Date: Mon, 22 Apr 2002 12:56:58 -0400
Subject: Re: PUPT: Flying vs shipping


Rubbermaid makes Action Packers that sell for about 18.00 at Walmart 
and the like. They are exactly 0.5" smaller than the maximum size of 
luggage for most airlines. We pack them to 70 pounds and then we know 
that two of these guys are allowed on board for each ticket.

We have found that it is not so much the weight but the length of a 
container that can cost you big bucks.

As Jim pointed out, shipping out of the US and to the US are 
different propositions, based on our trade relations! So it pays to 
pay attention to such things! On the other hand, while flying out of 
Vienna we were told that "the United States says you can have any 
number of baggage!" and were able return home with no extra baggage 
costs (we did pay over $500 on the way over.)

We have found (if you can take the strain) that it doesn't pay to ask 
the airlines in advance, as it gives people a chance to figure out 
what to charge you. A friend of ours who works the counter for US Air 
here in Philadelphia told us that it is up to the person checking you 
in to decide what to charge. This confirmed our method of showing up 
as late as possible with our stuff, picking the most sympathetic 
counter person who was then faced with a dilemma: hold up the flight 
by arguing with us or just letting stuff on board the plane. We found 
it works to be as nice as possible and have as few problems as 
possible (i.e., all our was in uniformly sized containers, etc. We 
didn't present any problems).

Considering the arbitrary nature of such charges, I can't say I feel 
badly about working the system in this way.
-- 
Robert Smythe
Artistic Director
Mum Puppettheatre
115 Arch Street
Philadelphia, PA 19106-2000

robertsmythe-AT-mumpuppet.org
http://www.mumpuppet.org


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