|
|
Post by Maria and John on Aug 16, 2012 15:13:50 GMT
Hi All,
Thank you so much for the wealth of information on this forum. The posts and the PMs we have received have been very helpful. We are due to depart for KSA next Saay and are in the final stages of preparation. We are are family of 6 (kids are 8, 6, 4 and 9 months) and are bringing a truckload of luggage of with us.
For those who have used dish barrel boxes in the past, how have you secured them? I'm assuming just packing tape, but has there been a need at the airport to open them? If so, has it been an issue to re-seal them?
Also, have you had issues getting all this luggage to the check in counter? I really hope there are porters available. I can't imagine getting all this luggage to the counter by myself!
Thanks,
John
|
|
|
|
Post by divenpuff on Aug 16, 2012 20:46:32 GMT
I too am curious about the dish barrel issue...thx
|
|
|
|
Post by flyingon15 on Aug 17, 2012 18:55:27 GMT
I used dish barrel boxes, and they were great. No hassles at all on the trip over, they hold a lot of volume, and now I don't have to store so many suitcases. I put all of my belongings inside trash bags or plastic bags before I put them in the boxes, just in case the boxes got wet. I also put my name, home address, and an Aramco address both inside the box and taped to the outside. I only used packing tape to secure the box...lots and lots of packing tape.  Some of the boxes were opened at my home airport in the US, but they retaped them just fine. As for getting the boxes to the check-in counter, it probably depends on the airport at your point of departure. Mine doesn't have porters, but I had family with me to help push all the boxes inside. At the Dammam airport, it definitely was not an issue. I had porters approach me right as I walked into the baggage claim area. Good luck! |
|
|
|
Post by bigbrass1111 on Aug 18, 2012 14:33:22 GMT
do the dish boxes have to be modified in any way, or can they be used "as is"? one of my contacts in the department i will be working in mentioned needing to "cut them down" but it doesn't sound like anyone here had to do that.
|
|
|
|
Post by Julz62 on Aug 19, 2012 4:48:34 GMT
Dish barrels do not have to be modified. We fly back and forth both directions with them. Only secure with packing tape. Houston TSA always seems to open one on the flight out but then retapes it. We have never had any issues and done this on multiple airlines. Find a place to save your dish barrels you will want them when you return home on repat trips.
|
|
|
|
Post by bigbrass1111 on Aug 19, 2012 6:05:44 GMT
Excellent. I was just curious because technically the dish barrels are two inches larger than the allowed dimensions. I will plan on carrying them without modifications. Thank you for the information.
|
|
|
|
Post by flyingon15 on Aug 19, 2012 14:51:46 GMT
I was concerned about the size as well, because my boxes were slightly over the allowed luggage size. I flew Lufthansa and it was no problem - hopefully other airlines are the same, but I guess it could depend on the strictness of the person checking you in. I didn't know what I was going to do if they rejected my boxes!
|
|
|
|
Post by GinaRN on Aug 20, 2012 0:51:26 GMT
On the website for Lufthansa it says 2 boxes are allowed per person in business. Yet I have heard some individuals say that 3 are allowed. How many did you guys bring?
|
|
|
|
Post by flyingon15 on Aug 20, 2012 13:22:01 GMT
I was given 2 pieces of luggage for free on Lufthansa (up to 70 lb/32 kg), and I had to pay $200 for each extra piece that I brought. It was totally worth the money, though. |
|
|
|
Post by divenpuff on Aug 20, 2012 18:15:17 GMT
Seems Lufthansa is the airline of choice...or is this just my impression?
|
|
|
|
Post by flyingon15 on Aug 21, 2012 5:55:39 GMT
I wasn't given a choice on airline. My advisor just sent my e-ticket. I guess I could have questioned it or asked for a different airline, but I didn't have a strong preference, and the ticket was fine with me. I could be wrong (I'm still new), but I get the impression that Lufthansa is frequently used because it flies into the Dammam airport, and not a whole lot of good international airlines do. They also offer a large Business Class section on the Frankfurt-->Dammam segment, which is something that (most? all?) incoming employees are supposed to get. Some colleagues came in on Qatar Airways (I think), but most of the new arrivals I met all came in on Lufthansa.
|
|
|
|
Post by Colts18 on Aug 21, 2012 8:05:17 GMT
Here's our experience:
1. I flew KLM and my family joined me later via Lufthansa. We didn't have any issues with the dish barrel boxes on either flight (as-is). We did wrap them at the airport with the blue plastic wrap ($9/box). I highly recommend this or simply tape all sides very well, especially the seam side. If U.S customs opens them (which they do), they get them wrapped again. In Dammam they never got opened, but on the Aramco flight to Jeddah I was asked to open them.
2. The KLM lounge in AMS was awesome. My family didn't like the one at Frankfurt (new one is under construction).
3. You do have the choice to select your flight & itinerary. I did that for both my trip and my family.
|
|
|
|
Post by expatwife on Aug 22, 2012 18:42:23 GMT
We just arrived 3 wks ago and 4 of our baggages were dishbarrel boxes. They hold up well, we didn't make any adjustment to it. With ours, TSA open every single one of the boxes and all of our luggages, too. (they leave a paper on each that they had opened it). They taped them all back. So, I don't know if it worth to do anything extra other than tape if they will get open). Nothing was damaged or missing with ours.
We arrived on Emirates which was our second choice, Qatar Air was first (only because I've read that it's been the highest rated airline for business class). Emirates was nice, but the food was just allright.
|
|
Some of the boxes were opened at my home airport in the US, but they retaped them just fine.