Just a word of caution for any of you needing to ship your model to an event by Airline. Most airines will tell you that you may bring your "box" along as extra baggage for a fee. You may discover that upon arrival at the airport with your box in hand, that this is far from the truth. All of a sudden, they may refuse it altogether! Other Airlines will tell you that thye can take your Box, but you will pay Air Freight charges. You get to the airport and for some reason, they won't let the Box ride along with you on the same aircraft, event though you were told it could! Between Florida Jets and now, Top Gun, I have tried to help many circumvent this problem with NO success.
Coming from Europe, LUFTHANSA is the absolute worst!
The German Team was just informed that they may NOT bring their Box containing their Competition Model on the aircraft. This is AFTER they spent several thousand dollars for Air Fare! For months they were told everything was fine, now at the last minute, it is NOT. Those inconsiderate Morons have just affected the lives of over 200 people just by telling One Lie. Anyway, a word to the wise, if you are thinking about shipping by Airline, get your agreement in Writing! And remember, Lufthansa is the absolute Worst in the planet.

FT

Shipping by airline = high risk.
Adding to the issue is the fact that airlines will more likely generate a last minute problem , and you will end up grounded.

Plan ahead, ship ahead. I would never trust an airline with anything other than taking me from PTA to PTB, and they even f'it up all the time.

I used to do a lot of airline travel and brought my big box with me then.....

After 2001 all the rules regarding luggage carried by the airlines changed. Though each airline has relaxed their policies over the years, the final decision is made by the customer service supervisor /manager AT THE TIME OF DEPARTURE. This is the case with most airlines in North America, Europe and Asia flying into North American airspace. ANY item that is deemed a safety risk to the aircraft, crew or passengers will not be allowed. There is a chance that your big box may be accepted but DO NOT EXPECT IT. Lufthansa is no different than any other airline when it comes to baggage policies. If you want to ensure your toy arrives at your destination ship it via freight well ahead of your planned arrival.

Don't shoot the messenger...this is simply what has been told to me by various airlines ( Westjet, Alaska, AirCanada, British Airways, American Airlines, United Airlines )

Cheers
Dean W.

This is why I insist that Frank should give a Special Award to all of us that have to go thru this painful and costly process to be able to bring our planes to his events !!!!!!

Could be cash..... we won't mind

Jack

PS: Frank, this is a joke !!!!!!

I sent my Bandit to USA via FedEx.
When I opened the box, I realized that the leading edge of one wing was badly scraped.
I complained to FedEx, and was told that DEA, or TSA, or I don't remember who, took a "sample" to test for drugs.
I requested compensation for the repair, and was told that they "could have cut the wing in half is they deemed it necessary", and you don't have any right to be compensated.

It is what it is, I guess. A lottery to be allowed as luggage, and way beyond you control if shipped by currier.

Jack

Although only traveling in the States, my airline "horror" story traveling with a jet is as follows;

I'm all checked-in with luggage and Bobcat awaiting my flight at a very small "international" airport (Yuma) to catch my connector in Phoenix, and the flight is cancelled (pilot issues). No problem, I had a 3-4 hour layover in Phoenix to catch the red-eye so I decided to drive to Phoenix to catch my flight instead of waiting for the next flight the following morning. I make it to PHX with just enough time to return the rental car and get checked in for my flight. During the check-in the clerk says the "case" is too large, fine, I'll pay extra fee. Then she proceeds to say it's too big and I can't check it. I tell her to measure it all the while the Bobcat case has US Air stickers all over it from previous travels which I point out to her. She continues to insist I cannot check it, finally I ask for her supervisor. The supervisor arrives and proceeds to say it's too large, blah, blah, blah. I tell them to measure it, show them the receipt of the fees I paid when I had checked it 3 hours earlier. After some time, she finally agrees to check it. FINALLY, now I can go, but wait! She then asked me if I could open it. I told her it was quite a bit of trouble, but yes I could; thinking that since they had agreed to check it and I had nothing to hide, I would open it as a courtesy. BIG MISTAKE!!!!! As soon as I opened the case, the residual smell of Jet-A was immediately encountered, needless to say, but that was it, they said I could not check it! I don't think I was ever madder at any point in my life than I was at that moment!!! I wanted to straggle her!

It is now literally almost midnight and catching the flight was out of the question, the bigger problem was, what was I going to do with my Bobcat if I couldn't take it on the plane? I had already turned in the rental car, no going back to Yuma and trying there again. So I called a FedEx store that happened to close at midnight and they agreed to stay open to take my "package". I found a taxi that was willing to take me there, wait, and bring me back. After it was all said and done, I ended up getting home later than if I would have just stayed put with more hassle and expense than it was worth.[:'(]

I worked for a few airlines in the past both as a gate agent in College and as a pilot a few years later. Its just plain awful how little standardization there is. You could get a nice helpful agent/manager and they will go out of their way to help you.
Most are so pissed and bitter at the airlines though they dont care to help at all. This is why one tells you yes one day and another agent basically tells you to get bent the next. This isnt just a problem for customers its a problem for pilots also.
It has gotten to be such a hassle to jump seat on an airline its not even worth it, I cant tell you how many flights my self and other crewmembers have missed because the agent dosent know how to properly work the computer. Some are on such a power trip they will
not even allow you to ask the Captain for a ride, even though the Captain is the final authority on who rides in the jumpseat. Even if you did manage to get your jet on board i still wouldnt recommend sending it, as a previous agent/baggage handler I know
how poor those bags and boxes are handled. Fragile stickers dont help either most idiots will go out of their way to be rougher on those.

I agree with all ! Airlines are the ABSOLUTE BIGGEST NIGHTMARE when shipping your precious RCjet. I had issues with the smell of Jet A, size of the box, damages... Morons, it just goes on and on.

I guess after 911 our lives also were affected.

I had good success using LTL Carriers and shipping ahead with a freight forwarder. It is cheaper than airlines, it just takes time.

Lately, I been sending my entire trailer in a boat with all the planes inside. It is nice to have all your stuff in one place.

Cheers

Frankie

PS Jack; I like the cash award theory.....

In the last decade, the airline industry has made the DMV look like a shining star in the customer service category. If they would throw a bag of peanuts at you when you sit down to wait, it would be perfect.

Marty