The best way to make a Gavin fly?

David · January 31st, 2006, 04:57 AM

I thought I would share with everyone my recent experience of taking a Shortbody HDPE Gavin away using Qantas domestic services. Hopefully this will be a guide for others as well as maybe others will post their experiences of the same and other airports.

Three weeks ago, I left Perth, headed for Sydney. My Gavin was packed, without batteries in it's 1660 pelican case. The batteries, Sealed Lead Acid (Non-spillable), were packed separately in a padded cardboard box, with the terminals taped up. At Perth airport, after a few queries, the check-in lady obtained two authorities for the dpv and batts. She then tagged the 36.4kg (4.4kg over) pelican case with Fragile and Heavy stickers, and ask me to wheel it around the back for loading. I did have to sign a waiver accepting responsibility for any damage due to it being overweight, the implication being that it should be packed properly! She took the batteries with my other luggage and hit me up for $22 excess - $11/bag. Check-in did take a little longer than usual, but no real dramas. At the other end, both appeared on the conveyer as usual. My total checked weight was 89kg.

Coming back through Sydney was a completely different story. Sydney airport refused the overweight peilcan case outright - claiming OH&S, even though they unloaded it coming in. I was forced to take the pelican case down to Australian Air Express and pay $214 for the case to be put on the same plane. The batteries also seemed to generate a concern with them, initially being refused based on safety. After discussions, unpacking and inspecting etc etc, they were finally accepted but had to be checked in at a separate counter. The guy at the second counter, looked at the box and said 'batteries, right?', after some discussion he said he sees them all the time. Perhaps I was just unfortunate with the staff at the check-in counter on the day. They didn't charge me $11 for the batteries though - small win!! At the other end, I had to wait for the batteries and my other bags to come off the plane before heading in a taxi around to Australian Air Express to collect the dpv.

So, my next move will be to split the gavin into two boxes, both below 32kg for future trips. Anyone want a 1660 pelican case? :-)

I would be very interested to hear other peoples experiences going through airports, specifically with Gavin's.

Ben Hoskin · January 31st, 2006, 05:34 AM

I prefer this way of making Gavins Fly! no check in, no weighing and no waiting!

graham_hk · January 31st, 2006, 05:35 AM

I travel alot with my gavin...

Why bother flying with batteries - they are so cheap that its usually more cost effective (esp international) and alot less hassle to buy them at the other end...Something you can not do with the NIMH or LiIon.

Usually baggage has to be less than 32kg to trouble (relatively) free - I am surprised your gavin was so heavy the tail end is ~17kg bubble wrapped and packed in a cheap plastic box - which means you had another nearly 20kg for the nose, body and pelican (yikes). I normally travel with the backend nicely packed and the nose and body (which should be industructable) just in my normal bag but taking care to protect the sealing face

Cheers, Graham

January 31st, 2006, 04:57 AM	#1 (permalink)
David(Offline) New Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Perth, Western Australia Posts: 3	The best way to make a Gavin fly? I thought I would share with everyone my recent experience of taking a Shortbody HDPE Gavin away using Qantas domestic services. Hopefully this will be a guide for others as well as maybe others will post their experiences of the same and other airports. Three weeks ago, I left Perth, headed for Sydney. My Gavin was packed, without batteries in it's 1660 pelican case. The batteries, Sealed Lead Acid (Non-spillable), were packed separately in a padded cardboard box, with the terminals taped up. At Perth airport, after a few queries, the check-in lady obtained two authorities for the dpv and batts. She then tagged the 36.4kg (4.4kg over) pelican case with Fragile and Heavy stickers, and ask me to wheel it around the back for loading. I did have to sign a waiver accepting responsibility for any damage due to it being overweight, the implication being that it should be packed properly! She took the batteries with my other luggage and hit me up for $22 excess - $11/bag. Check-in did take a little longer than usual, but no real dramas. At the other end, both appeared on the conveyer as usual. My total checked weight was 89kg. Coming back through Sydney was a completely different story. Sydney airport refused the overweight peilcan case outright - claiming OH&S, even though they unloaded it coming in. I was forced to take the pelican case down to Australian Air Express and pay $214 for the case to be put on the same plane. The batteries also seemed to generate a concern with them, initially being refused based on safety. After discussions, unpacking and inspecting etc etc, they were finally accepted but had to be checked in at a separate counter. The guy at the second counter, looked at the box and said 'batteries, right?', after some discussion he said he sees them all the time. Perhaps I was just unfortunate with the staff at the check-in counter on the day. They didn't charge me $11 for the batteries though - small win!! At the other end, I had to wait for the batteries and my other bags to come off the plane before heading in a taxi around to Australian Air Express to collect the dpv. So, my next move will be to split the gavin into two boxes, both below 32kg for future trips. Anyone want a 1660 pelican case? :-) I would be very interested to hear other peoples experiences going through airports, specifically with Gavin's.

January 31st, 2006, 05:34 AM	#2 (permalink)
Ben Hoskin(Offline) New Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Perth, Western Australia Posts: 2	I prefer this way of making Gavins Fly! no check in, no weighing and no waiting!

January 31st, 2006, 05:35 AM	#3 (permalink)
graham_hk(Offline) GUE instructor Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: here, there and everywhere Posts: 780	I travel alot with my gavin... Why bother flying with batteries - they are so cheap that its usually more cost effective (esp international) and alot less hassle to buy them at the other end...Something you can not do with the NIMH or LiIon. Usually baggage has to be less than 32kg to trouble (relatively) free - I am surprised your gavin was so heavy the tail end is ~17kg bubble wrapped and packed in a cheap plastic box - which means you had another nearly 20kg for the nose, body and pelican (yikes). I normally travel with the backend nicely packed and the nose and body (which should be industructable) just in my normal bag but taking care to protect the sealing face Cheers, Graham