Lifejackets aboard Monarch Airlines

langstonelayabout

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We're soon off on our first ever flotilla holiday to Greece. My missus wishes to take her lifejacket.

I've tried contacting Monarch airlines to confirm that they will carry her lifejacket as checked-luggage but only get a standard response point to their website.

Has anyone here tried to take their lifejacket (a Spinlock Deckvest) on a Monarch aircraft? Were they OK or did they refuse. Your experience would be appreciated :-)
 
We're soon off on our first ever flotilla holiday to Greece. My missus wishes to take her lifejacket.

I've tried contacting Monarch airlines to confirm that they will carry her lifejacket as checked-luggage but only get a standard response point to their website.

Has anyone here tried to take their lifejacket (a Spinlock Deckvest) on a Monarch aircraft? Were they OK or did they refuse. Your experience would be appreciated :-)

It's down to the individual airline - RYA guidance from the CAA here - http://www.rya.org.uk/infoadvice/boatingabroad/Pages/flying.aspx

What does their website say?
 
A few years back I took a new and expensive life jacket to Greece on a B.A. flight carried in hand baggage (note not allowed to carry spare CO2 cylinder) - all ok. When going through security for the return flight a stupid young woman (B.A. again) declared that the lifejacket was 'an explosive electronic device' and confiscated it. She refused to give her name or a receipt for the lifejacket which was worth about £150. On arrival at Heathrow I complained to BA and they agreed without any argument to refund the full purchase price of a new one. They said this was likely a scam operating at Athens whereby the lifejacket was actually stolen by the BA woman.
 
I travel without checked luggage whenever possible, so have carried lifejackets in my hand luggage on quite a few occasions. About 50% of the time I've breezed through security, the other 50% I've had to have a discussion to get the lifejacket through, but have never failed to do so.

Carrying and refering to the following helps:
Signed IATA letter from the maker of your lifejacket, such as http://www.crewsaver.co.uk/Content/Images/uploaded/Air_Craft.pdf
A copy of the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations which clearly state the CO2 cylinders are not prohibited. Here, http://www.crewsaver.co.uk/Content/Images/uploaded/ITA_Dangerous_Goods_Regulations.pdf
A letter from your airline saying that they permit the carriage of lifejackets as part of hand/hold luggage.
 
I travel without checked luggage whenever possible, so have carried lifejackets in my hand luggage on quite a few occasions. About 50% of the time I've breezed through security, the other 50% I've had to have a discussion to get the lifejacket through, but have never failed to do so.

Carrying and refering to the following helps:
Signed IATA letter from the maker of your lifejacket, such as http://www.crewsaver.co.uk/Content/Images/uploaded/Air_Craft.pdf
A copy of the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations which clearly state the CO2 cylinders are not prohibited. Here, http://www.crewsaver.co.uk/Content/Images/uploaded/ITA_Dangerous_Goods_Regulations.pdf
A letter from your airline saying that they permit the carriage of lifejackets as part of hand/hold luggage.

Exactly what I have always done - never been a problem as hold baggage.

Even managed to carry my sailing kife (nice sharp blade and a marlin spike) through Preveza security as hand luggage once - unwittingly. I wouldn't recommend trying it though.
 
Leave the life jacket at home as they kindly supply ones to travelling yachts persons, you will find your complimentary lifejacket under your seat.
 
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