British Airways javelin ban

[Tarbicus]

Well, if you need to fly somewhere from the UK and want to pack your pilum, hasta, sarissa or other such long pointy item, I'd advise you to use any other airline than British Airways, or at least contact them first:


"Since British Airways (BA) announced a ban on surfboards on all flights (effective from 6th Nov), the surf community across the world has been reacting to the shock new position and taking decisive action to push for a reversal on the decision.

In hoards, surfers from across the globe, including the World Number One, Mick Fanning, have been signing up to a global petition created by the British Surfing Association (BSA) and international governing bodies, key surf brands and thousands of individuals have been issuing statements and joining a group on the social networking site, Facebook.

Until now BA has had a reputation for being one of the most surfer friendly airlines but last weekend their new ruling stated that surfboards, alongside other items such as hang gliders, windsurfing boards and sails, kayaks or canoes, pole vaults or javelins, will no longer be accepted as baggage on any flights on the extensive BA network.

At the same time, BA proudly announced that it would be loosening any restrictions on their carriage of skis, snowboards, cycles, diving equipment and even guns, amongst other items. At the recent Ski and Snowboard Show in London, BA was advertising its allegiance to snow sports and pushing its free carriage of snow related equipment on all flights. "
http://baisshite.blogspot.com/
http://www.globalsurfnews.com/news.asp?Id_news=31192


Just thought I'd let you know you should read the smallprint or contact BA first.

[A_Volpe]

are they referring to carry-on baggage, or underbelly/"Checked" luggage?

...I'm amazed surfers actually got up and did something :wink:

[Tarbicus]

are they referring to carry-on baggage, or underbelly/"Checked" luggage?

...I'm amazed surfers actually got up and did something :wink:

I've no idea, but I can't see a surf board fitting in the overhead compartments (there are strict dimension limits) nor a handgun allowed in the cabin.

Facebook's being used for a number of 'protest' initiatives it seems. I believe there's a planned day of action over petrol prices soon by thousands of Facebook users (prices have soared recently to a point that would make you lot in the US faint at the very idea of - http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7082847.stm where a gallon is 4.5 litres), and everyone will boycott petrol stations for a day to hurt the fuel companies where it counts most, in their pockets.

[Robert Vermaat]

(prices have soared recently to a point that would make you lot in the US faint at the very idea of - http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7082847.stm where a gallon is 4.5 litres).

Well, that's reasonable. You call that 'soaring prices'? Over here, a litre costs on average (Shell) € 1.46, or just over a pound. But many charge higher prices! :evil:

[Gaius Julius Caesar]

I paid £1.09 the other day in Aberdeen

[Aetius Helvius Merula]

Yow. And I thought $3.20 USD per gallon was steep. Compared to a few years ago, it is, but it's normal now. One reason I use public transit

[Gaius Julius Caesar]

Back on topic, I guess the way around this farce of a ban of pointy objects, is to pack them with your skis? :roll:

[Cornelius Quintus]

Ave Jim,

don’t worry. All banned objects are pieces of sports equipment. You pilum in contrary is a weapon and therefore won’t match the list. :roll: :wink:

Of course you’ll wear your full kit when checking in at the BA counter. So convincing them will be easy:

When leaving England, just tell them the good news: Roman occupation time is over and the last troopers will take their trip back to Italy now. 8)

For the flight back, they will be happy to hear, that the changing of the guard at the Hadrian’s Wall still works well and fresh troops continuously will save Old England from any gruesome raid by Picts or Scots.
:lol:

[egfroth]

As I see it, the ban has to do with the length of the items mentioned. Not so much anything else, but that it's a hassle lugging them around or fitting them into the plane's hold.

My stuff's always oversize - I have to take it to a separate part of the check-in area. Haven't flown BA so far anyway, but I'll keep this in mind for the future.

Of course I usually fly Qantas - if it's good enough for Rain Man it's good enough for me.

[MARCvSVIBIvSMAvRINvS]

time for the detacheable pilum!!!!!!!

a pilum in two halves: screwable!! and well, authenthicity? (not our fault!)

or: re-enactment groups around the world should make a giant arsenal of spare pila and scuta for those members who want to travel internationally...

problem solved..

M.VIB.M.

[Lochinvar]

I once watched the customs staff in a newly emergent Croatia insisting on X-Raying the squad weapons of a French Foreign Legion company :lol:

Always remember, the importance of any country is in inverse proportion to the size of the hats worn by its border police!!

[Gaius Julius Caesar]

time for the detacheable pilum!!!!!!!

a pilum in two halves: screwable!! and well, authenthicity? (not our fault!)

or: re-enactment groups around the world should make a giant arsenal of spare pila and scuta for those members who want to travel internationally...

problem solved..

M.VIB.M.

That was why I went for the Paul Chen pilum in the first place.... :roll:

[Gaius Julius Caesar]

I once watched the customs staff in a newly emergent Croatia insisting on X-Raying the squad weapons of a French Foreign Legion company :lol:

Always remember, the importance of any country is in inverse proportion to the size of the hats worn by its border police!!

I suppose they were looking for concealed weapons..... P P lol: :roll:

[Maximio]

If they're banning surf boards will they also try to stop one from taking one's Clipea on board as well?

Remember Batavian's surf into battle.

[Gaius Julius Caesar]

Wha tabout skis and sno-boards?