Airport luggage...and Bags, cases, boxes !

[Al.]

I've been buying replacement items, spares, upgrades & parts to finish the engine installation etc, ready to head over to Cirrus, I plan to fly and have paid for 92kg of luggage. (I can still increase it 27kg more, but will get raped cost wise for the privilege)

28kg is the tender, I've mounted it on a skate, so I can drop everything on top, and pull it like a trolley.

The question, the rest of the items, what's the best way to pack them and what's the max size you have used.
My allowance is 3x20KG but one of the items is 48" long. I have not found a bag that will take it, so thinking of a large box. Are you aware of any issues with the airports and loads of boat spares in a box ? I do have a role of nice black shrink wrap for the tender. as I can still hide 4kg more in that. I don't ideally want more than 1 bag, as once I get to Cirrus, its going to equal more **** to find storage homes for.

Also I've drained (oil and petrol) cleaned and made the suitcase generator look like new, any tips for packing it. All the spares i'm removing from original packages and repacking to reduce spare.

So tips please.

 

[Borden]

Personally I wouldn't bother to pack stuff in a suitcase to make it look like luggage. I've carried a passerell wrapped in bubble wrap, a double bed size foam mattress rolled up, an electric toilet in its cardboard box. As long as individual items conform to the maximum size and weight limit and won't explode you'll be ok. Weight limit is 32kg for each item of hold luggage, max size can be found in the small print on your carriers web site. The worst reaction you'll get is some strange looks and stupid questions from other passengers. The clerks at the check in desks have seen it all before.

 

[Appleyard]

You won't get away with the generator if it has ever had any petrol in it,no matter how you wrap it or how many times you clean it.

 

[MASH]

Check the airline's website or call them for info on oversize items but I'd expect 48in is going to be OK. There are max individual item weights too so the poor dears don't strain themselves lifting too much.
Anything travelling by air should ideally be packed to withstand a 3m drop onto concrete. If it isn't, cross fingers until arrival.
Cardboard boxes are iffy as they'll get wet if it is raining or they are set down on a wet floor or puddle.
Genny. Better ask about that. If it's been used (and you indicate it has) draining the petrol is unlikely to be enough. Any residual vapour is assumed to be flammable, and if there's the slightest whifff of petrol noticed it'll stay behind. Check, they may have suggestions of how to inert the tank.
Compressed gas inc life jackets. Check website - no prob as long as correct procedure is applied.
Flammable/toxic liquids, paint, solvents. Please don't risk it...and they'll be sure to ask.
Items that merely need wrapping/protecting, heavy duty cardboard boxes such as fridges come in are suitable for cutting up and taping to make bespoke wrappings.
Suitably placed rope handles tend to help baggage handlers realise there is an easy way to carry things the "right way up".

Best!

 

[BurnitBlue]

I've been buying replacement items, spares, upgrades & parts to finish the engine installation etc, ready to head over to Cirrus, I plan to fly and have paid for 92kg of luggage. (I can still increase it 27kg more, but will get raped cost wise for the privilege)

28kg is the tender, I've mounted it on a skate, so I can drop everything on top, and pull it like a trolley.

The question, the rest of the items, what's the best way to pack them and what's the max size you have used.
My allowance is 3x20KG but one of the items is 48" long. I have not found a bag that will take it, so thinking of a large box. Are you aware of any issues with the airports and loads of boat spares in a box ? I do have a role of nice black shrink wrap for the tender. as I can still hide 4kg more in that. I don't ideally want more than 1 bag, as once I get to Cirrus, its going to equal more **** to find storage homes for.

Also I've drained (oil and petrol) cleaned and made the suitcase generator look like new, any tips for packing it. All the spares i'm removing from original packages and repacking to reduce spare.

So tips please.

I have a similar problem and have decided to drive the goodies in a car. I investigated the aircraft option using SAS from Copenhagen. There is a good FAQ on the SAS website (in English) which gives the rules in detail for "Goods" type Baggage. Google. The main problem is that the goods have to be described from a dropdown list. This is OK for things like ski things and bicycles but no mention of outboards, generators, Wind vane gears. A call to customer services is absolutely mandatory to accept the goods and ensure there will be space on the aircraft. The problem for me was that customer services will not give and answer unless the flight has been booked. There was no point for me to book then be told "Not on that particular aircraft, sir".

There are restrictions on Max weight per package (baggage handlers bad back). And most important, the goods must not be able to damage other passengers baggage, ie no sticky out bits.

This was for accompanied baggage goods. Otherwise it would have to go Cargo and the problems on collection. So for me, no thanks.

 

[Al.]

Any tips on how to remove petrol smell from a tank. I have stripped it out, washed it, etc, but it still has a residual smell.

 

[Appleyard]

Can ye no read?

 

[ChrisE]

You won't get away with the generator if it has ever had any petrol in it,no matter how you wrap it or how many times you clean it.

Not sure about that. You need to check with individual airlines as they have different policies. For instance, I've been to the US with my petrol campng stove, emptied of fuel. BA were happy to take it, provivded that we'd declared it. Most other airlines wouldn't.

 

[akyaka]

28kg is the tender, I've mounted it on a skate, so I can drop everything on top, and pull it like a trolley.

The question, the rest of the items, what's the best way to pack them and what's the max size you have used.
My allowance is 3x20KG but one of the items is 48" long. I have not found a bag that will take it, so thinking of a large box. Are you aware of any issues with the airports and loads of boat spares in a box ? I do have a role of nice black shrink wrap for the tender. as I can still hide 4kg more in that. I don't ideally want more than 1 bag, as once I get to Cirrus, its going to equal more **** to find storage homes for.

48" long no problem but you will probably be sent to a special baggage drop counter after you check in. Many airports will not accept a single baggage weighing more than 30 kg - the handlers have lost their lifting strength.

 

[concentrik]

You don't say where you're heading but for our similar trip (taking spares, materials and belongings) back to Spain we gave up on air travel in favour of packing the car full. So many air restrictions on paint, varnish, gases, biohazard (Grotamar), flares, anything that smells a bit funny etc it wasn't worth the risk. I had water based paint confiscated at Stansted last time (Ryanair) - although an altruistic employee kindly held it for me till I returned a fortnight later.

 

[BurnitBlue]

Not sure about that. You need to check with individual airlines as they have different policies. For instance, I've been to the US with my petrol campng stove, emptied of fuel. BA were happy to take it, provivded that we'd declared it. Most other airlines wouldn't.

That's a good point to check individual airlines. SAS customer services told me that they could only accept the goods on their aircraft so if the flight was cancelled and your ticket was transferred to another carrier the alternate carrier rules on sizes etc apply. Same thing for their afternoon flight to Athens which changed to Italia at the Rome airport so I was warned that the Italia flight's baggage hold may be full and the goods may not accompany me to Athens which would be a pain in the neck.

Best of luck. EDIT. If your final destination (boat) is close to the airport then it may not matter if the goods do not accompany you as you can arrange collection. In my case Athens is 5 hour bus + bus + Taxi to Preveza.

 

[duncan99210]

Any tips on how to remove petrol smell from a tank. I have stripped it out, washed it, etc, but it still has a residual smell.

Any fuel tank is dangerous air cargo. There are strict rules on the preparation on packaging for such items that are well beyond the capability of DIY presentation. The airline will shut the item out. To have the thing prepared for flight includes getting a gas free certificate no more than 24 hours before flight IIRC. Frankly, you'd do better getting it shipped by courier tha trying to fly it.

 

[Dave100456]

Any tips on how to remove petrol smell from a tank. I have stripped it out, washed it, etc, but it still has a residual smell.

Good luck-
Have you drained the oil and residue as they'll regard that as dangerous!

 

[Al.]

You don't say where you're heading but for our similar trip (taking spares, materials and belongings) back to Spain we gave up on air travel in favour of packing the car full. So many air restrictions on paint, varnish, gases, biohazard (Grotamar), flares, anything that smells a bit funny etc it wasn't worth the risk. I had water based paint confiscated at Stansted last time (Ryanair) - although an altruistic employee kindly held it for me till I returned a fortnight later.

First stop Madeira so no chance in driving there.

Good luck-
Have you drained the oil and residue as they'll regard that as dangerous!

Yep, as it happens the its oil free, that was easy, same stripping out the carb. I just priced a new fuel tank, I know it sounds silly, but sending it out, they want £130 and 10+ days to get it there or new tank, £40.

 

[Bertramdriver]

Send it all out by carrier. You'll probably save money and a hernia.

 

[Al.]

Send it all out by carrier. You'll probably save money and a hernia.

Yep. I think you may be right, my head is so far up my ass, with logistics, and figuring out how and what's going where. I may post post it, and hope it arrives safe.

 

[RAI]

First stop Madeira so no chance in driving there.

There are car ferries.

 

[akyaka]

There are car ferries.

 

[mcanderson]

I forget the code for engines, but they are classed as dangerous cargo and have a UN number. Ask your airline before you travel. You maybe allowed to take it, but it will need to go as freight and be dangerous cargo packed.

 

[billcowan]

I didnt have a problem with an outboard on either Easy Jet or BA legs of a flight to Greece. I took the fuel cap off so they could see it was empty and dry, and the prop. put bubble stuff round the nasty bracket, and just checked it in. It had to go in the 'elephant hole' check in at the far end.

But generally I go for carriers, £40 ish to Italy, cheaper than the cost of a checked bag. plus you can send more dangerous stuff, but DO check the carriers prohibited items. (what makes human ashes SO dangerous, and pornography ?? )