed and I would have been around 95" w/ total diminsions. So has anyone flown America West? I would leaving from Raleigh NC and going through Phoenix to Tahoe.
I haven't had any problems with the length of my PM Gear Double Trouble bag that a $20.00 bill waved in front of the red cap (do they still call them red caps?) hasn't solved. I do make sure to keep the weight within limits.
Bump for 2 quick tips. Figured this place is as good as any for this. I'm at Tokyo International (NRT) right now.
1. There are no ATMs here, so bring cash to exchange.
2. I was in Terminal 1 for 3 hours this morning just hanging out. There are internet kiosks and shops, but I came over to Terminal 2 and found a free internet station. Great way to kill some time. They also have movie stations here where you can watch them for about $4. Both terminals have showers and day rooms, and there are some really great places to catch a quick nap around here. That's all, if anyone cares.
wow, I totally bagged out on finishing my thoughts. Oh well, plenty of good info already, and if I get some downtime, I'll work on it more.
Meantime, let's do as is being done, keep contributing and adding details and location-specific travel tips.
Nice work all!
Cletus Travel Tip #2,345:
Make sure you have a bunch of fatty's stored at skiing destinations around the country so when you bag out of some shit place like chicago and roll into a town that's getting poundered like say....denver/scummit you have skis ready to rock.
The two ways to do this are amass a collection of used but good skis from gear swap or as you phase skis out of your daily quiver but still might ski them, leave them with trusted* friends around the country.
*Definition of trusted = A friend who's by no means good enough to ski the big bad fuckers you leave at his/her place.
I'll pop my TGR cherry with some tips on the Reno-Tahoe Airport. This is mostly from a travelling from Reno to somewhere else perspective, which is probably backwards from what you guys might do...
-Use the curbside check in to ease the pain of packing your ski bag all over the airport. This is avalible in reno from United, Southwest, American, and Northwest.
-Park at one of the downtown casinos in the free parking garages and ride the airport shuttle. They don't make you prove you are/were a hotel guest. Caution, I have not done this with a ski-bag before, but given the location, they'll likely assume you are returning somewhere after being in Reno/Tahoe for a ski vacation.
-CHECK YOUR TICKET
The reno/tahoe airport has two different security check points...make sure you go to the right one so you dont end up waiting in line for 10-20 minutes just to be told to go somewhere else...I missed a flight during busy time once becuase if this oversight.
The escalator to the left leads to "C" concourse, the one to the right goes to "B" concourse. If you fudge it up, there is a crossover on the upper level.
For inbound travellers:
-From reno to tahoe, be prepared for poor road conditions, and plan accordingly. Make sure your rental car is awd or that you get chains. All roads to tahoe experience restrictions during winter weater, and these items can help you avoid the game of ski area bumpercars when the parking lots get icy.
Hope someone might benefit from this.
having grown up in S. America (including a couple years in BA) I will offer this comment about medical care in the thrid world.
Don't.
Simple as that. I cannot comment on Insurance coverage portabilty overseas but I do know that 99.973% (with a nod to Yoss) of ex-pats living abroad (and they have a much better handle on the local scene than you will as a traveler) FLY HOME for any kind of major procedure short of emergency surgery... if you blow a knee in S. America, splint it up, beg for vikes, and fly home to see your friend local AMA certified orthopedic surgeon.
Or get comfy with the idea of a limp.
Also - side note on long flight, surprised Yoss has not mentioned it - or maybe he did I was not paying close enough attention - hydrate! The relative humidity on a plane at 40,000 feet is pretty well zero... anything over a couple hours and you will be in trouble if you don't hydrate. Stay awake flying west and sleep flying east lest ye be slain by the dreaded Lag-Beast.
BUMP for this summer's travelers.
I'll try to add more to my Section 5 during this week...
Others, please keep chiming in!
International Cellphone use-
1)Get an unlocked tri/quad band GSM phone. If your stateside cellphone is GSM you can get it unlocked by calling your provider and being nice (having been a customer for 6months + helps), or download a ghetto kit of eBay.
2)When you arrive at your destination purchase a prepaid SIM card which can be done at cellphone kiosks/shops (many airports including ZRH, CHC, AKL, SYD) etc., or grocery stores (Migros @ ZRH) or any other place that sells cell crap. You'll have to register it in person, shouldn't take more than 10-15 minutes.
3)Use your phone at will with the local number.
International Calling-
Broadband connection and Skype In/Out
Carryons-
Outside of the US carryon luggage size and weight (8kg) is enforced. Pack the essentials and delicate bits (ID, $, camera equip) and don't expect the other stuff to get on board.
Medical Care-
Expect to pay for services before you leave the hospital. They won't bill your insurance. Have $$ to spare on the credit card, and contemplate the possibility of having to pay cash.
Rescue/Insurance-
Alpine Club memberships, like the Austrian Alpine Club, http://www.aacuk.org.uk/ will cover/reimburse you for rescue expenses, even climbing or offpiste skiiing, which many travel insurance policies won't cover you for.
A good thread on where to find decent airport food: click here
yeah but have you finalized all the tips? I know a bunch of people went off to points south this year woefully underprepared because of your cavalier attitude toward work.
From Detroit (DTW): Northwest or Continental airlines
If your short on time or hate to wait in line, once you've arrived or checked your baggage in, you can go to the 2nd level and head in to the Westin Hotel. Once in the Hotel, make your way to the lower level and you will see a security check point, with little or no line. Super lax.
The Security Check point is open 90% of the time, so if you see lots of foot traffic coming up the stairs, you had better turn back, it's closed.
http://www.nwa.com/features/detroit/images/map2.gif
lemonboy turn anti-adventure :( :wink: :DQuote:
Originally Posted by lemon boy
For Surf travel pick foreign airlines (generally lower board fees). On Singapore Airlines surfboards are free and the service is the best in the world.
this thread was just linked from another one, so just have to say awesome job Yoss!
best/favorite FF program?
I've currently got AA for overall FF coverage, and SWA b/c I fly them a lot and don't get credit elsewhere. I use AA b/c they last a long time, but there's no other reason to my choice.
bumped by request
well if you're fulfilling requests:
How bout you finish this fucker huh?
:nonono2:
Yeah yeah, I may try to work on summarizing South America travel specifics over the next couple weeks.
i think you should add a tip about when you get picked up from the airport, it should be by a dude in haute mirrored aviators and a tight thermal showing off his guns... oh, wait ...
Somehow, I just don't think that would "do it" for a lot of the guys here on the board.Quote:
Originally Posted by BeanDip4All
Actually, that's exactly what I want when I land in Baghdad…if by thermals you mean US Army BDUs and if by guns you mean a machine gun.
Thanks Yoss, lotsa good info in here.
My personal record is four pairs of tele skis, three pairs of poles, two shovels, two ice axes, two pairs of crampons, and other misc. stuff in one ski bag. It weighed in at about 69 pounds. And it didn't have wheels.:eek:
We made it from Colorado through LA, Aukland, Christchurch, Honolulu, then they tried to charged us per pair of skis returning from Hawaii but I talked them out of it.:cool:
Frozen or Suit, can we get a sticky here?
Bump cuz "Just the tip" was the title of SAC's email today. Bwhahaaaaaaa!!!!!
Been a while since I read through here, but lately on any flight I take I use my passport instead of my DL and I get through security quite fast.
And bump.
a couple good tips in honor of my first flight leaving from MacArther ("there's an airport called MacAurther on long island?")
Leave at dawn. Get on the first available flight, preferably on a plane that spent the night at your airport. The biggest factor controlling delays is not where your plane is going, but where the aircraft assigned to your flight is coming from. Always call the airline before you leave for the airport and ask the agent to tell you the aircraft number of the plane assigned for your flight, and then ask for the status of that aircraft tail number. If you're heading to Los Angeles from Miami in two hours but the aircraft assigned to your flight is in Caracas…you're not going. To find out how to talk to a real live agent for any given airline, go to gethuman.com.
Avoid major hubs. Use alternate airports. If you can fly into or out of these secondary airports, you'll reduce your chances of being delayed: Dallas Love Field, instead of Dallas/Fort Worth; Oakland or San José, instead of San Francisco; Houston's Hobby Airport, instead of Bush Intercontinental; and New York's Long Island MacArthur, instead of LaGuardia or Kennedy.
Not sure how Yoss is updating this but:
Curb Check
As a general rule of thumb the sky caps have to go out of their way to weigh your heavy as hell ski bag whereas the counter people weigh every bag as a matter of course. The catch is that they're a tip position and now at least UAL (and some others I think) actively charge for curb checking (2 bucks) so it now costs ~$4 to curb check and I usually go $5 cause it's a round number. Pull the $ with your ID. Plus, curb checking is always faster than going in, hell it's faster than using the stupid kiosk things and the sky caps are generally friendlier and more helpful than the counter jockeys. This however doesn't work for int'l travel. Money well spent IMO.
To try to make a useful contribution with some observations from recent travel –
If you load up your bag and it’s heavy, and it’s around vacation time, where the flights are full, it may not get on the plane because of an aircraft weight situation. If possible, keep the weight down to try to ensure it makes it on with you.
Make sure you put MULTIPLE LUGGAGE TAGES on the bag. The nature of a ski bag is that the tags can get ripped off in the multitude of machines they have just for this purpose. Better yet, write you name in large block letters with a sharpie on the outside of the bag. No matter how stoopid the airline is, it’s tough to miss MY NAME AND ADDRESS in 200 font on the outside of the bag.
You know those stupid zippered bags that seem to come with everything – sure – you got three at Christmas with stuff in them. Don’t throw them away, but throw them all in a cardboard box somewhere. Then, when you’re trying to figure out how to pack that snazzy battery recharger with all of those rechargeables, shuffle through the box until you find something suitable. My recharger and batteries all go into a Giro tune-ups zippered case.
Your helmet goes into your ski bag, so be sure you bring along a hat in your carry-on just in case your bag arrives late.
Bring a bunch of plastic bags in your ski bag. They don’t weigh anything, or take up any space but are sure welcome as laundry bags on the way back.
Keep n eye on the value of what you pack in your ski bag. During my most recent episode I was wondering whether I would see the bag again, and did an add-em-up. It doesn’t take too many Arcteryx shells, Oakleys and Marmot base layers plus a pair of skis to top $2,500. The airline may have a $1,200 cap on lost luggage – be advised.
Proof is everything. If you’re going to score a day for free in the SLC area (or Steamboat) with a Quick start pass, have the information readily available. If the airline can’t find your bag, go to the agent and tell them they cost you a free day of skiing. They’ll usually give you a voucher for $100 as an apology. Then go to the area, and show them you delayed baggage chit, and ask that they give you a ticket for tomorrow – they typically do.
http://www.united.com/page/article/0...3,00.html#snow
UAL is now charging 25 bucks for your second bag unless you're have status with mileage plus. Unless they change the rules again it does not appear that the ski bag rules have fundamentally changed except for the $25 fee
Awesome thread. Bumpage for goodness...and wtb finished writeup from Yossarian! Please?
MINIS!
Minis can totally be brought through security in your 1qt size (thus limiting the number) baggie.
Available for purchase beyond the razor wire? Anything you might care to mix with said minis.
Flying is fun again!
BUMP as I'm packing and trying to cut down on stuff.
Damn, not sure if I can fit everything in a backpack (bringing smaller backpack with avy gear inside) instead of Cargo bag. Normally it's not a problem, I have ton of space with the cargo. However two weeks in South America and mucho walking from A to B, looking to fit everyhting in one bag. (I'll put stuff (as always) in my ski bag, however I want to try squeezing everything in one bag once I'm down in SA.
Not packing much underwear and a few t-shirts, two of everything takes space.
sunova! I have been here a year now, flown in/out of DIA countless times and just this past weekend figured out the last piece of this puzzle myself (security through the bridge to concourse A), and just now found this thread. Flying out after work I generally don't have the extra 10 minutes or so to use the RTD park-n-fly but longtermparking.com has $4.75/day coupons that make off-airport reasonable (plus $3/stay fuel surcharge WTF!?)Quote:
Originally Posted by Yossarian