[pct-l] flying with a backpack

[Suzanne Courteau]

Hey Brian--

When I fly with my pack, the nice people at the desk have me fasten
and tighten all the straps, then they (or i) put it in a big ol'
plastic bag they provide and tape it shut. The hiking pole is
sometimes a problem, but so far so good and it stays attached to my
pack. Once they just stuck the baggage tag on the frame and let it go
through as-is...you might also get lucky enough on a flight for them
to let you bring it into the cabin...might.

Pack the crushables way inside the pack, NOT in the outer pockets!

Mailing stuff home once you arrive at the airport is tough, unless you
have a support person in that town to help you out. So if I have
something (like my camera) that I really don't want to leave to chance
in my checked-in backpack, I add it to my carry-on bag: a plastic
supermarket grocery bag! Yes, indeedy, I look spiff strolling through
the airport in my crocs and hiker duds, plastic shopping bag in hand.
Who said hikers can't be fresh to def, anyway?

Not this hiker!

Suzanne Courteau
"Bedouin"




> Message: 1
> Date: Fri, 4 May 2007 06:43:46 -0700
> From: "Brian Lewis" <brianle at nwlink.com>
> Subject: [pct-l] flying with backpack to ~Campo
> To: <pct-l at backcountry.net>
> Message-ID: <20070504134353.7A5886A6D7 at smtp4.pacifier.net>
> Content-Type: text/plain;       charset="us-ascii"
>
> As long as I'm dreaming up problems for myself, another one occurred to me
> as I prepare to fly out on a backpacking trip this coming week.
>
> In the couple of times I've done this, it's always seemed essential to put
> my backpack and most gear inside some sort of suitcase or duffel bag or the
> like.  Airlines are hard on baggage and my backpack is pretty fragile, plus
> has various strapping hanging loose.  The duffel bag just stays in a support
> vehicle and gets used again for the flight back home.
>
> But next year around this time I hope to be flying to the vicinity of Campo
> --- I won't have the luxury of leaving and then later retrieving a duffel
> bag.
>
> I guess the logical thing is to use a flexible duffel bag and mail it home
> from near the airport?   Perhaps a smaller duffel just to carry some of the
> bulk plus paranoia-contraband (mini pocket knife) and use the main backpack
> as carry-on.  Or would airline staff look at even a partially filled
> backpack (Mariposa plus) as being too big to use as carry-on?
>
> If folks have another strategy to protect gear from airline wear & tear,
> please share it --- in the context, please, of a one-way flight to start a
> lo-o-ong backpacking trip.
>
>
>         Brian Lewis