A friend of ours was flying abroad to visit family for several months a few weeks ago and on arrival at the airport was told that she couldn't carry the hat boxes and the suit carriers that she had with her onto the plane (although she flies a lot, each arrival at the airport).

As they were all delicate items she didn't want to check them at which point her husband pointed out that the rules were for numbers of bags not outfits worn. As such, when she went through security she was only carrying one bag but seven hats and several dresses and coats.

Anyone else have unusual ways of sidestepping the bag rules?

was she wearing all those hats and dresses and coats? what a sight that would have been!

Reminds me of that "Friends" episode where Joey wears every item of Chandler's clothing at the same time.

Photographers do this a lot - a photo vest is an item of clothing that just happens to have the carrying capacity of a small backpack. Like any other garment, it just gets taken off and goes through the X-Ray. No one said you can't wear a 15# shirt.

Good Advice...I'll have to remember this

I've done both the photo vest trick and the layering trick, although not with multiple hats. I pick the best hat for the job and bull it through with just one hat for an entire vacation. I try not to whimper and just remind myself that many women my age do not wear hats at all so having only one hat for an entire week shouldn't be such a terrible sacrifice.

Another interesting way to avoid one-bag rules: avoid flying commercially from/through airports with such a rule.

Hat thing reminded me of this incident:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showp...2&postcount=17

I'm trying..... but more and more airports are joining the Ultimate stupidity club.

Now I am down to 1 trip a month instead of 2-4.

I had a similar situation earlier this month in India.. and I ended up strapping my backpack to my duffel bag.

I'm hoping to see that changed there too.

http://tildology.com/wp-content/uplo...m_brodkorb.jpg

Sadly her husband didn't think to snap a photo of her all dressed up and ready to go.

Since this is technically not a travel safety/security issue, I�m going to transfer the thread to TravelBuzz.

Please follow at it�s new home.

Thanks.

____________________________

Cholula
Travel Safety/Security Forum Moderator

I have both the safari style and the blazer style in navy blue. The pockets are amazing. I can put a great deal in the pockets. I have to take off the jacket to go through secruity, but the contents of the pockets are no problem unless they are metal.

I highly recommend www.tilley.com for quality and design of their travel clothing.

I am wearing out my second 'Himalaya' 100% cotton reversible coat ~ the pockets are amazing! large and slightly elasticized at the top so nothing falls out ~ 2 on the outside, 2 on the inside ~ I could probably overnight out of the pockets on this coat

Downside ~ my hips look 4' wide

I've told the story here before, so skip it when it sounds familiar.

There was a woman who spoke very little english (I think just the word NO) carrying a baby carrier (whatever they are called, one of the car seat things you can carry the baby in) totally loaded with junk at the counter. They were explaining to her that she could not carry the car seat thing loaded like that onto the plane. I'm talking plied with stuff.

They were explaining to her that they could put it in a cardboard box, send it as luggage. They even pulled out a box for it. She's crying, yelling, obviously very upset. Somebody else in line stepped up, he understood whatever language it was. He explained to her that it would be fine, they would pack it for her and she could get it at the destination.

She said something to him, his face totally dropped, he turned to the agent and said her baby was under all that junk.

It was quite funny. They boxed all the stuff, she went on board with the baby and the carrier. It was before they started charging people for the extra bags, so that wasn't an issue.