Checking a Backpack on Plane

Hi,

A friend of mine will be travelling to Europe on Air Canada & British Midland next month, and she is borrowing my Arc'Teryx 65L backpack. I have every confidence that my friend with take great care of my backpack, but don't have that same confidence in the airlines!

I want to make sure that my pack (and her contents, of course) are transported safely on the planes. My pack has so many straps and buckles, there is no way to secure them all without shrink-wrapping or placing the pack in a large plastic bag.

I know some airlines provide you with large plastic bags to place your pack in, but I am not sure about Air Canada. I called them and they (the reservation agents) told me they were not sure what happens at check-in for certain types of luggage, and that you just have to wait and see when you get to the airport (what the check-in counter can do).

Anyone travelled recently on Air Canada/British Midland and know what they with do with backpacks? Should my friend get her own plastic bag or cheap duffle bag in the event they don't have something to safely transport the pack in?

Thanks,

She should get her *own* friggin' backpack, fer starters.

If the backpack has to be checked, there is a good chance that it will not be covered by the airlines' luggage liability policies. Backpacks, duffel bags, and the like often aren't. So if it's lost/damaged you're out a

since it will be checked several times, the sensible thing to do is to have a nylon bag [like a sail bag] or similar moderately durable bag to put it in.

AC's backpack bags might as well hold your drycleaning - they are 1 or 2 mm. and get torn by looking at them.

Go to a bed and bath store and ask for one of the plastic bags used to ship mattresses - then wrap it in gaffer's tape and it'll take anything the airlines can dish out (a 39' bag can usually be cut in half and used one for each leg. It can also serve as a groundsheet in a pinch).

RAB (son of mattress-factory-owner)

in the most airports are place where they put bags in foil. like amsterdam, toronto. and a lot of company put them separete in hard boxes. i travel a lot with my backpack the only thing wat ever happens is they get dirty. if you have extra straps just use some tape. no problems then

Dump the backpack into a army type duffel bag.

Special sacks are made to hold packs. They are lightweight and inexpensive. Call the people at REI.com or your local camping store.

Taking a moment's reflection, To Arms!! mused: Dump the backpack into a army type duffel bag.

That's what I did ... worked a treat.

That's what I do with my non-critical dive gear - I dump my dive bag into a tough nylon army type duffel bag. On the way back, anything wet / dirty clothes goes into the duffel bag. In the past it has worked great - until Continental Airlines lost it at the baggage transfer point outside of customs in Houston. How could they lose a bag for three days between Houston and Dallas? When I received my bag, it was damaged, and the clothing was mildued. They ended up writing me a check for two or three hundred dollars.

You can find special bag for backpack (the link below is an example, in France)