Pony Clyinders

[Peter gosnell]

Has anybody ever taken their pony cylinder with them on a Red Sea holiday in their hold luggage? and did you have to remove the pillar valve to show that it was empty of air and contraband? Do the people that you book with to dive hire pony's as well as normal size clyinders?
Cheers for any help,
Pete

[Dave]

Has anybody ever taken their pony cylinder with them on a Red Sea holiday in their hold luggage? and did you have to remove the pillar valve to show that it was empty of air and contraband? Do the people that you book with to dive hire pony's as well as normal size clyinders?
Cheers for any help,

I take pony and regular cylinders on flights every few weeks. Although not to the Red Sea, but the issues are the same. You need to check with your carrier what their rules are

The common rules are that the cylinder must be presented discharged with the valve open. They can then be checked in as any other luggage. I have only ever been asked to remove a valve once ( by a memeber of BA staff in Chicago ) but I did get ?360 compensation for it



Example of rules from QF
POLICY

EXCESS BAGGAGE RATES APPLY TO ANY PIECE OF CHECKED BAGGAGE OVER
AND ABOVE THE CUSTOMERS FREE BAGGAGE ALLOWANCE. FOR MORE
INFORMATION REGARDING FREE BAGGAGE ALLOWANCES - REFER SUBJECT:
BAGGAGE: ALLOWANCES - AUSTRALIAN DOMESTIC SERVICES.


* SCUBA DIVING EQUIPMENT
SCUBA DIVING EQUIPMENT MUST BE PREPARED FOR CARRIAGE AS
FOLLOWS:
- COMPRESSED AIR/GAS TANKS WILL ONLY BE ACCEPTED IF EMPTY AND
REGULATOR TAP IS OPEN
- KNIVES MUST BE CARRIED IN CHECKED BAGGAGE
- SPEAR GUNS MUST BE UNLOADED WITH SPEARS PACKED SEPARATELY
AND PROTECTED WITH POLYSTYRENE

Dave

[Simon Moore]

I don't think I've ever seen one for hire in any for the dive centres I've been to in Sharm ( Red Sea, Sinai Divers, Camel etc). When you ask, people nod but say they think it's excessive.

They seem very much to be a UK thing. Never seen them for hire in Carribean, Med etc.

Interested to know other views.

[Mike Halligan]

Has anybody ever taken their pony cylinder with them on a Red Sea holiday in their hold luggage? and did you have to remove the pillar valve to show that it was empty of air and contraband? Do the people that you book with to dive hire pony's as well as normal size clyinders?
Cheers for any help,

Pete,
My experience has been the same as Dave's, though not so extensive, and the QF specification he includes seems common to all reputable airlines.

It is important to alert the airline at the time of booking, also to mention the pony at check-in and then comply with any requests such as presentation for immediate X-ray, production to security to demonstrate the valve is open, etc. [Some security men seem to have a problme with gas valves opening anti-clock ;-)]

I took a pony cylinder to the Red Sea, and it was no problem. However, the (charter) flight was a different matter!!!

HTH
Mike

[Tony S]

Done the Deep South Banas and Beyond on three occasions now and had no problem with pony cylinder either time ( always flown with Excel)you may need to show its empty so keep it handy in your baggage! Having a pony on a livesboard trip always triggers a thought of why dont I do that next time from other guests and you get a great sense of satisfaction when you empty the unused air after a great weeks diving !

[just mike]

Always dive with a small pony everywhere. Have done Spain/Gozo/Red Sea with pony in hold luggage and as long as its empty with the valve open its not been a problem. Make sure you noteify the check in staff of the bottle when you check in, gives them a chance to check it before it becomes a problem at security and make a note against your booking ref on the computor. I agree I empty it with satisfaction at the end because I took it nobody needed it.


Done the Deep South Banas and Beyond on three occasions now and had no problem with pony cylinder either time ( always flown with Excel)you may need to show its empty so keep it handy in your baggage! Having a pony on a livesboard trip always triggers a thought of why dont I do that next time from other guests and you get a great sense of satisfaction when you empty the unused air after a great weeks diving !