Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2006/08/12
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Tom I learned my lesson well almost 20 years ago. Went on assignment to Haiti and, as always, hand carried photo gear. Unfortunately, I had insulin and needles in my checked-in backpack. I made it to Port au Prince and the backpack went on a side trip to Paris or Algeria. (my next to the last last AirFrance flight) I managed to find some IM needles in what past for a local pharmacy and did get by with what little meds I had in my pocket. Several obvious things; 1.If you need it, carry it. 2. Always carry more than you need 3. Use AirFrance as a last resort. 4. If it is the last resort and you have no choice but AirFrance, take a bus. 5. Only eat American or Canadian fries. :-) TTAbrahams@aol.com wrote: > > > >I never check in luggage so have not had any experience with baggage >handlers in terminals around the world. When travelling I use only >carry-on-luggage. IF I would have to check in bags I would want to have >assurance (and >insurance) from whatever Airport Authority that deals with it that it is >treated >in such a manner that my stuff is intact at the other end. >Losing luggage is usually not the airlines fault; it is the departure or >arrivals airport that screws it up. Theft from checked luggage occurs at >the >luggage handling end of the business. It is not that easy to steal >something >while it is in the hold of an aircraft. One way of ensuring that they >treat the >stuff well is to present the check-in guys with a detailed list of >equipment >to be checked; serial numbers, and type of equipment and cost of >replacement >and have them sign it. This would force the airline to put pressure on the >relevant Airport Authority to handle it in a responsible manner and also >hold >them liable for theft or damage to the full extent of the value! You can >put >anything on a ticket limiting liability but in the end they are >responsible >for both you and your luggage! The ticket constitutes a contract between >the >carrier, the airport and you to deliver you to the assigned destination in >a >safe manner within the parameters stated on the travel document. >The biggest problem will be the heavy dose of x-ray that checked luggage >is >subject to. It will fog film and packing the film in lead-bags only >increases >the chance of the handlers opening the bag to inspect the 'blobs" that >show >on the screen - or boosting the level of x-ray used. I carry my film in >clear >plastic Zip-loc bags, no paper-boxes and no plastic containers - just the >film. Until now I have never had a problem with this and if the travel >does not >involve multiple airports I have not had any fogging of my Tri-X. >Yes, we all want to travel safely but also want both airlines and >airports >to treat us decently. Without us they would not have jobs and they are a >service industry after all. As passengers we have rights and >responsibilities >too and if we co-operate with each other travel should be possible in a >smooth >manner. Make theft from checked in luggage a federal offence with a >minimum >sentence in jail of at least 3 years and have IATA apply this to every >airport that they control and in case of unwillingness to comply - remove >them from >the air transport network. >Air travel always involved a bit of hassle and discomfort, but it is >getting >to the point where one weighs the necessities of it with "is it worth the >bother and expense" and stay home instead. If enough of us do that there >will >be fewer airlines, fewer airports and far more incentive to treat >passengers >as paying customers rather than inconvenient interruptions to their work! >Tom A >------------------------- >Tom Abrahamsson >Vancouver, BC >Canada >_www.rapidwinder.com_ (http://www.rapidwinder.com/) > > > > >_______________________________________________ >Leica Users Group. >See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information > > > >