Airplanes and rucksacks

Wai-kay Chan said:

Specifically with "checking in" the packs. I'm worried about the lack of
security that rucksacks have, i.e. you can't put a look on like you can with
the more traditional luggage

You aren't supposed to lock luggage any more, it saves the authorities
busting the lock open.
--
Andrew, contact via interpleb.blogspot.com
Help make Usenet a better place: English is read downwards,
please don't top post. Trim replies to quote only relevant text.
Check groups.google.com before asking an obvious question.

Wai-kay Chan <[email hidden]> writes

Quoted message said:

Has anyone had any experience in air travel with rucksacks?

Specifically with "checking in" the packs. I'm worried about the lack of
security that rucksacks have, i.e. you can't put a look on like you can with
the more traditional luggage, plus you've got all thoses straps hanging
loose. Is it worth buying one of those wire mesh devices (e.g. Pacsafe) to
put your sack into?

Or is it better to carry the rucksack on as "carry on"? What size of
rucksack can you reasonably get away with? For weekend travels I have a
Berghaus Freeflow II 35+8 litre sack, can I get away with this? I presume
that for 50+ litre rucksacks you would have to check them into the aircraft
hold?

Depends very much on the airline size wise
Depends on destination security wise -Locks to some destinations don't
seem to do the job in hand and going to others nowadays a locked case
will be forcibly opened for searches anyway IF i have read the
destructions correctly.
Each seems to have varying max sizes classed as carry on. The basic
test is will the bag fit in the TEST cubby-hole at the check-in.
I think you need to enquire from your carrier(s) the max dimensions
allowed for starters.

"Wai-kay Chan" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Has anyone had any experience in air travel with rucksacks?

Specifically with "checking in" the packs. I'm worried about the lack of
security that rucksacks have, i.e. you can't put a look on like you can

with

Quoted message said:

the more traditional luggage, plus you've got all thoses straps hanging
loose. Is it worth buying one of those wire mesh devices (e.g. Pacsafe) to
put your sack into?

I took my Karrimor 70 litre sac to Kenya in 2002. I flew from Manchester to
Heathrow with BMI who made me take the sac to outsize baggage when I was
checking in. I was told any locks on it would be broken if it was selected
for a random search.

From Heathrow to Nairobi I flew with BA who just let me check it in the
normal way (down the side of the person who gives you your boarding card).

I wouldn't bother with a pacsafe as if the do search it they will probably
just get the wire cutters on it. It will probably make it look more
suspicious too.

Best tip is to tighten all the straps as much as possible including the
waist belt. Make the carry loop as obvious as possible so all the weight
isn't put on something like the lid straps when the baggage handlers have
their way with your sac!!!!!

You could also put it inside another bag (like one of those big TNF
Expedition bags).

Cheers

Andy

Wai-kay Chan wrote

Quoted message said:

Has anyone had any experience in air travel with rucksacks?

Air Canada supplied a big strong clear plastic bag sealed with a
cable tie. Job done, no problem. You could take your own.

Chris

Wai-kay Chan said:

Has anyone had any experience in air travel with rucksacks?

Specifically with "checking in" the packs. I'm worried about the lack of
security that rucksacks have, i.e. you can't put a look on like you can with
the more traditional luggage, plus you've got all thoses straps hanging
loose. Is it worth buying one of those wire mesh devices (e.g. Pacsafe) to
put your sack into?

Or is it better to carry the rucksack on as "carry on"? What size of
rucksack can you reasonably get away with? For weekend travels I have a
Berghaus Freeflow II 35+8 litre sack, can I get away with this? I presume
that for 50+ litre rucksacks you would have to check them into the aircraft
hold?

Thanks in advance
Wai-kay

Get yourself a steel net for security. If you are going to the US and
Canada then there is a lock that you hold a key for and that TRA also have
a master for so they can open the case, search it and repack.

You can also if you arrive early present the case and ask them to search it
and then ask them to lock it afterwards. If they ask why tell them you have
a knife inside and wasn't sure what to do (knives are perfectly acceptable
as checked luggage still) They don't have to but generally will accomodate
the request.

Pack trekking poles inside the rucksac otherwise they will snag/get pinched
etc. You cannot take them as carry on now. Also note that you cannot have
tweezers or scissors of any kind as carry on - you get these in travel
first aid kits that I used to take as carry on.

If you need to carry sharps for diabetes or anaphaylxis then you must carry
a doctor's letter as a prescription isn't always enough (it should be but
often isn't)

Chris Gilbert said:

Wai-kay Chan wrote

Quoted message said:

Has anyone had any experience in air travel with rucksacks?

Air Canada supplied a big strong clear plastic bag sealed with a
cable tie. Job done, no problem. You could take your own.

Now there's an idea for when I need to save weight. I have been using
a kit-bag from army surplus to put my rucky in, mind you that does
offer the advantage of hiding the ice axe out of sight whilst in the
terminal. Before I used the kit-bag I used to secure the lid and
compression straps with cable-ties.
--
Phil Cook looking north over the park to the "Westminster Gasworks"

Wai-kay Chan said:

Has anyone had any experience in air travel with rucksacks?

Specifically with "checking in" the packs. I'm worried about the lack of
security that rucksacks have, i.e. you can't put a look on like you can
with the more traditional luggage, plus you've got all thoses straps
hanging loose. Is it worth buying one of those wire mesh devices (e.g.
Pacsafe) to put your sack into?

Some airports have a machine which (for a charge) covers your luggage in
something resembling cling film. It's intended to deal with broken locks
and zips presumably but it could be useful to contain the dangly straps.

Quoted message said:

Or is it better to carry the rucksack on as "carry on"? What size of
rucksack can you reasonably get away with? For weekend travels I have a
Berghaus Freeflow II 35+8 litre sack, can I get away with this? I presume
that for 50+ litre rucksacks you would have to check them into the
aircraft hold?

In addition to the size limit for carry-on baggage there is also a weight
limit which is usually 5Kg. I've never had my carry-on day sack weighed
(fortunately) but at Gatwick a couple of weeks ago I saw someone having a
Hard Time trying to get a small case weighing 16Kg allowed as hand luggage.
--
Dave

"Wai-kay Chan" <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

Specifically with "checking in" the packs. I'm worried about the

lack of

Quoted message said:

security that rucksacks have, i.e. you can't put a look on like you

can with

Quoted message said:

the more traditional luggage, plus you've got all thoses straps

hanging

Quoted message said:

loose. Is it worth buying one of those wire mesh devices (e.g.

Pacsafe) to

Quoted message said:

put your sack into?

In the past I've just made sure that all straps are tied together and
there are no loose ends. As mentioned, locks will be broken on any bag
if it's going to be searched. I've never had any problem, but another
idea would be to put the flat empty rucksack into a holdall, and your
gear on top. This certainly packs better - worth thinking about if you
have somewhere to leave the holdall. When you come back you can use
holdall to pack all your rugs, coats, jumpers, t-shirts, etc. that you
bought for 5 quid :-)

Quoted message said:

Or is it better to carry the rucksack on as "carry on"? What size of
rucksack can you reasonably get away with? For weekend travels I

have a

Quoted message said:

Berghaus Freeflow II 35+8 litre sack, can I get away with this? I

presume

Quoted message said:

that for 50+ litre rucksacks you would have to check them into the

aircraft

Quoted message said:

hold?

It was 5kg hand luggage and 25kg (varies) hold last time I went, but
check the small print. Take a bumbag too so vital things can go round
your waist, nobody has ever checked mine. 35l is on the limit for a
cabin bag, mines smaller than that, however, my cheeky mate got a 50l
sack on once. It wasn't full though.

Graham

Andy Laycock said:

Best tip is to tighten all the straps as much as possible including the
waist belt. Make the carry loop as obvious as possible so all the weight
isn't put on something like the lid straps when the baggage handlers have
their way with your sac!!!!!

If you reverse the waist and shoulder straps so they go tight round
the "front" of the sack (IYSWIM - the side that faces away from your
back when you're wearing it) they're less likely to get snagged. I'd
also put a couple of luggage straps right round it - one round the
vertical axis, through the carry loop so it's free to use, and the
other horizontally round the middle.

If you use poles, put them inside the sack if possible, otherwise
strap them tightly to the side and tuck the tips under the edge of the
lid. (If you have poles I imagine you definitely won't be able to take
them as cabin baggage).

Unless you like hearing your name on the airport PA system, don't do
what I did and forget you have a half-empty propane canister in the
sack...
--

John
change xx to uk for email

Dave Pickles said:

In addition to the size limit for carry-on baggage there is also a weight
limit which is usually 5Kg.

Not if you go by Easyjet - they no longer have any weight limit for
hand luggage.

In article <[email hidden]>,
[email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

Has anyone had any experience in air travel with rucksacks?

Specifically with "checking in" the packs. I'm worried about the lack of
security that rucksacks have, i.e. you can't put a look on like you can with
the more traditional luggage, plus you've got all thoses straps hanging
loose. Is it worth buying one of those wire mesh devices (e.g. Pacsafe) to
put your sack into?

Or is it better to carry the rucksack on as "carry on"? What size of
rucksack can you reasonably get away with? For weekend travels I have a
Berghaus Freeflow II 35+8 litre sack, can I get away with this? I presume
that for 50+ litre rucksacks you would have to check them into the aircraft
hold?

Thanks in advance
Wai-kay

You also need to consider that a number of things that would typically
be in/on a sac are now prohibited as hand luggage:

- poles
- knives
- cutlery
- stoves
- fuel
- ice axe ??!!
- etc etc

I think you'll be looking at sticking it in the hold!

--
Darren

"Wai-kay Chan" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Has anyone had any experience in air travel with rucksacks?

Specifically with "checking in" the packs. I'm worried about the lack of
security that rucksacks have, i.e. you can't put a look on like you can

with

Quoted message said:

the more traditional luggage, plus you've got all thoses straps hanging
loose. Is it worth buying one of those wire mesh devices (e.g. Pacsafe) to
put your sack into?

Or is it better to carry the rucksack on as "carry on"? What size of
rucksack can you reasonably get away with? For weekend travels I have a
Berghaus Freeflow II 35+8 litre sack, can I get away with this? I presume
that for 50+ litre rucksacks you would have to check them into the

aircraft

Quoted message said:

hold?

Thanks in advance
Wai-kay

I've been all over the world with my rucksack, as many others have, and
haven't really had a problem. As others have said, I'd recommend tightening
all the straps that will tighten, looping the waist belt round the wrong
side of the pack (IYSWIM), and tucking all the loose ends in. Sometimes it's
gone to the oversize/soft baggage area, sometimes just straight onto the
conveyor. Usually comes out fairly quickly at the other end, because I
imagine they begin loading the stuff from the conveyors sooner.

I did have my Swiss army knife nicked from the lid pocket of my rucksack
flying out of Athens once - though I reckon this was partly because someone
saw me put it in there (I remembered at the desk that it was still in my
pocket & the quickest place to put it was in the lid). But TBH, if someone
wants to nick your stuff, they can no matter what it's packed in.

As for hand luggage, beware of things like tent pegs. Coming back from Spain
on Easyjet, I had all mine taken off me - and they nearly insisted on taking
the poles too. Funnily enough, there wasn't a problem leaving the UK.......

PacSafe mesh wire and other "solid" protection systems are indeed
likely to be opened by force if airport security has singled out your
pack for a check. Plus, it weighs a lot and not all of us have a
posibility to store the holdalls / PacSafes etc that we used on the
airplane trip while just carrying the backpack at minimum weight after
the flight.

I try not to worry about my pack being snatched open, but having
worked at an airport myself some years ago, I do worry about
mishandling of baggage and the danger of dangling backpack straps
getting caught in conveyor belts and other baggage processing
contraptions.

I have a Deuter 60 l backpack with a rain cover integrated, and for
travelling I just reverse the rain cover so that it covers the straps
- which I tied tightly together. I then wrap the whole thing in my
rain poncho and tie it together with two solid luggage straps.

As to hand lugage, I find that airlines are getting more and more
vigilant about hand baggage size. Just take the absolutely necessary
(ie whatever you need to survive and look decent for 24 hours without
your main luggage) with you on board.
If you want to risk it and try to board with a heavier pack, make sure
that your absolutely necessary items are stuffed in a little pouch.
Airline staff have developed a nasty habit of singling out passengers
just as they are about to board the plane and ask them to hand over
their hand luggage, even if it passed check-in. These bags will be
marked with a "delivery at aircraft" sticker, ie they are stored in
the baggage hold for the duration of the flight and lined up at the
stairs of the plane as passengers exit and recuperate them after
landing. Should you have to hand over your bag at last minute, you
should just take out the pouch with absolute necessities (medication,
eyeglasses or whatever) and not make too much of a fuss about them
taking your bag. After all it's for safety's sake, and airline staff
generally have a better idea on what fits into a plane's cabin and
what does not.

"Wai-kay Chan" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Has anyone had any experience in air travel with rucksacks?

Specifically with "checking in" the packs. I'm worried about the lack of
security that rucksacks have, i.e. you can't put a look on like you can

with

Quoted message said:

the more traditional luggage, plus you've got all thoses straps hanging
loose. Is it worth buying one of those wire mesh devices (e.g. Pacsafe) to
put your sack into?

Or is it better to carry the rucksack on as "carry on"? What size of
rucksack can you reasonably get away with? For weekend travels I have a
Berghaus Freeflow II 35+8 litre sack, can I get away with this? I presume
that for 50+ litre rucksacks you would have to check them into the

aircraft

Quoted message said:

hold?

I took a half full Pursuit 50 on as hand luggage. That's a 48 litre pack for
me
'cos I'm small. They looked at it, weighed it (it was well under the limit),
and
it was fine. I think carry on luggage can be no more than 48" in the longest
dimension.

On the way back, I had more in it, so I checked it in. Lots of loose straps,
so I put the whole thing in a survival bag and tied it shut with a spare
piece
of string. Worked fine. In the past airlines have sent me to oversize
luggage
where the pack has been bagged up (which is great) but that doesn't seem
to happen anymore.

Re other replies, you can use a lock in the US if it's TSA approved. No idea
what the deal is for Europe.

Ben

"Dave Pickles" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

In addition to the size limit for carry-on baggage there is also a weight
limit which is usually 5Kg. I've never had my carry-on day sack weighed

7kg on all airlines I've flown on recently.

Ben

"Darren G" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

You also need to consider that a number of things that would typically
be in/on a sac are now prohibited as hand luggage:

- poles
- knives
- cutlery
- stoves
- fuel

^^^^

That's never been allowed in any form of luggage has it?

Ben

Quoted message said:

Has anyone had any experience in air travel with rucksacks?

Specifically with "checking in" the packs. I'm worried about the lack of
security that rucksacks have, i.e. you can't put a look on like you can
with
the more traditional luggage, plus you've got all thoses straps hanging
loose. Is it worth buying one of those wire mesh devices (e.g. Pacsafe) to
put your sack into?

Had 3 overseas trips since 2000, Morroco, Nepal and this June to La Paz
Bolivia. Had my Lowe Alphine trekking rucksack (about 65L I think!)stuffed
full and checked it in no problem on all 3 trips. I made sure all the
straps were tucked away, and the waist strap placed around the sack and
buckled. Turned up safely on the conveyor belt at the end of each leg of
the journey ...... a bit dirty but still intact. One thing, I packed
everything in plastic bags, then into a large plastic bag in the rucksack.

I suppose there is always the danger of damage or it going missing. But
that is true of any type of luggage on any flight.

--
Sandy Saunders @ www.thewalkzone.co.uk

"Mountains or Mole Hills ..... reaching the
summit still brings the same excitement"

The message <[email hidden]>
from [email hidden] (Birgit Kleymann) contains these words:

Quoted message said:

PacSafe mesh wire and other "solid" protection systems are indeed
likely to be opened by force if airport security has singled out your
pack for a check.

I use a PacSafe mesh and have only once been asked to open it - at Wick
airport in Caithness, Scotland.

--
Cheers,
Compo

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Has anyone had any experience in air travel with rucksacks?

My Berghaus 30l sack has always been accepted as carry-on luggage.
Julie has a Rock 50l and has also not had problems. With a larger sack
the trick is to make it look as small as you can.

--
Cheers,

Compo.