Life Jackets on planes...........again...........Jet2.com.........and the CAA

Fascadale

Fascadale

Well-Known Member
Joined
15 Jan 2007
Messages
1,480
Location
One end of the A1
Visit site
Happy New Year to all

I have been seeking clarification from Jet2.com on their LJ policy: some friends recently had to surrender their gas cartridges before being allowed to board.

Jet 2 have said:
"Within our Dangerous Goods information sheet, we explain that small cartridges fitted into a self-inflating device, such as a life jacket, will have restrictions. These include no more than one device per customers, limited to carbon dioxide or other suitable gases without a subsidiary risk, cartridges must be for inflation purposes, the device must be fitted with no more than 2 small cartridges and limited to 2 spare cartridges. As part of this we explain that the water capacity of each cartridge must not exceed 50ml. For carbon dioxide gas cartridges, this is equivalent to 28g. To find a little more information, please click here for the information provided on the Civil Aviation Authority’s website, which is available to view via our FAQ section.”
Click to expand...

I have had a look at the CAA guidelines on gas cartridges which say

Small cartridges fitted into a self-inflating life-jacket must be for inflation purposes.
No more than two small cylinders of carbon dioxide or another suitable non-flammable non-toxic gas fitted in the life-jacket per person and a maximum of two spare cartridges.

Small cartridges for other devices.
No more than four small cylinders of carbon dioxide or other suitable non-flammable non-toxic gas per person and the water capacity of each cylinder must not exceed 50 mL.
Note: For carbon dioxide, a gas cylinder with a water capacity of 50 mL is equivalent to a 28 g cartridge.


From what I see on the CAA notice the 50ml limit certainly applies to "other devices" but can it be inferred to apply to "self-inflating LJs"?

My own lifejacket (Spin. Deckvest) has a 33gm gas cylinder. Some of the newer ones have a 60g cylinders
 
The CAA guidance only gives a limit for "other devices". In respect of LJs the only stipulation is they are for inflation.
When I flew with a LJ with Ryanair I just put it the hold luggage. If you take them in your hand luggage then you might have to give them to stewards for safe keeping. I'd ignore the 28g limit that Jet2 have stated.
 
Most airlines allow ljs in hand luggage, along with spare cylinders but security staff sometimes have their own ideas when an unusual item shows up on scanner, I've had to ask for supervisor on a couple of occasions to (satisfactorily) resolve disputes. Suggest you print out CAA info and show it to security if any problems.
 
carry on should be ok. But ...
What I personally do: check it in as oversized. It gets X-rayed with you present, so you don’t get any nasty surprises when you get off the plane on the other side.
check in counter staff who was an RYA instructor recommended this route to me
 
I flew two home last year, Ryanair, Faro to MAN in the cabin case. Ryanair were quite explicit, take the bottles off and you can carry two per jkt.
 
If you have a problem it'll be the airport security staff rather than the airline personnel, unless you walk on wearing it they won't even know you have it.
 
Interesting comments..................thanks

The problem I referred to in the OP was a particular problem with Jet2.com.

Jet 2.com have chosen to interpret the Civil Aviation Authority's guidelines in a way different from any other carrier I have used.

I fly quite often with my LJ and I entirely agree that there are few if any problems with other airlines, both taking an LJ as a carry on or in your hold luggage: usually very straight forward.

Jet2 however will not allow a gas cartridge of more than 28 gms, neither in hand luggage nor checked bags, and they do check.

As I have said, this is a problem particular to Jet 2.com
 
Fascadale said:
Jet2 however will not allow a gas cartridge of more than 28 gms, neither in hand luggage nor checked bags, and they do check.
Click to expand...

How do they check? I've never had Jet2 or any other airline check my bag contents, hold or cabin. As said above, it's always the security staff who create problems. Don't mention any dubious items to check-in staff or you will create problems.
 
Graham376 said:
How do they check? I've never had Jet2 or any other airline check my bag contents, hold or cabin. As said above, it's always the security staff who create problems. Don't mention any dubious items to check-in staff or you will create problems.
Click to expand...

Two of my crew had checked their luggage in, had gone through security and were then summoned back from the departure lounge to the Jet 2 check in. All luggage goes through some sort of X -ray between the check in and aircraft. Both had their gas cartridges removed.

As I say, a Jet2 issue, not a problem with other carriers

Here is the Jet2.Com explanation

As the aircraft hold will have the same level of pressure, the cartridges will need to have a uniformed maximum limit and this is explained as 28g for carbon dioxide cartridges on the Civil Aviation Authority’s website. This is mentioned also within the International Air Transport Association’s Dangerous Goods table. As I mentioned before, I feel this should’ve been better explained by our Pre Travel Services team when you emailed in to clarify the maximum amount. Once again I apologise for this and this is why I’ve fed this back to our Pre Travel Services team for their own review, in order to avoid a similar situation going forwards.

With the above in mind, I’m happy to provide a refund of £75.89 for the replacement cartridges.
Click to expand...
 
Fascadale said:
Two of my crew had checked their luggage in, had gone through security and were then summoned back from the departure lounge to the Jet 2 check in. All luggage goes through some sort of X -ray between the check in and aircraft. Both had their gas cartridges removed.

As I say, a Jet2 issue, not a problem with other carriers

Here is the Jet2.Com explanation
Click to expand...

As I mentioned earlier. that’s why I check it in as oversized - you watch it get x ray-ed, and trouble shoot there and then.
The people doing the x ray are airport staff, not airline staff, so they should be better briefed (all they do all day is x ray for security reasons)
 
boomerangben said:
Airlines can and do stipulate more stringent dangerous good rules than the IATA standards. They are not CAA rules but they are responsible for policing UK operators.
Click to expand...
Most unlikely. Airlines' policy is enshrined in stone in their Ts and Cs of carriage but are almost invariably in accordance with IATA. They'd find it extremely difficult to justfy doing otherwise. Ts and Cs is the Bible. Chapter and Verse.
It is "security" that arbitarily and unfairly makes up it's own local rules. If the airline approves it and the goons in security then kick up a fuss they are out of order unless they can demonstrate that you had reasonable cause to believe that the airline's Ts and Cs were subject to more stringent rules - and unless they'd told you how could you possibly know that?
Stand up to the little Hitlers.
 
Fascadale said:
Two of my crew had checked their luggage in, had gone through security and were then summoned back from the departure lounge to the Jet 2 check in. All luggage goes through some sort of X -ray between the check in and aircraft. Both had their gas cartridges removed.
Click to expand...

That's why people put them in cabin bag which doesn't get scanned along with hold baggage.
 
Stemar said:
Stand up to the little Hitlers.

In principle, I'm with you 100%. but those little Hitlers can make you miss your flight and take a malign pleasure in doing so.
Click to expand...
If your argument with them is going to take an hour and a half I might be inclined to agree, but if you arrive with sufficient time that isn't a problem, neither, in extremis, is leaving the bottles behind because they are readily available in almost all places where lifejackets are present, and in any case LJs work fine without them.

Carry a copy of the airline's Ts and Cs of carriage that states how many LJs and spare bottles you are allowed to carry. The security supervisor is going to be hard pressed to overrule that.
 
I flew Aberdeen to Stavanger last summer with Wideroe. Called them first and they said was OK, but must carry on, not in hold. No rpblems on the plane. But Abedeen airport? What a hassle, Xray, unpack, show them the LJ, open the thing up and show the cylinder. You'd think they'd never seen one! Eventually let me through.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top