EVA Airlines question....

[sideways 3]

Has anyone flown EVA recently? We're booked with them for Thailand in March. Their policy says 1 carry on per person. Does that mean one carry on AND either a laptop, or purse for a gal? Thats how other flights I've been on are. Anyone have first hand knowledge on this???? Thanks!! If it's the "Normal" way, I can manage to carry on all my Camera gear.... the 1 bag way is real scary...crosses fingers.

 

Greg

Edited January 5, 2010 by sideways

[tangfish 7]

Has anyone flown EVA recently? We're booked with them for Thailand in March. Their policy says 1 carry on per person. Does that mean one carry on AND either a laptop, or purse for a gal? Thats how other flights I've been on are. Anyone have first hand knowledge on this???? Thanks!! If it's the "Normal" way, I can manage to carry on all my Camera gear.... the 1 bag way is real scary...crosses fingers.

 

Greg

 

I just flew EVA to Bali. While they do have rules, they didn't seem to enforce them very heavily from what I could see of other passengers. Even so, I had my gf stand at a distance with our carry on bags behind an object (like a pillar or garbage can) and I checked in. When they asked to see her then she came over for them to ID on her passport. Then, we just hoofed it to the gate where we weren't bothered about it. We had 2 sizable, heavy carry ons each - all photo gear.

 

Hope that helps

[TomR1 5]

From the website.........

 

"In addition to the hand carry baggage, every passenger may carry, without additional charge..............laptop, purse, small backpack, briefcase, camera case."

 

I suggest that you get a lightweight backpack, stow your camera and lenses in individual protection and carry them in your backpack. Just don't stuff it so it is obvious.

[MikeO 5]

I was by myself and flew from SFO to Jakarta in November in Elite class. I had two carry ons -- a camera back pack (ThinkTank Airport Acceleration) and a computer bag (ThinkTank Urban Disguise 60) with a few more camera bits in it. At check in, I was asked to place both on the scale. Each was over the 7kg weight limit. I told the attendant in the SFO online check in line that they were camera gear and a computer and that I was not comfortable checking them. He suggested that I should, perhaps, trust them and check the larger of the two. I said no -- I was a photographer and I would not get paid if I did not arrive with gear to support my work. After a couple more very polite back and forths, he said that I should really invest in plastic cases and check my items in the future. He finally attached carry on tags to each of my bags. I was not bothered further at the gate or by the flight attendants. On my return flight, the attendant in Jakarta weighed my carry ons and again I was told I could not take them both. I explained to the attendant that it was fragile equipment (cameras and computer) and had to go on the plane with me. Thankfully, the manager was there and after she was presented with the situation, she agreed to let me take both on the plane. The attendant still did not want to put the carry on tag on my bags but I told her nicely that I would very much like them on there in case I was checked again at the gate. She did it and I went about my merry way. So, it's up to you. It is possible to talk your way on board with a polite, firm and rational argument. It is also apparently possible to hide the bags from the check in attendant and get on the plane. Since they were tagging the carry on items and the tag appeared to denote some form of consent, I decided to go that route in case I was challenged further. Another thing worth mentioning is that EVA allows online seat assignment 180 days out from your flight. If you do not take advantage of this as soon as possible, the seats available for online assignment may go away. Also, it behooves you to do online check in. You can do it up to three hours before the flight and there is a separate line for online check in at the counter. It will be MUCH shorter than the normal line. I arrived at SFO from the east coast with plenty of time to spare. I noticed the normal line getting really long and did online check-in from my iPhone, then I walked right from the end of the normal line to the front of the online check in line! In Jakarta, it was the same as the "Premium Laurel" class line so you had to look for the little sign. Many people didn't understand that and thought that having booked online counted as online check in -- I think they were actually relieved by me knowing what I was supposed to do and that I followed the line rules!

 

Mike

Edited January 6, 2010 by MikeO

[gravity 0]

I recently traveled Seattle-Bali on Eva Air. As I went up to the counter, I pushed my carry on right up against the counter where the gate agent wouldn't see it. He asked to weigh our carry on, and we put my wife's carry on, on the scale. Hers was just over the limit, we removed something from it (and put it back in later). After the check in gate there was no problem.

[sideways 3]

Well I guess that's overall good news, I might just have to get creative with my bag choices...lighter the better. Thanks for the info guys!!

[Jazzyjezzy 0]

We also just took EVA air to Bali from LAX to Bali. We took one full camera, housing, ports and strobe weighing over 30lbs in one carry on. Two laptops and other carry on stuff in a canvas bag. A backpack with another camera, lens and things. They said we could each have a carry on plus a purse or computer case. They looked at them in LA and then never questioned it the rest of the way.