Shipping your gear vs. carrying it on the plane
#16
Posted 14 January 2011 - 09:31 AM
#17
Posted 14 January 2011 - 11:16 AM
One of our members is currently on Oahu for a 2 week vacation, and still has not received the dive gear she shipped ahead. Her vacation is almost over, too.
just came across this thread and thought i would put in my 2 cents because i just did this and have mixed feeling on it.
i travel a lot and get to end up in great locations... in November i was ending up a trip in Hawaii, so i extended my time there and made a small diving trip out of it being flights were already paid for. the main concern i had was i didn't want to lug my diving gear around the rest of the world with me before i arrived in Hawaii, but also wanted to use my gear vs having to rent everything there. so i looked into my options on shipping it there being i had plenty of time. fed ex and ups were pretty pricy, say maybe 150 bucks or so, just to get it there, but USPS wasn't too bad being it was still a US destination so i went with them. paid only like 35 bucks for shipping and another 20 maybe to insure it for $2000 and delivery confirmation and anything i could put on it to track it. i was quoted 11 days from st louis to maui which was fine and still plenty of time before i arrived. well after about 2 weeks trying to track it, it wouldn't come up in their system anywhere! the only thing tracking would show was that the package was received in st louis and no customer service person could answer anything for me, so at the 3 week mark we started to file the claim of lost package. then totally randomly 2 days before i was scheduled to dive, i got the call from the Maui dive shop saying they received my gear and all was good! so that 11 day journey turned into about a 24ish business day journey, with lots of curiosity of where in the world is my gear!!!! not the best feeling... sounds pretty similar to the above quote!
so all in all, i would prolly do it again, but ONLY because of my traveling needs... if it was for a specific dive trip and back, i think i will 100% take it with me. this is also talking US-US destinations too... i think i would be much more leery to do this international.
#18 Guest_PlatypusMan_*
Posted 14 April 2011 - 09:05 PM
At the beginning of February I shipped via FedEx International four boxes of gear and other personal kit to Western Australia (WA), to an address of friends there that would receive it. I needed the extra, as I was staying for two months in WA for a specific purpose.
Those four boxes took six days from point to point and were awaiting my arrival on 6 Feb:
Jan 31, 2011 11:17 AM Delivered FREEMANTLE WA AU
Jan 31, 2011 8:27 AM On FedEx vehicle for delivery BELMONT EAST AU
Jan 31, 2011 8:13 AM At local FedEx facility BELMONT EAST AU
Jan 30, 2011 1:50 PM Int'l shipment release BELMONT AU
Jan 30, 2011 7:12 AM In transit BELMONT AU Package available for clearance
Jan 28, 2011 11:32AM In transit SINGAPORE SG
Jan 28, 2011 6:38 AM At local FedEx facility SINGAPORE SG
Jan 28, 2011 6:34 AM In transit SINGAPORE SG
Jan 28, 2011 3:43 AM Departed FedEx location GUANGZHOU CN
Jan 28, 2011 1:45 AM In transit GUANGZHOU CN
Jan 28, 2011 1:34 AM Arrived at FedEx location GUANGZHOU CN
Jan 26, 2011 4:22 AM Departed FedEx location MEMPHIS, TN
Jan 25, 2011 6:10 AM In transit MEMPHIS, TN
Jan 25, 2011 1:37 AM Arrived at FedEx location MEMPHIS, TN
(This tracking information was provided via the FedEx.com web site.)
I return-shipped four boxes via the local Pack-and-Send in Freemantle, which uses DHL. The boxes went out the Thursday prior to my departure that weekend, and arrived intact at my front door the following Monday (I arrived home the previous night). As with the ship-out, everything was verified intact upon arrival. I still had the opportunity to track the DHL shipment(s) via their web site DHL.com :
Monday, April 11, 2011 Location Time
19 Delivered - Signed for by : Sparky COPPELL, TX - USA 10:46
18 With delivery courier COPPELL, TX - USA 07:14
17 Arrived at Delivery Facility in COPPELL - USA COPPELL, TX - USA 07:08
Sunday, April 10, 2011 Location Time
16 Departed Facility in CINCINNATI HUB - USA CINCINNATI HUB, OH - USA 22:48
15 Processed at CINCINNATI HUB - USA CINCINNATI HUB, OH - USA 13:39
14 Clearance processing complete at CINCINNATI HUB - USA CINCINNATI HUB, OH - USA 10:22
13 Arrived at Sort Facility CINCINNATI HUB - USA CINCINNATI HUB, OH - USA 10:22
Saturday, April 09, 2011 Location Time
12 Departed Facility in CINCINNATI HUB - USA CINCINNATI HUB, OH - USA 10:35
11 Processed at CINCINNATI HUB - USA CINCINNATI HUB, OH - USA 07:00
10 Transferred through CINCINNATI HUB - USA CINCINNATI HUB, OH - USA 04:44
9 Clearance processing complete at CINCINNATI HUB - USA CINCINNATI HUB, OH - USA 02:51
8 Arrived at Sort Facility CINCINNATI HUB - USA CINCINNATI HUB, OH - USA 02:51
7 Departed Facility in HONG KONG - HONG KONG HONG KONG - HONG KONG 05:50
6 Processed at HONG KONG - HONG KONG HONG KONG - HONG KONG 05:14
Friday, April 08, 2011 Location Time
5 Clearance processing complete at HONG KONG - HONG KONG HONG KONG - HONG KONG 20:28
4 Arrived at Sort Facility HONG KONG - HONG KONG HONG KONG - HONG KONG 11:40
Thursday, April 07, 2011 Location Time
3 Departed Facility in PERTH - AUSTRALIA PERTH - AUSTRALIA 20:53
2 Processed at PERTH - AUSTRALIA PERTH - AUSTRALIA 20:02
1 Shipment picked up PERTH - AUSTRALIA 16:05
As Kamala has pointed out, Australia is a First-world country, and I really did not expect any problems, nor were there any.
SO---first country on our ship-to (and from) list is Australia as far as I am concerned. Anyone else have one to contribute?
PPM
#19 Guest_PlatypusMan_*
Posted 14 April 2011 - 09:17 PM
Please note that even if your carry-on meets the size requirements, the airline can require you to gate-check it if it doesn't meet the weight restriction(s).
Click HERE to see baggage size/weight limits.
PPM
#20
Posted 15 April 2011 - 07:23 AM
That's just not enough weight allowance for what I consider 'essential' to keep with me: camera gear, regulator & dive computer, backup dive computer, prescription mask, change of clothes, swimsuit, dive skin, a few toiletries & medications, dive log & c-cards. But since these items are important enough to me to want to keep with me at all times, I'll deal with it in some way other than shipping ahead.
Picture me in the security line, wearing my mask, 2 computers, several layers of clothes, & my reg draped around my neck!
#21
Posted 15 April 2011 - 10:50 AM
I'm flying Cathay Pacific next month and I knew about their very limited 15 lb limit for carry-ons.
That's just not enough weight allowance for what I consider 'essential' to keep with me: camera gear, regulator & dive computer, backup dive computer, prescription mask, change of clothes, swimsuit, dive skin, a few toiletries & medications, dive log & c-cards. But since these items are important enough to me to want to keep with me at all times, I'll deal with it in some way other than shipping ahead.
Picture me in the security line, wearing my mask, 2 computers, several layers of clothes, & my reg draped around my neck!
#22 Guest_PlatypusMan_*
Posted 15 April 2011 - 12:34 PM
I have made trips where I wore a photo vest. I had cameras, strobes, dome and flat ports, lenses, and what ever else I wanted all stuffed in the pockets.
I've heard more than one person mention camera vests as an alternative means to carry on gear.
Could you please share where you have purchased/seen photo vests of the type you consider best suited to this purpose? By sharing the information, people can look at ALL their options and decide what's best for their needs/requirements.
PPM
Add-on:
Spurred to do a little research, I found THIS LINK concerning vests and how to determine which purchase is best for you.
-Sparky
Edited by PlatypusMan, 15 April 2011 - 12:47 PM.
#23
Posted 15 April 2011 - 02:17 PM
I have a Domke vest. A lot of my photo gear is bought through B&H Photo, and that is where I got my vest about 10 years ago. The best explination that I can give is that it is a vest of pockets. The pockets are oversized to the point where I can put an Ikelite 161 strobe in a pocket, and it will not be sticking out at all. There are pockets inside as well as outside the vest. I have put fifty pounds of gear in my vest, when traveling, or heading out to take pictures. The vest held everything fine. Of course, things are not as protected as they would be in a camera bag, but I wrap stuff in bubble wrap at times to compensate for that. In looking at the link below, I see vests starting around $25.00. I do not know the quality of them, but if they are only used as a means of getting some extra gear through the gate and onto a plane, I would expect a cheaper model should work. Hope that helps some. Ed
http://www.bhphotovi...itialSearch=yes
I have made trips where I wore a photo vest. I had cameras, strobes, dome and flat ports, lenses, and what ever else I wanted all stuffed in the pockets.
I've heard more than one person mention camera vests as an alternative means to carry on gear.
Could you please share where you have purchased/seen photo vests of the type you consider best suited to this purpose? By sharing the information, people can look at ALL their options and decide what's best for their needs/requirements.
PPM
Add-on:
Spurred to do a little research, I found THIS LINK concerning vests and how to determine which purchase is best for you.
-Sparky
#24
Posted 15 April 2011 - 04:17 PM
Tammy,you use your Homeowners policy?As a add on, for the equipment?
Hope I didn't upset the thread here with this..
:
E= pluribus Forum Enjoy the view. ,Do unto others:respect
#25
Posted 15 April 2011 - 06:33 PM
Here's some travel vests, clothing site. Some SD.com members use this product.
#26
Posted 15 April 2011 - 08:39 PM
Tammy,you use your Homeowners policy?As a add on, for the equipment?
I have a couple of riders on my homeowners policy: one for my jewelry, and one for my dive gear!
#27
Posted 15 April 2011 - 09:03 PM
http://www.scottivest.com/
Here's some travel vests, clothing site. Some SD.com members use this product.
This is the one I use.
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