Travel Warning: Don't Pack a Pelican

[james 0]

So CMM, Is that your housing on Ebay? Guys, if it is, what do you think he should do?

 

I would do buy it now, and then ask for their address and telephone nunmber before ordering, then send in the police. If his stuff is insured, then perhaps he has the serial numbers of everything recorded, eh?

 

Cheers

James

[MikeO 5]

Here's a nice synopsis of airline remuneration procedures, though since you bags arrived, just without the contents, they can always blame TSA:

 

http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/0,4621,273856,00.html

 

Agree that it is quite a coincidence that a similar rig appears on eBay shortly after you "lose" yours but I'm not sure what you could do about it. Maybe you could send the seller a note saying you wanted to check the production date of the housing (make up something about a rumored manufacturing issue that was fixed after a certain date) and needed the serial number to verify it . . .

 

Mike

[cmm1970 1]

No, that is not my rig on eBay. Believe me, I have been browsing the Aquatica and Sea and Sea gear on Ebay figuring it would end up there. I am pretty certain that the theft occurred in Puerto Rico. I would guess that it is in a pawn shop there. Who knows. I will keep looking because there just aren't too many of them out there.

 

Good news is that I will have opportunity to upgrade!

[ssra30 0]

Wow, this is terrible. Sorry to hear about your ordeal. Now I might have to rethink my plan a bit. Thinking of going to Galapagos next year and I was going to take the easy route via LA or NY to Houston to Quito. I use Stormcase to transport my camera gear around SE Asia with no problems so far but it does not sound like a good idea through the US. Hmmm, might have to figure out a route without having to go through the US with all the hassles with TSA etc.

[Drew 0]

To counter the trend, I've travelled through LAX, JFK, EWR and MIA for international flights with my housing and accessories in a Storm case and have had no problems. I stash all sorts of crap in there like chargers etc. At LAX, bags are checked BEFORE entering the line. Maybe it's the special security check for biz/1st class, I don't know...but I've been very lucky. And I travel through LAX at least monthly across the pacific sometimes. Might be the gulf of mexico/caribbean is a hot spot for TSA thefts?

[critter 0]

When I go to the Carribean my wife and I always take two roller bags and carry them on. They are regular suitcase type roller bags and I wrap the stuff in bubble wrap to protect them as well as some clothes. I think this is the safest way to take stuff. I try to avoid checking the valuable stuff as much as possible.

 

Tony

[Kelpfish 15]

These thief pricks need to have significant reprecussions levied against them, but it will take a month of Sundays before the feds will consider theft by TSA agents important. In other countries it a lost cause. It's hard enough to get remedies in the U.S. let alone in another country. I think the government did not anticipate the thievery that would occur when they essentially gave TSA a license to steal and not be held accountable for their actions.

 

Joe

[cmm1970 1]

Good news, I recently settled with my USAA policies. I had a personal floater for one rig and the homeowner's policy covered the other. I had near $15,000 in claims and have received $11,500 thus far with another couple of thousand in depreciation that will be turned over to me when I provide proof of replacement. I understand that American has issued a check to me, but the amount is unknown. I will follow up with their first settlement offer so you all will know how its going.

 

More later!

 

Mike

[kdietz 0]

That's good to hear Mike....I hope you get it all back

 

Karl

[dawktah 0]

Now I am worried. I am due to go through SJU in a month to the BVI. I just purchased a Ikelite Pelican Case. I am going to call the airline now to stress concern "before" it can become a problem. Insured or not its no fun getting there with no equipment!

 

EDIT:

 

I called American Reservations and we came to conclusion of checking pelican case at gate. This will require the case to be given back to me at jetway in SJU. Do same thing on the return trip. However I may run into more problems trying to check case at gate on return. Either way should get valet tag. If its not there immediately call police!

 

EDIT 2

 

I called and spoke to American's Baggage department and they said that they take no resposnibilty for any lost or stolen equipment. She said highest risk was valet bag at gate. Allowance is 45 linear inches case is 53. O'Hare may allow locking of case after x-ray will contact TSA at O'Hare. Still have to get home.

[thatporchdawg 0]

Having just returned from Dominica via SJU on Sunday, I can relate my experience. Having read this thread several times over, I decided to gate check/valet my pelican 1550 on the flight from SJU to DOM and back. In short, there were no problems.

 

SJU to DOM:

You take a from your departure gate, you take a shuttle bus to your turboprop plane. Before you get on the shuttle bus, your carry ons are tagged for valet and you're give a claim stub. Both you and your now valet checked bags are loaded onto the shuttle bus. The bus takes you to your plane; you get on the plane and the valet bags are loaded onto the plane right there in open view of the boarding passengers. My take was this was very low risk since the handlers would have to be pretty bold to pop open a case right there as passengers were boarding. In DOM, all the luggage was brought into baggage claim at the same time (no claiming of your bad at the aircraft) since the airport is so small.

 

DOM to SJU:

Same as in SJU, you valet check your pelican case and you get the claim stub. In DOM they seemed to load up the valet bags separately from regular luggage. Landing in SJU (after dodging the iguanas on the runway during landing), the valet bags are unloaded onto a shuttle bus and taken to the gate area. You may or may not be on the exact shuttle that your bags have been loaded onto, but passengers from your flight will be on that bus (can't fit everyone on the plane into one shuttle bus). You pick up your valet bag from the shuttle before entering the airport gate area and proceeding to customs/immigration. This is still fairly low risk since the bags are all loaded onto the shuttles and kept separate from regular luggage, but there is still a chance that your bag may get "left behind" or "mixed into" regular luggage.

 

I think American's baggage department is giving you a line of BS if they're telling you that gate checking/valet is higher risk than handing your bags and property over to American employees who then wisk your bags out of sight for an hour or more based on some sort of trust that the good honest folks at American will guard your belongings while being "not responsible" for thier safe keeping.

 

Sorry for ranting, but hearing the airlines and TSA both claim that you're not responsible for what happens to your bags after you give them your bags just gets my wetsuit in a bunch!

[Detonate 0]

It makes sense to me. If AA said they were responsible for your belongs while in their possesion, I'm wondering how many more items would magically be stolen the date of the announcement.

 

Even shippers don't take responsibility for lost or stolen items. Unless of course you pay extra for insurance. So maybe AA could offer paid insurance, but I'd find it surprising if they just started paying out for items that may or may not have been stolen by AA or TSA employees.

[dawktah 0]

I'm gonna try to carry it on. I am 8 linear inches over the limit. I figure I can plead my case at the gate to carry it on. I am going to carry a rolled up canvas bag in my fiancée's carry on to unload housing, strobe and port into if they say no go. Maybe after I start blocking jetway unloading they may change their minds. If not continue to carry on in canvas bag and valet the case. Reassemble once at SJU. Getting on to an ATR at SJU, I can keep my eye on it! EIS (Beef Island) is a ramp and outdoor covered building that you walk to.

 

Now I can go back to my annual ritual of watching tropical depressions as I get ready to go vacation again in August.

[cmm1970 1]

FINAL CHAPTER:

 

Well everyone, we are now 3.5 months post theft and I have at last received settlement from American Airlines. Upon review of my claim for $15,000 worth of losses between myself and my honey, American "generously" settled for $1456 per person. They also would provide no accounting for how they arrived at that number, but did go to great lengths to explain that an internationaly treaty limits their liability for lost bags to this amount. Phantom math is all I have to say.

 

Anyways, I am exhausted from all of this and have deposited the checks. Could I have gotten after them with an attorney and perhaps milked a little more out? We'll never know.

 

Anyways, say goodbye to Aquatica and Sea and Sea and hello to a new D2X and Subal housings. At least there is a silver lining to this dark cloud of travel angst.

 

Best regards all,

Mike

 

PS. My Pelican cases are on eBay currently for what I feel like is a good price. Help me out with these.

[anthp 0]

Ouch Mike!

 

I guess at least you got something out of them, but I am most perplexed out how they arrived at the number. Still, must be nice to have a D2X and Subal on the way.

[dawktah 0]

Glad to hear you received something! I find myself worried about my upcoming trip since they say on website:

 

Liability is limited to $2800 per ticketed passenger for travel on or after October 22, 2004

No liability for damage or loss of protruding baggage parts such as wheels, straps, pockets, pull handles, hanger hooks or other items attached to baggage

 

No liability for baggage carried in the passenger cabin

 

No liability for photographic equipment, computers, VCRs and any other electronic equipment including software or components, jewelry, cash, documents, furs, works of art or other similar valuable items

 

Other items that are not covered in our limit of liability include, but are not limited to: antiques, books, china, fragile items, liquids, medicines, perishable items, securities and negotiable papers or silverware

[allen 4]

My sympathies for all who have had bags lost and pilfered.

 

A while back I talked to my local TSA official in SLC about inspections and locks on bags. The person I talked to was the maager for the operations in SLC (i.e. head offical). I discussed with him several concerns I had about my bags and their contents. The one piece of information he passed on to me was that as a passenger I am allowed to request that my bags be inspected in my presence and then relocked with my own locks.

 

The inspection can consists of either a machine inspection, hand inspection, or simply and explosive swab inspection. Once inspected the locks placed on the bags can be any lock - it does not have to be a TSA approved lock. This inspection does not need to be repeated.

 

Some airports are not set up very well to do this whereas others are. And of course this just applies to the US and their territories.

 

Also it is helpful to travel with copies of the TSA rules as many times the floor inspectors do not know what is what. And if you hand them a copy of their own rules it is hard for them to argue with you.

 

Cheers,

 

Allen

[Steve Douglas 16]

've been there and there is not much you can do. I use an old beat up igloo for my housing, batteries and stuff but locks don't help much. The airlines totally ignor their fuduciary duty to protect their customers belongings and then claim they will only reimburse up to about 1k. They just don't give a damn.

Steve

[Kelpfish 15]

I'll say it once and I'll say it again. TSA and/or airline personnel have a license to steal your gear and not be held accountable for it. That is the motivation.

 

Joe

[dawktah 0]

Here's My Solution!

 

Sit in 14A to 17A. Carry on your case from originating city, board SJU near end of line. If it had turned up missing this is who I would be going to Police about.

 

--Chris

[Diver Dennis 0]

The thing that really gets me about things being stolen after you check them in is that once the bags leave your hands they are supposed to be entering a secure area. How can things go missing from a secure area? All of us go through a lot of screening to fly these days to make sure flights are safe. If someone can steal bags from a secure area and spirit them out of the airport why can't they bring something like a bomb, in? Bags are supposed to travel on the same plane with you. They are supposed to be tracking these things. In my opinion the whole system is a joke. Security? Window dressing if you ask me.

Sorry for the rant.

[mattdiver 0]

Here's my solution: regular plastic suitcase, with custom-made foam padding to suit my photo gear.

 

 

Not fool-proof, but cheaper, lighter, and less conspicuous than a Pelican case, even though some may say the colour wasn't really the best choice

[MikeO 5]

Here's my solution: regular plastic suitcase, with custom-made foam padding to suit my photo gear.

 

 

Not fool-proof, but cheaper, lighter, and less conspicuous than a Pelican case, even though some may say the colour wasn't really the best choice   

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

I do something similar, packing stuff in a nondescript black roller suitcase that looks about like every other one on the conveyor belt. However, the only problem is that the guys stealing stuff in PR may also be the same guys manning the X-Ray machine. Form the sound of things, it's not a one-man operation there . . .

[ralphy 1]

Here's my solution: regular plastic suitcase, with custom-made foam padding to suit my photo gear.

 

 

Not fool-proof, but cheaper, lighter, and less conspicuous than a Pelican case, even though some may say the colour wasn't really the best choice   

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

mattdiver

I like your solution!

Where did you get the foam from, please - and any tips for someone copying your idea?

Thanks

Ralph

[DeanB 19]

Someone tell pelican and the rest to make stealth cases. Ones that look like normal baggage. If they already do, all well and good. If not: Copyright Dean Burman 2006

 

That simple..

 

Dive safe

 

Dean Burman