Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2006/08/12
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]On Aug 12, 2006, at 3:40 PM, Walt Johnson wrote: > Tom > > I learned my lesson well almost 20 years ago. Went on assignment to > Haiti and, as always, hand carried photo gear. Unfortunately, I had > insulin and needles in my checked-in backpack. I made it to Port > au Prince and the backpack went on a side trip to Paris or > Algeria. (my next to the last last AirFrance flight) I managed to > find some IM needles in what past for a local pharmacy and did > get by with what little meds I had in my pocket. Several obvious > things; > > 1.If you need it, carry it. > 2. Always carry more than you need > 3. Use AirFrance as a last resort. > 4. If it is the last resort and you have no choice but AirFrance, > take a bus. > 5. Only eat American or Canadian fries. :-) Walt... it sounds like we are going to have a harder time than I thought, getting you to Paris... :-) Steve > > > TTAbrahams@aol.com wrote: > >> I never check in luggage so have not had any experience with >> baggage handlers in terminals around the world. When travelling I >> use only carry-on-luggage. IF I would have to check in bags I >> would want to have assurance (and insurance) from whatever >> Airport Authority that deals with it that it is treated in such a >> manner that my stuff is intact at the other end. Losing luggage >> is usually not the airlines fault; it is the departure or >> arrivals airport that screws it up. Theft from checked luggage >> occurs at the luggage handling end of the business. It is not >> that easy to steal something while it is in the hold of an >> aircraft. One way of ensuring that they treat the stuff well is >> to present the check-in guys with a detailed list of equipment to >> be checked; serial numbers, and type of equipment and cost of >> replacement and have them sign it. This would force the airline >> to put pressure on the relevant Airport Authority to handle it in >> a responsible manner and also hold them liable for theft or >> damage to the full extent of the value! You can put anything on a >> ticket limiting liability but in the end they are responsible for >> both you and your luggage! The ticket constitutes a contract >> between the carrier, the airport and you to deliver you to the >> assigned destination in a safe manner within the parameters >> stated on the travel document. The biggest problem will be the >> heavy dose of x-ray that checked luggage is subject to. It will >> fog film and packing the film in lead-bags only increases the >> chance of the handlers opening the bag to inspect the 'blobs" >> that show on the screen - or boosting the level of x-ray used. I >> carry my film in clear plastic Zip-loc bags, no paper-boxes and >> no plastic containers - just the film. Until now I have never had >> a problem with this and if the travel does not involve multiple >> airports I have not had any fogging of my Tri-X. Yes, we all >> want to travel safely but also want both airlines and airports >> to treat us decently. Without us they would not have jobs and >> they are a service industry after all. As passengers we have >> rights and responsibilities too and if we co-operate with each >> other travel should be possible in a smooth manner. Make theft >> from checked in luggage a federal offence with a minimum sentence >> in jail of at least 3 years and have IATA apply this to every >> airport that they control and in case of unwillingness to comply - >> remove them from the air transport network. Air travel always >> involved a bit of hassle and discomfort, but it is getting to the >> point where one weighs the necessities of it with "is it worth the >> bother and expense" and stay home instead. If enough of us do >> that there will be fewer airlines, fewer airports and far more >> incentive to treat passengers as paying customers rather than >> inconvenient interruptions to their work! Tom A >> ------------------------- Tom Abrahamsson Vancouver, BC Canada >> _www.rapidwinder.com_ (http://www.rapidwinder.com/) >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Leica Users Group. >> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information >> >> >> > > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information