Carrying a stove on British Airways flights.

I'm travelling to the US in April and intend to take a stove with me. The BA website states that stoves may be carried in hold baggage but "requires approval". There is however, no indication of how to get that approval. This is how I finally managed:

1. Rang BA Baggage Enquiries on 0844 493 0787 - option 5. Spoke to an Indian gentleman for 5 minutes who could not figure what a stove was. He thought it was some sort of tool. Eventually he said "Yes you can take it, but no fuel". I was not convinced that this constituted "approval".

2. Sent an email to Customer Enquiries - "I am sorry we are unable to provide the information you needed by email." Gave me a link to the above phone number.

3. Sent an email to the BA Executive Club - "Unfortunately, I am unable to advise you about your query by email." Gave me a link to the above phone number.

4. Phoned the number again today. This time an Indian lady. She appeared to be a bit more clued up but didn't know the answer so went to speak to a supervisor. After a few minutes she came back, took my booking reference number and said she was putting an annotation on the booking to say I had approval to carry an empty stove in my hold baggage.

Although it would appear that I now have approval, as a precaution I am going to strip the stove down, clean, dry and spread it throughout my baggage.

So, if you want to carry a stove on a BA flight, phone (in the UK) - 0844 493 0787 - option 5. If the person is clueless, get them to check with, or ask to speak to a supervisor.

I have emailed a complaint to BA, pointing out the stupidity of having baggage items that require approval, but having no system in place or staff adequately trained to issue the approval. Stoves are only one item in a list of eight that require approval.

Terry

 

Good post Terry, thanks for sharing the info. Malcolm

 

I admire your determination to get it sorted, Terry.

The idea of stripping the stove down to component parts and distributing it within the suitcase throws down the gauntlet. "If you can reassemble it, work out what it is, you can impound it."

Now tell us what's on your stove wish list to bring back. Prentiss Waber range, Coleman Handy Gas Plant maybe?

John

 

Unfortunately there's not so many of us that understand English in the UK. Went to my post office to send a stove and they asked me what was in the parcel, I told them it was a stove but they just didn't get it.

 

Terry, what stove are you bringing?

S N A F U!!
Maybe use the word 'cooker' or 'camp stove' instead of stove. My sister thought I collected BBQ's and sent me a recipe book for BBQ but I don't have a BBQ. Others think I collect kitchen ranges/ovens. We are a different breed, methinks.

Ken in NC

 

I guess some people wouldn't know what you were talking about if you mentioned a Hoover but if you said vacuum cleaner they would.

 

Excellent!
Now then, is there a way to obtain a hard copy of that annotation to take with you?
Even for them to email you a pdf on headed paper?

Lastly, is this applicable only to international flights, or is the same fiasco required for internal flights?

Alec.

 

Not planning on buying any stoves in the US, but if we happen to drive past a yard sale or swap meet, it would be rude not to stop for a look.

I've not decided which stove to take - I don't know what I might buy between now and April .

I used the word stove as that is the word BA use in the baggage section of their website, so you would expect the staff manning the baggage enquiries number would know its meaning.

I don't think there is much chance of getting a hard copy of the annotation, but I've printed off the BA email responses (or lack of) and noted the date, time and name of the person I spoke to on the phone.

The way I read the baggage rules is that they apply to all BA flights.

Terry

 

More likely each piece is a stove and you only have approval for one

 

My nephew lives and works in London (England) and when he returns to Canada (twice a year) flies with Air Canada. On his flights he normally has a few stoves and stove-related items he's picked up for me. He's never had a problem putting them in checked baggage and assembled. He declares them (at the airport) and the Air Canada clerks/assistance ask him the usual: whether petrol had been in them recently, if he knows what everything is, if the bags had been left open, etc. Never has had a problem, never has had to remove them or call ahead for any special provisions or clearance/approval form. As long as they hold no fuel and aren't under pressure they are good to go. Sure saves on shipping...

 

I know what a "Hoover" is....what's a vacuum?

 

I thought that it was something to keep your tea warm.

 

A Hoover is a brand of vacuum.

 

If you like art deco style check out the Hoover building in Perivale west London (now a Tesco store) and just down the road from the Aladdin building built around the same time (1932).

 

The problem with air travel today is...

If someone has an issue with what you have in your luggage you are

a) Going to lose the item
b) Not going to travel

Pick one.

Arguing the nature of the rules/law or anything else has about as much chance of success as trying to convince a night club bouncer that you haven't had one too many and/or your shoes are not casual.

 

It seems that it's OK to carry fifty lithium batteries in your carry-on bag, but not an empty stove. Has there ever been an example of a stove catching fire on a plane?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-25733346

Terry

 

If we're talking double standards, what about letting who knows how many bottles of duty free alcohol on board?

Norm.

 

Just a thought Terry, have you requested the stove for the return flight as well?
You know what pedants are like....

Alec.

 

Good Morning, Terry, and All,

My offer stands, to send you a stove to Colorado, and ask one of our local CCS Mates to deliver it to you upon your arrival, and then send it back to me when you are finished using it. I'll bet that Randy, or maybe Tim, would be happy to do that, as they are both good men! If it were me, I would not want to take a chance that some overzealous TSA agent would confiscate your stove! It happens, and some of those folks are, shall we say not the sharpest crayon in the box!! To be fair, some of them are great folks, who are doing their best to do a distasteful job, too. But, it it were me, I would not ship a stove in my luggage, period. Of course, it's up to you, but I'm up for providing your stove, if that would work for you. We'll talk soon, I'm sure, and work it all out, one way, or the other. Take care, and God Bless!

Every Good Wish,
Mark

 

Thanks Mark, I may well yet take you up on your kind offer, but with 48 stoves sitting here (that was a shock when I just counted up!) it seems crazy not to take one on a long camping trip.

I do however have a cunning plan ( Link ):

Part 1 - I have to go to London Gatwick soon, so I shall take along our booking details and harangue the poor lady on the BA ticket desk until she confirms that we have authority to take a stove on both legs.

Part 2 - I will strip the stove down completely, clean the parts spotless, and secrete them throughout our baggage with other metal objects. Eg... The riser can go in with tent pegs, the bell, spreader and tank cap can go in with kitchen items like can opener, peeler and corkscrew, the case will just be a metal box containing odds & ends, the tank will just be a clean, shiny, brass object with no attachments - could be a part for anything.

I'm determined not to let faceless bureaucrats defeat me (hence my signature)!

Best wishes,
Terry