Re: [APML] tips for AP equipment and airlines

["mike and dianna" <galaxy@ncweb.com>]

Steve,
Thanks for the link, but I'll be in Albuquerqe which is about 5 to 6 hours
away. The Star Hill is only 2 hours away but they didnt have much available
that weekend .
I have already made arrangements with the local club to use their dark site
as their guest.

Thanks anyway.

Mike  Leitch
galaxy@ncweb.com
http://www.ncweb.com/~galaxy/home/astropho.htm


----- Original Message -----
From: "steve banbury" <banburys@sonic.net>
To: <astro-photo@seds.org>
Sent: Monday, October 01, 2001 2:49 PM
Subject: Re: [APML] tips for AP equipment and airlines


> Mike--I dont know where you're headed in NM, but perhaps you might
consider
> NM Skies for a place to stay?
> See: http://www.nmskies.com/
> They have everything you need already there!
>
> SteveB
>
> At 02:38 PM 10/1/01 -0400, you wrote:
> >Mike,
> >
> >The UPS costs were so huge, I don't even want to admit what they were.
I've
> >checked into air freight services, and there are none in my area that
will
> >handle non commercial business. I've inquired into Greyhound bus
> transport, and
> >that's not an attractive option. BTW it takes three solid days to drive
> one way
> >from the East coast to the Southwest; not much of an option.
> >
> >The airline checked baggage policies differ. A typically policy is 2 or 3
> bags
> >free. Typically the bags must be under 61 linear inches (L+W+H) and 70
pounds
> >each. Extra bags cost $80 each way. I'll be going to Arizona in less than
two
> >weeks, and I'll let you know how the travel goes in the context of higher
> >security. My extra cost on Delta for two excess bags there and back will
> >probably be $320.
> >
> >On the return trip in May, the SkyCap didn't charge me anything for
excess
> >baggage (and I gave him a huge tip). However in the wake of 9/11, the FAA
has
> >eliminated all curbside checkin in the US.
> >
> >I have worries about "Sir, we cannot let you check those
dangerous-looking
> >items onto any flight", or, I show up in Arizona but my bags don't due to
> >"security concerns". I called the airline in advance, and all the help
they
> >offer is, "show up three hours before flight time" -- and I will -- at 4
> am. I
> >guess I need to leave the bags unlocked in case the contents look weird
under
> >xray, and they probably will. Two of the cases contain miscellaneous AP
> >equipment wrapped in clothes. It will not be pretty if they open up the
cases
> >and inspect each counterweight, each LED flashlight, each electronic
doodad.
> >What will they think when they see an air desiccation tube? A mount
> controller?
> >An ST-4?
> >
> >Matt
> >
> >mike and dianna wrote:
> >
> >> Matt,
> >>
> >> What was the difference in cost with UPS as compared to baggage with
the
> >> airlines ? The G-11 head is pretty heavy by itself.  The airlines, I
figure
> >> , has got to notice and charge accordingly.
> >> I had thought of UPS also and figured it might be cheaper. Mabey not.
> >>
> >> Mike  Leitch
> >> galaxy@ncweb.com
> >> http://www.ncweb.com/~galaxy/home/astropho.htm
> >
> >
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> >
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>
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