Moving kit abroad

[badhex]

Hi all

This may have been covered before, but I have moved to Berlin and looking for advice on moving some of my kit over sometime soon. I'm flying over to the UK and back later this year.

I have decided to take my Mak102, Mount (EQZ / EQ2 or thereabouts) and my small 1.25“ EP case. This comprises the padded bag for the mak and a few related bits (motor, handset, Mount EP tray and diagonal), a camera tripod bag which allows the mount and tried to remain together and a small heavy duty maplin case for the EPs. The tripod bag is unpadded but I have some large heavy duty bubble wrap around the mount head itself, and previously it's only been used for temporary storage in my house or transport (i.e. me carrying the bag) , so this isn't normally an issue.

Obviously I don't want any of this kit to go in the hold, my partner has offered to take either the scope or EPs as hand luggage but even with two of us that still leaves one bag unaccounted for.

Anyone any advice on how to do this without it costing me crazy money?

[ollypenrice]

Soft padding for hold baggage does not weigh much and is very effective at absorbing shocks. A very large amount of soft light padding should do the job. It's usual on these threads for people to become semi hysterical regarding the horrors of hold baggage but I've flown with my bicycle, including intercontinental, around sixty times with only trivial damage once or twice. Those flights have been with other cyclists, usually one, two or three, so that makes what, a couple of hundred flights? I've also flown scopes in the hold. Sure, bad things can happen but it is all too easy to fear the worst. The worst happens, of course it does, but how often?

Olly

[swag72]

I transported a C9.25 over to Spain from the UK in the EasyJet hold ....... I was really worried Thankfully it arrived in one piece although the short trip on the baggage carousel was tense...... so all in all, as long as stuff is packed well I'd not be too worried about it. I only had the original box and lots of bubble wrap and little polystyrene things.

[badhex]

Thanks Olly, Sara. At this stage I had been thinking that the best option would probably be for the mount to go in the hold, deconstructed and wrapped in large amounts of packing material. I guess it's the hardiest of the items. 

[Peter Drew]

I've air  transported a C8se, 102mm binocular telescope, ETX90 Mak  and 80mm solar scope to Tenerife over a period with no problems. I've caused more damage myself moving stuff around at home!. I suppose you take your chance.    

[brantuk]

I've no idea what the air fares or air freight is gonna cost - but it may be easier to take a couple of days off, hire a large car or van, and take a sea ferry. Depends if you fancy a big drive I guess.

[alexbb]

Why don't you send them before you leave via any delivery service you prefer and then receive them in Berlin as a present?

[lardy]

LOL i remember one trip the luggage escalator was broken, after walking away from the airplane I looked back and airport staff were throwing the bags at a hight of about 10 Ft onto the concrete .... It was a small Greek Island though 

And my last two trips through Amsterdam there was "the lonely" case lying on the road between gates ... Opps

[badhex]

Well, I guess there is always the option of upgrading to a Skymax 127 or similar from astroshop.eu, then I only have to bring my mount and EPs...

[pete_l]

One thing to remember is that all hold-luggage is handled by the airport ground staff and NOT by the airline. Though it might be a bit different if you travel 1ST class. I've seen it being loaded up the conveyor into the hold .

When I moved all my stuff to Spain, I put it all in home-made "blanket boxes" with goodly numbers of thick duvets keeping the delicate stuff protected. Although I have flown with scopes as hand luggage many times I was not prepared to take the risk of loss damage by letting it out of my sight. Though since you have 2 people it should be easy enough to arrange the delicate stuff to be hand-carried and for the "droppable" stuff like handsets and motors to go in jold luggage.

If you have the option, I'd suggest driving it over yourself. If nothing else a road trip can be a bit of an adventure.

[badhex]

I would love the road trip, but unfortunately neither me or nor my girlfriend drive. Hopefully I'll get it sorted one way or another!

Thanks all

[Dom1961]

If you need someone to take it as hand luggage I'll be happy to come with you!! Doing German GCSE at the moment as well!!!!

[badhex]

Hahah thanks Dom I'll bear that in mind

I'm now very seriously contemplating an updgrade/sidegrade and leaving the actual scope at home, just bringing the EPs and mount - I think you may well see another post from me (in the correct forum) soon...

[L8-Nite]

With regards to your mount, if your counterweight shaft shaft is removable, airport security may not allow it being taken on as hand luggage. I once had this sort of issue with the legs of our Questar. Security thought they could be used as a baton type of weapon; however, when I got on the plane the woman sitting next to me was knitting with a set of metal needles; go figure ?

I often fly internationally, and have learned a few things along the way. Sometimes I need to take extra items which I prefer not to put in checked baggage, so I wear one of those tourist camera vest's and load it up with as much as I realistically can. After I go through security and get on the plane, I take off the vest and put it in a bag I take along for the purpous and stow it.  

Edit: Just a note. I don't feel guilty taking on a little extra, because there are people on the plane who weigh considerably more than my carry on baggage and I do combined.

[swag72]

I'm now very seriously contemplating an updgrade/sidegrade and leaving the actual scope at home, just bringing the EPs and mount - I think you may well see another post from me (in the correct forum) soon...

Sounds like a plan!! UK retailers will generally ship to foreign EU climes if you ask ..... unless you can get stuff cheaper in Germany. The new stuff over here is more expensive than the UK plus shipping most of the time.

[badhex]

Mike - that's a very good point. I think some of the bits will end up in the hold anyway as my GF is putting one bag in, so the counterweight bar will go in to be safe. I wonder if they will have issue with the counter weights themselves?

Sara - I found a couple of retailers that seem to be cheaper than the UK, if only by a few tens of pounds, so this looks to be an option.

[L8-Nite]

.................................... I wonder if they will have issue with the counter weights themselves? 

Remember, there weight and size limitations for carry on luggage. Counter weights are not something easily damaged and / or can easily be replaced, so packing them in checked baggage would leave room for more fragile items.

[Dom1961]

Smothering hold luggage with fragile tape was suggested to me by some airline staff before, they said the handlers might notice a few metres of tape around a bag.

[Bukko]

Just a thought...

While we stress out about moving our precious cargo in the hold, at the mercy of baggage handlers, can we stop and think about the likely treatment our stuff was exposed to when being imported and delivered in the first place?

I would guess, pretty much the same, if not worse..

Wrap the scope in a good layer of bubblewrap, then surround it with clothes and it will be fine. Put the counterweights and the likes in a separate suitcase, so there is nothing heavy to hit them and I expect everything will arrive safely.

Gordon.

[Dom1961]

Or buy a dedicated flight case?

[badhex]

Thanks all for the advice and suggestions - feel a lot less concerned about the whole thing now