1. Is
there a universal rule on hand baggage? - when BAA banned
liquids and brought in the one-bag rule, Chris Dickson was left confused
over whether there is now a single rule for all airlines. Mark Hodson
explains the rules
2. Companies
that courier your luggage - Richard Green rounds up the companies
that courier bags to your holiday destination, following a question from Joy
Reynolds, whose arm injury means she can't carry heavy bags
3. Which
locks for US-bound luggage? - US customs will break your luggage
lock if they want to look in your hold luggage, but which are the locks that
can be opened without damage asks Dean Taylor
4. Are
airport bag scales accurate? - reader Andrew Godfrey questions the
accuracy of airport weighing scales after his bag doesn't measure the same
as his scales at home. Stansted Airport defends its weighing scales policy
5. How
do we courier our dog? - there are some things too precious for the
hold... Richard Green rounds up the companies that will transport the
Mogavero's four-legged friend if the airline won't let the dog onboard
6. Is
it compulsory to pay Ryanair bag charges? - Chrissy Emms is among
the many readers who written to us about the difficulty of avoiding either
baggage charges or priority boarding charges when booking on Ryanair's
website. Chloe Bryan Brown explains how to avoid extra charges
7. Lost
luggage auctions: where to find your bag - we often get questions
from readers who are keen to pick up a bargain, or even track down their
suitcase at a lost luggage auction. This article by Jennifer Cox will help
you track one down in the UK
8. Can
I travel with silver spoons? - an odd question from Jill Downs, but
one we've featured twice on the site because of demand from readers
travelling with posh presents
9. How
to get dressed: luggage - don't let down your stylish airport outfit
with a shabby carry-on bag. Times Fashion Editor Lisa Armstrong has all the
answers for airport chic
10. Taking
medicine in Dubai baggage - reader Russell Secker is right to
be concerned about the country's strict policy on drugs, innluding some
prescription medicine. here's the low down on what to pack and what to leave
behind
Got any more questions? Email your baggage queries and more to yoursay@timesonline.co.uk
A question. I have a Crewsaver lifejacket, one that inflates as it touches the water thanks to a small gas bottle within it.
Can I safey check this in the hold baggage, or should I carry it on to the aircraft.
Neville Mays, Bristol, UK
For heaven's sake ignore Ms Whatshername's advice about trendy, expensive luggage for air travel! Make your luggage ordinary, plain, unremarkable. My few experiences of thefts from luggage have been when I, or colleagues, check in expensive-looking baggage. The various baggage thieves know that expensive luggage usually means wealthy owners, thus more chance of a lucky lucky dip.
Harry Collier, Malmesbury, England
Here's my luggage tip - check the allowances with various airlines, including the 'unfashionable'. I 'commute' between Kigali and London 3-4 times per year; the price for an economy return from Kigali being between $1200 and $1400 pretty much regardles of carrier. However, with Kenya Airways you get 20kgs of hold baggage allowance, with SN Brussels 30 kgs and with Ethiopian a mighty 45kgs, so Ethiopian gets my vote. I previously lived in Serbia and can confirm that JAT is also significantly more generous than BA between London and Belgrade - by 10kgs, if I remember rightly.
Suggesting such airlines are more dirty, dangerous or whatever is snobbery bordering on racism. If there was ever any glamour / adventure in flying then surely sharing a table with Darfuri refugees / shady Congolese mining types at 4AM in Addis airport is a lot more exotic and interesting than fighting with western tourists for the last overpriced croissants while they indulge their Indiana Jones fantasies?
Alex, Kigali,
Travelling to England a few weeks ago, I noticed how everyone in the queue for the check-in was being charged for excess weight in their baggage. I thought they'd all overdone it on the duty-free (I live in the Canaries and the VAT is only around 5%) and gifts etc. But when I flew bach home a week later I noticed that the people in that queue also had baggage way over the limit, yet the check-in assistant never mentioned it to anyone. It seems that the company policy must be not to worry about luggage weight until the tourists are on the way back and have no choice but to pay the excess.
J. Harrison, Vecindario, Spain