[Lightstalkers] Flying with your gear on LAN Chile

Flying with your gear on LAN Chile

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 08:54:07 +0000

Dear all, I wanted to report what happened to me on a recent trip to Chile. I flew out of Buenos Aires to Santiago and then to Puerto Montt, and has I always do, i carried my cameras, lenses, hard-drives and computer with me in my soft pelican case designed by pelican according to the FAA rules to cary-on luggage. On the first two flights everything was perfect, and the flight wasn't even delayed (rare thing these days in Latin America), the problem started when returning from Puerto Montt to Santiago de Chile. We arrived to the check-in on time, and the flight was with a delay that nobody could tell us how much it was... After some inquiring they finally told us that there was a 2 hour delay, we checked in and now we just had to wait. After the 2 hours that became 2.30 minutes we finally started the boarding, and as I was the number 3 in line to border, as I always do to be able to put my hand luggage on the overhead compartment without problems. When i was giving my boarding pass the the LAN Chile employee he tells me that my luggage was to big, that the plane was small and packed and there was no room for that luggage. It was strange that only that gentleman complained, because during the check-in nobody said anything and on the previous two flights also no problems. But I explained him that I was a photographer, that the luggage was packed with my gear and it was designed to fit pretty much all the airplanes that fly commercial, he didn't seemed to care and I asked to talk to the flight supervisor, who he called over radio and kept me waiting while boarding other passengers. When the supervisor finally arrived the flight was pretty much boarded, and i showed him my press card, told him there were USD30.000 in gear on that case and I couldn't check that luggage for obvious reasons. The supervisor, lifted the luggage and said "this weights more then 15kg, and our limit is 8kg" and said it was to dangerous to carry that item "imagine if the overhead compartment opens during the flight" which I asked so why every were in the world i am able to carry on that, including the two previous LAN flights and the check-in before the flight. He kept using multiple excuses including that the flight was full so there wasn't any space left and the crew was waiting to leave. I decided to take all my gear out of the case, so I got into the plane with 4 cameras hanging from my neck, some lenses in my pockets, my laptop under my arm, and with the help of my colleague (a writer) to put minor stuff on his own backpack. So I got inside of the plane, with all the crew and passengers looking and me with a mad face, when I got to my seat and opened the overhead compartment, I saw that it was completely empty. Not even a coat or a plastic bag was inside, which obviously made me get even more irritated and completely cheated. Because I was seating on an emergency row, I had to look for a somehow full overhead compartment to put my loose cameras and computer, and when I went to seat I was carrying one camera as I always do (including the same flight that had flew me from Santiago to Puerto Montt, that i flew in emergency row and with my camera photographing during both take-off and landing). I told that to the flight attendant which I was said "we only go with the safety rules" and the gentleman seating on my side was asked to give his coat that was seating on his lap also for his own outrage. So basically I felt cheated the hole time, I asked the names of the supervisor and when I got to Santiago I filed a complain with the airline company, which until today i got absolutely no response. I decided to write it here, because if your planning to travel with LAN be aware of what might be waiting for you, and be prepared to deal with it. I don't plan to travel with them no more, at least if there are other carriers with similar prices (which for most destinations apparently is the case). I wish you all safe travels, and fortunately you won't have to deal with the same ridiculous people I had to. best Joao

Re: Flying with your gear on LAN Chile

Tue, 25 Mar 2008 20:00:48 +0000

Hey João, I am sorry for your problem, but I'm glad you resolved it without jeopardizing your equipment. The same happened to me when boarding at JFK last year. My luggage was within the size limits, but not within the weight ones. Airline companies, all of them, have their own and variable weight limit for carry-on luggage and, eventually, they pretend to be serious about that. Anyway, from that day on, I always travel with those goofy photo vests and pants with lots of pockets - very helpful when dealing with "serious" airline guys. Best, anderson

Re: Flying with your gear on LAN Chile

Wed, 26 Mar 2008 00:23:48 +0000

Camarada! Have I ever told you how did I have to leave NYC after one-year full certificate matters? Amelie, saw it straight... Or the story of the tape, when I flew from Cusco to Lima? Whenever I have face situations like that, I allways take a full-breath and remember what you said when traying to get your driving license back from the woman of the Van Renting Service in NY... Remember that? You literally said: "No pienso argumentar con una mula." Wich basicly means (for those of you who don´t speak spanglish): "I´m not going to argue with a donkey." THAT WAS BRILLIANT. WHERE´S THAT WISDOM GONE IN CHILE???

Re: Flying with your gear on LAN Chile

Wed, 26 Mar 2008 05:33:54 +0000

Life sucks, ah?

Re: Flying with your gear on LAN Chile

Wed, 26 Mar 2008 08:06:00 +0000

Hey Joao! It happened more or less the same in Yemenia Airlines, the max weight was 6kg... and i wondered how other photographers do on those cases... Good idea the photo-vest though!! I have to take Yemenia again, and i'm a little freaked out if this happen again...i wonder if you call the company before or ask for a permission or something like that it could change sth?... Thank you for sharing this, cause i feel less lonely argh!! Suerte chiqui!!

Re: Flying with your gear on LAN Chile

Wed, 26 Mar 2008 12:21:14 +0000

Hey again, I still don't think about argue with a donkey, that is why I called the supervisor. Usually they have the power and the willingness to help us out. And until that day in hundreds of flights has worked. That is the reason why I am not going to fly again with LAN. Life doesn't suck, but some people want to make you believe that it does ;) I know people who call the company in advance, usually for excess luggage, I must be honest that in so much traveling I always find a way around, so don't really spend much time in advance working on it. Thanks for sharing your experiences as well, maybe soon they will accuse us of terrorism because we don't want to check in our lifetime savings that we continue to spend in gear. heheheheh best

Re: Flying with your gear on LAN Chile

Sun, 20 Apr 2008 18:22:27 +0000

Hello everybody Airline companies are pretty random: I've been bullied by Air France more than once over 2kgs ! Yet may I share last month first flight experience with LAN Chile: landing on an international flight from Europe with Air France I flew from BA to Punta with one of those local companies called Pluma or something: discussion about my excess luggage (I had two suitcases on the intercontinental journey) they pinpointed a total of 35kgs of excess...for which I paid 25USD ! From Punta I went to Easter Island via Santiago, the lady at LAN's counter in Punta didn't even say a thing about the excess, from Santiago to Easter you're authorized 40kgs and all this back to Buenos Aires without any excess luggage payment ! Ah forgot to say: I was also carrying a large photobackpack with: 2 Leicas (in additional front pockets), a Rolleiflex (to take pictures in Valaparaiso) a Fuji 617 with two lenses (including a 300mm!) and of course a tripod all this adding to an impressive weight. Some days are like that others are "oh! there is a 12kgs limit for carry on and you're already at 14 so you'll need to take a boat-train-taxi with your camera you know..."

Re: Flying with your gear on LAN Chile

Sun, 20 Apr 2008 20:40:32 +0000

I think the vest and pants are a good option Anderson, although not very "fashion" :)

Re: Flying with your gear on LAN Chile

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 00:22:50 +0000

You could send a message to the owner, Sebastián Piñera: http://www.facebook.com/people/Sebastian_Pinera_E/631444583

Re: Flying with your gear on LAN Chile

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 08:54:07 +0000

This is really interesting - I only spotted this thread now, but was looking at Lan Chile flights to Punta Arenas in July. I have been warned! I usually travel with a Peli 1510 as carry-on. However, I should be able to leave some equipment behind in Santiago at a friends and travel light. I was actually going to post a thread this morning about my trip to Chile. I'm going to be working in Santiago for the last week in June, then planning on going south. Any recommendations for must-visit places to get to around Punta Arenas or on Tierra del Fuego?