How do you smuggle a big Koala from Australia to France?

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Oct 4, 2009, 7:43 am

#31

Mr H

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I don't know about koalas, but Richard Gere might be able to offer tips on how to smuggle a gerbil.

Oct 4, 2009, 8:21 am

#32

no-backpacker

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I can't wait to see the pictures! :-D

xxx.

Oct 6, 2009, 1:44 am

#33

TrueBlueFlyer

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good lord, it was so embarrassing carrying this thing around the Brissy CBD today... everyone was staring at me like an idiot... most Asians were pointing fingers and taking pictures like I was the city attraction.

but nevertheless managed to get one of those tourists to take a shot for me on the Brisbane River, aboard a City Cat overlooking the CBD from South Brisbane:

Now don't point your finger at the monitor and laugh you too!

Luckily you can't smell this thing... I was trying to be cute and spritz it with a little bit of Lolita Lempika at the store (my cousins favorite perfume) and the damn spritzer broke dousting the poor bear... now it reeks of perfume!

I left it outside on the washline to let it air out before the trip... this is going to be a lot more embarrassing than I initially thought it would be.

Will report how it went. Hopefully it doesn't end up in a trash bin in SIN or CDG... lol

--Russ

Oct 6, 2009, 2:44 am

#34

no-backpacker

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LOL, sorry, but I *am* laughing now! :-D So you have decided not to pack it in your luggage, but bring it as hand-luggage?

xxx.

Oct 6, 2009, 4:02 am

#35

lin821

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Can't believe you not only downsized but also tripled your Koala purchase. How can you handle 3 when one is too much already?

I am sure your cousins will love love them. Please catch the Kodak moment so we may see how their faces light up when they see this lovely present.

Oct 6, 2009, 4:40 am

#36

YuropFlyer

Join Date: May 2009

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I once took a stuffed animal which was 1 meter tall and had a "waist" of a slim adult without problems on AUA PVG-VIE-ACH (So you can see this has happened already some time ago) and it was no problem so far... had it as handluggage, and on the first flight from PVG to VIE it fitted into the locker above easily, the second one I just put it onto the seat next to me (But would have worked out to hold it with me for the whole hour or so it took)

So I guess you should be fine with your little Koala

Oct 6, 2009, 4:56 am

#37

SanDiego1K

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That is an exceptionally cute set of koalas. The recipient will definitely smile.

Oct 6, 2009, 8:49 am

#38

wharvey

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Reminds me of a trip to London a few years ago during the Beanie Baby craze.... someone on a board I visited wanted the McDonald's teenie beanie babies... and I wanted the Britannica british beanie buddy. We did a trade at her shop in London... and I was carrying this around for a week on my trip... not wanting to risk losing it...

My partner has some priceless photos that will never see the light of day.

You will be making someone very happy.... you should make an album of the trip with the koala to add to the gift.

Oct 8, 2009, 1:51 am

#39

TrueBlueFlyer

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an update... from Amsterdam!

I have been taking far less pix than I thought I would... this is even more humiliating than walking around Brisbane with it, they get the "Koala" idea in Australia... Asia and Europe are a bit taken aback...

I do have some shots which I will upload once I make it to my final destination... so far I'm running approximately 4 hours behind schedule.

I'm a terrible FlyerTalker... I must admit, twice now I've been faced with the opportunity to get something out of an airline after things went sideways, and instead I was a typical consumer... determined to get to my destination close to the scheduled time at no matter what the cost... hense instead of spending 24 hours in Singapore on Air France's dime, I'm spending 4 hours in Amsterdam courtesy of KLM.

My goal is to get someone to take a pic of me with the FT Koala on one of the canal bridges... not sure IF I'll build up enough courage or find an english speaker... I wonder what the proper jeer phrase is in dutch that I should be anticipating?... lol

stay tuned...

--Russ

Oct 12, 2009, 4:39 am

#40

TrueBlueFlyer

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Mission Accomplished!!!

well, save for a little blushing, the mission was accomplished trouble free... in fact I even got to travel on additional flights after 2 cancellations, but the details are boring here are the pix:

about to board a Qantas A330-300 to Singapore

covert operation, eyes only... LOL

every flight I was on I had a free seat next to me

so naturally the Koala came out for some air

Qantas Airbus A330-300

KLM Boeing 777-200

Singapore to Amsterdam had a whole row to myself; after AF flight to Paris was cancelled due to a death. Decided to spend 4 hours in Amsterdam rather than 24 hours in Singapore