climbers travelling abroad

[ging]

has anyone ever come across any problems with kit going into the hold of the plane? saws etc... i'm assuming it will be sound seeing as people take ice axes and the like, just checking tho.....

[Rupe]

I've taken an 200t to belfast before, fuel out and blade off and packed in your main luggage, no worries!

 

That was pre 911 though!

 

Didn't bring it back again cos some scrote stole from under my very eyes and legged it off into a not very welcoming area of the city!

[Sciadopitys]

I flew a MS200T to Portugal no problem at all....... flying it back with the same airline wasn't so easy! I checked my case in, had a nice meal and a beer, was last man to the boarding gate, just set foot on the plane and i got asked to come off the plane and the plane left without me! I had to ring my friend in Portugal to come and collect the saw and wait 8 hrs for the next plane! My friend had to post my saw back to UK!!! It was there in 2 days, so it obviously went airmail (funny eh!!!) not sure what the issue was with the saw! I was pretty pissed off at the time, because i had checked in advance with the airline before i booked the tickets and they assured me it was ok!!!

[Beezy]

I've taken climbing kit to Oz before, in the hold luggage, never a chainsaw though.

 

You have to ensure it's totally free of any dirt/sawdust etc to allow entry through customs with their strict regs.

 

I spent ages going over it with a brush and an airline, to make sure it was as clean as I could get it, they seemed happy enough, but took my boots off me for a scrub down!

 

Where you off to ging?

[gibbon]

We've taken 90 kilos of saws, spares, rigging and climbing kit it the past. Just drain out fuel and oil from saws and run carbs dry.

 

I would take a packing list and declare all your kit if your flying outside of the UK cos you mights get stung for import duty bringing it home if not.

[ging]

cheers for answers all.

 

Off to Vienna

 

I'm not taking chainsaws just silky and secs' etc having a wee panic first time i've used a plane with anything other than cabbin baggage!!

 

gibbon when you say packing list would that be a self made job or one with actual proff of purchase?

[TRADITIONAL LOGGERS]

Some countries like OZ/NZ will not allow visible sawdust. Fuel/Oil lines should be vacant and keep info on serial numbers to avoid duties.

[gibbon]

a list of all your lit your taking to get signed at customs to prove you took the stuff in. You'll be find in europe. We used the lists to make sure each box was under 25 kilo so we knew how to pack for the return journey without scales. I wouldn't worry though if your just taking your own climbing stuff. We sometimes went as a whole team with all our gear