Diving kit in transit

[northern exile]

I hope this is the best place to put this question, I am thinking about bringing my diving kit over to Phuket next week, but after reading the scare stories around the new airport and luggage going missing, I dont know if I should.

Can I ask if anyone else has brought their kit out with Thai air, and wether they have had any issues?

[stevem]

Just make sure it is insured.

[Tyfon]

No problem first time I hauled dive gear to Phuket using Emirates (because they give extra weight allowance for scuba gear) and Phuket Airways (because they didn't care). Second time was Thai all the way and no probs either, but both those trips were via Don Muang and the missing luggage tales seem to be down to teething problems at Suvarnabhumi. They are misplaced/delayed bags rather than lost forever, so perhaps the question is how long did it take to reunite passengers and bags?

As far as loss/theft is concerned, as SteveM says, make sure you are insured to well over the value of your gear and with a specialist policy that understands the concept of renting gear if your stuff is even delayed. A general travel policy might not provide compensation so long as your body got there and not recognise you need special equpiment.

Also keep your bags anonymous, don't stick "Fragile scuba gear" stickers all over it, or pretty scuba flags and PADI badges and tags - may as well write "Valuables enclosed, please help yourself" on it, in Thai.

It's always recommended to put your regulators in carry-on, probably okay now, but would have been a problem during the recent temporary clamp-downs on carry-on for US and UK flights. keep your dive watch with you too.

Phuket airport used to offer a 'wrapping' service for checked baggage - you'll have seen bags that have burst or opened in transit appearing on carousels wrapped in a kind of strong cling-film - that kind of thing as a deterrent to baggage handlers helping themselves. Ask at your point of origin if they offer the same.

I usually 'lock' my bags with cable ties rather than padlocks - most customs will replace like-for-like, though I've never had a bag back without the same cable tie I put on at check-in.

Cheers,

K.

[nelsonone]

used to do it 3-4 times a year and never had any problems.....but if you have connecting flights within say less than 2 hrs I'd be a bit nervous about doing it through the new airport.....

I now keep a kit with friends in either patong or patts so I don't have to lug one around through customs etc all the time.....worth thinking about if you plan to do 3 trips a year for a while.....

[dogblower]

I always pack it in a regular suitcase or bag, throw my dive bag in with the gear, and unpack to the dive bag at destination. Hate to advertise that I have a bag of expensive goodies with me.

I also used to use cable ties instead of a padlock, but now that I cannot carry even a small pocket knife with me on the aircraft I've had to give that one up.

Don't know how the new airport is handling things, but from the news it seems to be delays, not complete loss of bags, so I wouldn't worry too much.