How do you smuggle a big Koala from Australia to France?
I'm thinking of surprising my cousin with a huge Koala stuffed animal for her birthday... I think it'd measure about four feet tall, and two in diameter.
I'm flying from Australia to France... 3 segments: BNE-SIN-CDG-CFE with the last one being on an Embraer 145
How do I make it work without getting in trouble or paying excessive fees for extra checked in luggage?
Actually, I don't want to check it in, I want it to sit on my lap for 30 hours so I can hand it to her at the airport... will the flight attendants have a problem with that? (I know it won't fit under the seat or in the overhead... but its a cool gift idea...
Please advise...
--Russ
PS. I have seen people at airports with huge plush dogs or teddy bears, but not enough to feel totally secure I can pull this off.
Once I returned from Florida with a 3' stuffed tiger I strapped into the car seat (even though it was to big to latch). When it came out in baggage claim everyone was cracking up so I said "father's side".
__________________
Severance - The time looking for work between vacations My FM
Programs: BA Gold, FB Gold, PC Gold, Marriott Gold, A-Club Plat., AB Red
Posts: 734
Sounds like fun...
Don't forget to have pictures taken if you manage to take it onboard... (and show us here) I only ever took a small camel from Dubai and made a Photostory out of it (at the airport watching planes, on board, watching tv etc.) to have a nice story for my gf...
Just got off an Emb 145. No way that koala will fit in the overhead bins in that toy plane. If you can pull it off on the larger jets, you may get to gate check it on the Emb! Stick a luggage tag through its ear and hope for the best? Otherwise, I would stuff it in a box and check it through.
I would have started with a smaller koala smuggled down the pants and worked up to the jumbo.
Could you squash it so it will fit into a large rollaboard?
Alternatively, you could just check it and then surprise her with it at an opportune time after you've landed. You will have just travelled halfway round the world, after all.
I would have started with a smaller koala smuggled down the pants and worked up to the jumbo.
ahhahahaha... like this:
I first got the idea on Phillip Island in Victoria... but quickly dismissed it as one of those "No freaking way!" deals... now I'm actually thinking it might happen.
But definitely not as big as that...
Part of the fun is traveling with it on my lap... so I refuse to check it in (unless I absolutely have to)
Another part of the fun will be French flight attendants insisting I do something and I'll be an arrogant American and pretend not to understand their accent, LOL
I can just hear and see the French FAs when you board with a giant koala. With one perfectly manicured eyebrow arched, "you want to do what with zat? Here? Non! C'est impossible!"
Cute idea but too much hassle. Mail it, go smaller or buy one there. Real Koalas aren't even 4 feet tall.
An award ticket for a plush animal would be kind of expensive. That would be 100,000 miles just for the bear. Checking as oversized luggage would certainly be cheaper (if mailing it isn't possible). Even mailing it will probably set you back at least $100.
How do you smuggle a big Koala from Australia to France?
