I am an NUJ press photographer, and I am making a trip from Ireland to Santa Fe and Seattle, this coming Friday (8th February). The trip involves flights with Aer Lingus, AA, and Southwest Airlines.

As I am working on two assignments for an Irish daily newspaper I have a backpack with over €10 000 worth of camera equipment, which I hoped to take as a carry-on bag. The packed bag weighs around 13Kg (28lbs) and meets all airlines carry on dimensions.

Although size and weight of the packed bag meets TSA standards for carry-on bags (40lbs), the Irish airline, Aer Lingus, is saying that it will be overweight for them and are insisting that I check the bag in, as their carry-on weight limit is 6Kg (13lbs).

I telephoned Aer Lingus, but their reservations person was unable to help, and didn't know the weight allowances. He put me through to "baggage" and a woman there treated my concerns with something close to disdain, irritation and with monosyllabic answers. First of all she told the weight allowance was 6Kg, and then changed her mind to 10kg. When I asked if I could have it inspected she said "no". When I asked if I could take it to the gate myself she said "no". When I said, what would happen if I refused to fly she said "these are the Aer Linus rules".

I would like to write to Aer Lingus by email, to see if I can get any sense from a senior official, before I get the Shannon airport, but there doesn't seem to be a direct contact email for their customer services.

Does anyone have any thoughts or comments that they can offer me, given that I'm writing at short notice.

Thanks for any help.

Stephen