 Poster: A snowHead
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Did as suggested and rang Jet2 to tell them I'd be bringing an avalanche rescue system. Lady was very nice and said I could carry it in hand luggage or my checked bag. She also said she'd put a note on the booking.
So I took the cylinder (Mammut) out of the bag (so it was definitely not possible for it to be activated), put it in a plastic bag with a copy of the IATA regs duly highlighted and confidently mentioned it at check in.
Cue blank look, no note on the booking and a scurrying off to see his boss.
"You can't bring that on the flight" said the "station head". I showed the now growing group of Jet2 employees crowding round my suspect device the IATA regulations I'd put in the plastic bag with the cylinder. None of them could read it properly so I explained that it says it can be carried in hand luggage or checked luggage. They then decided that I couldn't carry it anywhere other than "in the backpack" - so I just opened the rucsac and placed the cylinder, still in its plastic bag, in my hand luggage. This is apparently ok. I couldn't really be bothered to argue the point as to what possible difference it makes if a cyclinder is in a rucsac as opposed to a holdall, but off I toddled to security, after pointing out to the Station Head that they're going to see more of these things as more people are getting them. "I know all about them, mate" he said. Well sorry, "mate" but you clearly don't, otherwise why would I have to show you how the IATA regulations work?
At security:
"You can't bring that through here!"
Sigh. "Yes I can - Jet2 told me I had to".
Toddles off to see boss, who rings Jet2 - and finally I'm allowed on my way for my egg on toast.
At Geneva coming home - pas de probleme. "You are very well prepared, monsieur!".
So why doesn't the boss at an airport know what the IATA rules say (especially when a lady in a call centre can find it within seconds)? And why do Jet2 promote themselves as a "skiers airline" if they can't be arsed to train their people on ski equipment?
...and relax...
PS They did ask if I had a boot bag as well as my skis, as that could go as part of my clobber, and loads of people had boot bags as hand luggage.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Because they are numpties, they are no more a skiers airline than my clothes-line, they should stick to Alicante, Palma and Tenerife which is their speciality. I gave up with Jet 2 5 years ago when the hiked their prices and lost the plot, now use Lufthansa, I'd rather travel 40 miles to Manchester and retain my sanity than deal with a crèche on my doorstep. Have had exactly the same experience 6 years ago...... 
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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No Lufthansa flights to Geneva though. Might investigate the price of BA from Leeds even though it requires a change in London.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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| andy from embsay wrote: |
| No Lufthansa flights to Geneva though. Might investigate the price of BA from Leeds even though it requires a change in London. |
Try Swiss? Same level of efficiency as Lufthansa (well, it would be, it's the same company  ). If at all possible I fly with Swiss these days, given the free ski carriage they can charge more than the others for the seat and still work out cheaper in the end. Plus, as Markymark29 says, you get to keep your sanity (usually). I've seen the odd post on here about check-in staff not allowing free skis, but it is absolutely clearly allowed in their conditions, as is the carriage of airbags (tell them in advance, one device and one cylinder per person and it's no problem).
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Trouble with all the national carrier types is you're either involving transfers at hub airports or driving to London. I like Leeds Bratfud - half an hour from home and a decent selection of destinations. I don't think any of the big carriers do Geneva from anywhere but London direct. I think there might be a Swiss manchester zurich flight though.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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andy from embsay, EJ Liverpool is a good service, also Manchester.
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Jet2 are usually ok, just this goon with my cylinder. We're flying with EJ manchester-geneva in a few weeks time - I'll see how they get on with it there!
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Good luck......MATE!
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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| andy from embsay wrote: |
| Trouble with all the national carrier types is you're either involving transfers at hub airports or driving to London. I like Leeds Bratfud - half an hour from home and a decent selection of destinations. I don't think any of the big carriers do Geneva from anywhere but London direct. I think there might be a Swiss manchester zurich flight though. |
Ah, I see. Yes, Swiss do have a few direct flights to Zurich from Manchester, sadly it looks like you'd need to change to get to Geneva, but even so the price is still pretty good (e.g. for a random Saturday in Feb it's coming in at £82 and takes 5 hours via Zurich) and probably a better bet than travelling to London from the north - I'd rather trust Zurich to get my bags transferred than LHR.
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andy from embsay, Out of interest, did you take the bag and cylinder through security in the end? At GVA when they said you were well prepared, was that with the cylinder in the checked luggage?
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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5hrs is a long time compared with 2hrs from Leeds direct - it's a real shame as I'd happily pay a bit extra for the peace of mind and service - but to be absolutely fair Jet2 got us home yesterday when Leeds was open and shut all day because of snow. It was nice to get off the plane (eventually - you'd think they'd know how many buses they need for a full 737 wouldn't you?) and know we only had half an hour to drive home rather than doing battle with the M60, the M66 and the M65!
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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andy from embsay, ZHR and fast train to Geneva?
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| Markymark29 wrote: |
| andy from embsay, ZHR and fast train to Geneva? |
Better still, a fast train to St Anton 
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You know it makes sense.
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sah, or Stuben 
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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| sah wrote: |
| Markymark29 wrote: |
| andy from embsay, ZHR and fast train to Geneva? |
Better still, a fast train to St Anton |
You're both right - I should be more imaginative than "Cham with mates and PdS with the kids"! Zurich from manchester's a good call though.
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Poster: A snowHead
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| sah wrote: |
| andy from embsay, Out of interest, did you take the bag and cylinder through security in the end? At GVA when they said you were well prepared, was that with the cylinder in the checked luggage? |
Yes, going out I just stuck it in my rucsac and coming back it went in my hold bag in a freezer bag with the IATA regs, as I assumed they'd check it when they scanned it. It was the sheer jobsworthiness at Leeds that got me, as they couldn't be bothered (or were unable) to read the regulations but then made up this thing about it "having to be in the bag" - I did try asking him why he thought that was the case, and that security would probably send me back, but in the end they rang Jet2 and they said it was ok.
The rules do actually say you can take it either in hold bags or in hand luggage but most people reckon hold luggage is favoured - just not by Jet2 at Leeds.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| Quote: |
The rules do actually say you can take it either in hold bags or in hand luggage but most people reckon hold luggage is favoured - just not by Jet2 at Leeds.
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That's what I've read too. Still don't own an airbag, but will do soon. Hopefully all the airlines will catch on eventually.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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| sah wrote: |
| Quote: |
The rules do actually say you can take it either in hold bags or in hand luggage but most people reckon hold luggage is favoured - just not by Jet2 at Leeds.
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That's what I've read too. Still don't own an airbag, but will do soon. Hopefully all the airlines will catch on eventually. |
Which is what I said to the Jet2 chap - they're going to see more of them so they ought to check the rules and learn how it works - which is when he told me he "knows all about them". Except he may have missed the word "sod" between the first and the second words of that phrase...
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Good to see someone (eventually) got an airbag on as hand luggage. The missus and I may need to do this on BA from Gatwick in a few days time as we're a bit short on storage space. They're Snowpulse so no pyro and we'll probably leave the cylinders (with IATA notes) in hold luggage.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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I always use my ABS 18l sack as my hand luggage. Just have the cylinder and trigger in my ski boots in the hold bag. Only ever had one German chap appear worried about it and he just gave me a rapid escort to the boarding desk to confirm they know about it. With the elasticated pouch / helmet holder you can also keep butties, books, drinks etc and remove them for stowing.
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| Tarquin wrote: |
Not from north of Watford Gap, direct at least.
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Several direct flights to Zurich from Manchester, although as discussed above not to Geneva.
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| sah wrote: |
| Tarquin wrote: |
Not from north of Watford Gap, direct at least.
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Several direct flights to Zurich from Manchester, although as discussed above not to Geneva. |
True, and I've done MAN-ZUR-GVA a couple of times and its ok but just takes a while.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Tarquin, Better on train from ZHR as above, Geneva airport is a nightmare IMO - I try and avoid the place at all costs, its just too busy, weekends a PITA
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markymak - totally agree - take Zurich over Geneva 10 times over... and the same with swiss air over anyone else... They are often cheaper and the best bit is they give you yummy chocolates on the flight 
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