How do people get around luggage weight restrictions?

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Batman

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#1168554 4-Nov-2014 15:12

if you don't count zero technically after 4 days is day 5!

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#1168560 4-Nov-2014 15:16

Elpie:
afe66: 4 hours of sugery then flying a few days later seems like tempting fate.

If anything goes wrong, wound infection for example, you would be overseas and you might get strife from your travel insurance.

Talk to your anaesthetist about DVT prophylaxis on plane. Ie Sub cut heparin injections.
At least keep your TEDS stocking you will be given during surgery and put them on for the flight.

A.

PS spoken to friend who is an ENT surgeon who said he wouldn't do an operation bigger than grommets on a patient if he knew they were going to fly to Canada a few days later. (this takes 5 minutes per ear)

The surgery is all keyhole and my surgeon will advise afterwards on how quickly I can fly. It depends on how much bleeding and how I am on discharge from hospital the following day. I will be having post-op follow-up in Canada so the only concern is my safety with the flights.
I am doing a long haul, Auckland to Seoul, overnight in Seoul, then on to Toronto, followed by 7-8 hours drive to Montreal (depends on how much snow is around and what the weather conditions are like, it could be a longer drive). If road conditions aren't great we will stop for an overnight along the way.

Heading west to go east makes it a long trip but Korean Air is a brilliant airline to fly with and has very good luggage allowances. The flights don't seem that bad either when the trip is broken by an overnight stay in Incheon.
All going well with the op, the surgeon sees no reason why I can't fly quickly.

may i suggest the surgeon doesn't have any pain nor does he need to lug 3x 32kg suitcases and 2 10 kg bricks on his shoulders while in pain.

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#1168594 4-Nov-2014 15:38

Hmm Yes, most provinces (including Quebec, Ontario) have a 90 day stand down period before you qualify for Health Care services.

Check your insurance covers "pre existing" medical issues.

You may have to specifically name your conditions to get coverage

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#1168642 4-Nov-2014 16:50

Sidestep: Hmm Yes, most provinces (including Quebec, Ontario) have a 90 day stand down period before you qualify for Health Care services.

Check your insurance covers "pre existing" medical issues.

You may have to specifically name your conditions to get coverage

I already have cover. The op was going to be done there but going private here works out better as its happening sooner.
My travel insurer accepted the pre-existing condition before I went over a couple of months ago so it won't be a problem this time anyway.

Elpie

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#1168644 4-Nov-2014 16:56

joker97:

may i suggest the surgeon doesn't have any pain nor does he need to lug 3x 32kg suitcases and 2 10 kg bricks on his shoulders while in pain.

I'm technically not allowed to lift anything heavier than a coffee cup now but since this isn't realistic when I am the only one here to take care of house, gardens, packing, etc etc I don't follow that edict. Can't. I will follow the order to not lift anything during the 6 month recovery time.

When I flew over in June I wasn't able to lift bags but the airline was brilliant. The porters on the other end, in Toronto, collect the bags and go with you all the way through the customs and immigration process no matter how long it takes. Mine was with me for three hours while I did my immigration landing. All for a flat fee (tip) of $20.

Even if I was fully able-bodied, with three suitcases and two carry-ons I would need help.

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#1168654 4-Nov-2014 17:01

I'm not booking my international flight until the day after surgery. With one-way fares the time of day is more important than the lead time for booking fares. On my last trip, I booked Friday, flew to Auckland on the Monday, and out early Tuesday morning. The fare I got was no more expensive than if I had booked three months in advance.
I will know if bleeding is an issue by the day after surgery, which is when I am discharged from hospital. So, I will either be on the next flight out a couple of days later, or the one after. Touch wood. If I have to laze around in Auckland for a couple of days, I will. But, either way, I will still make Montreal in time for Xmas :-)

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afe66

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#1168685 4-Nov-2014 17:48

Have you contacted the airline and told them you are having surgery so close to traveling on a long haul flight.

ANZ (for example) wants to know 3 days before hand and has rules about how long after surgery you can fly (reguardless of what your surgeon says)
Virgin Australia is more strict than ANZ on some flights.

There are two issues, one is liability for you for the costs if you missled the airline about recent surgery and they have to divert the plane and the second is what happens is you run into a problem 10 km above the pacific.
Bleeding isnt the only thing to sorry about. A small occult pneumothorax would be an issue with the cabin presure changes following prolonged laparoscopic surgery.

I have medical friends who have had to look after patients who "take a turn" on long haul flights and they describe them as being very frightening experiences. You are a long long way from help with limited supplies.

Have you told your travel insurance that your condition has changed and that you are not awaiting surgery but traveling a _very_ short time after it.

A.

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#1168697 4-Nov-2014 17:50

technically it is a capnothorax and should be resorbed very quickly as CO2 is very soluble (as opposed to nitrogen in a pneumothorax)

maybe wait a bit more than 4 days for the other issues?

afe66

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#1168722 4-Nov-2014 18:25

Physics says they should resolve quickly, but they don't always.

At the end of the day I wouldn't want a friend or family member flying long haul within a week of having an operation of 4 hrs on length.

A.

PS, it might be pneumothorax if resulting from leak of air from lung (?bullae rupture) during prolonged ventilation with higher inspiratory preasures to offset the co2 insuflation.

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#1168784 4-Nov-2014 19:20

I won't take risks. Thanks for the concern and advice, I will take it on board and won't fly until I'm assured it will be safe. I have to have written clearance from the surgeon so I assume he won't take that responsibility unless he is certain.

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#1169350 5-Nov-2014 15:54

I wonder if anyone from AirNZ reads Geekzone?

The airline has backtracked and I have now booked a third suitcase. Since their allowance is 23kg and only one 5kg carry-on (on Link services its only 5kg) I will put the additional weight into a fourth bag and check that through as excess baggage.

Thanks for all the suggestions everyone. It looks like I am sorted now. Cheers

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#1169483 5-Nov-2014 18:55

Glad it is working out for you

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