We’re travelling to Germany on EasyJet for two weeks in June, hopefully doing some SOTA in Thüringen and finishing with the Friedrichshafen show before jetting home from München via Bristol on Sunday 28th.
I’ll be using my IC-705 and an EFHW, but since my usual travel mast isn’t carry-on compatible I plan to buy a 6m pole from Decathlon as soon as we land, then donate it to a good home before we leave. Not sure if I’ll still need it on Sunday 27th; DM/BW-348 and DM/BW-854 are too close to pass up if we have no other plans, but if you’re still in town on Sunday night and want to buy me a beer then you’re welcome to it.
You don’t need a mast for DM/BW-348, throwing the wires into a tree is sufficient (I use an arborist’s throw weight – look it up, such things and stranger hobbies than ours exist ). DM/BW-854 should also be possible without a mast, just attach one end to the lookout hut and the other end below on the hiking way or to a tree on the way leading up to the hut and operate from the bench at the tree (that’s what I did two years ago with good success, using my ~13m EFHW antenna). The only problem is that the site may be crowded (both with amateurs and muggles), giving you not much choice. But then the activation zone is large.
If the pole fits into your luggage, you can shlep it home , but EasyJet seems to be Not-So-Easy-On-Luggage-Jet. I’ll find out whether they accept my carry-on on Monday on my way to England.
But I’ll probably need a mast for the other summits I’m hoping to activate in Germany during my two weeks there. Aware of arborists and have dabbled with that deployment technique, but my success rate wasn’t good; too many snagged lines, wire ultimately too fragile, too many points of failure on a trip which relies on tightly controlled carry-on baggage. I’ll stick with the pole.
I’m happy to spend €25 if it goes to a good home afterwards. To be fair, in the past I’ve often not ended up using the full height of my pole because the summit itself often aids with the inverted “V” configuration, but it’s nice to have that extra bit of reach.
EasyJet offers two types of hand luggage: the small, free option (which, in terms of dimensions, must fit under the seat) and the slightly larger one (which goes in the overhead bin) — for which you now have to pay.
The larger item must not exceed dimensions of 56 x 45 x 25 cm. The Decathlon mast measures under 56 cm, ! excluding the cap ! - - So, it should fit diagonally into the suitcase…
Unfortunately, the mast is not always available in every store location. However, you can order it and have it shipped to the store of your choice (click & collect) — perhaps along with a fishing rod holder… However, you need to pay attention to the delivery dates. You have 14 days to pick it up.
This is very true, but both my hard cases have small wheels at the bottom which take up just enough room to prevent the mast from fitting in, even diagonally. Pythagoras would argue that doesn’t make sense but …
… I had one of those masts delivered to the Passy Mountain Store last week, and can confirm that it does not fit in my case, at least with the cap. So it’s staying at my friend’s place in Chamonix until then next time I get out there, probably in September this year.
A moot point anyway since EasyJet don’t allow fishing poles in carry-on, and I don’t rate my chances at convincing the gate gorilla that an antenna support is completely different from a fishing pole.
for my efhw, as inverted V or as sloper, ..I´m using a 6.3 m fishing rod, collapsed is 43 cm, weight 265m. available at Axxazon, al hi espress. Airplane luggage compatible.
I suspect many of the restrictions on what may be put in the carry-on are meant to force you to pay for hold baggage. If you are coming to Germany for two weeks, you will most likely need hold baggage in any case, into which a small travel pole should fit.
That 6m pole is identical to the poles which “Lambdahalbe” used to sell at Friedrichshafen (not that that fact helps you, as Lambdahalbe is no longer operating and FN is at the end of your trip). Echoing what was said earlier, currently, none of the Decathlon stores in Upper Bavaria has stock on that mast, so you need to do a “click & collect” within the stated timeframe.
I’m not sure what their strategy is to be honest, sometimes there doesn’t seem to be very much overlap between airlines. With EasyJet you need to pay for what they call a large cabin bag, and then you need to pay again for hold baggage. I get the large cabin bag included in my EasyJet Plus subscription* but hold bags are £35 per person per flight. To get to Germany I need to take two connecting flights, and another two flights home, so effectively £150 for a check-in bag. I can get by with just carry-on.
Not sure if it’s still on, but the annual EasyJet Plus subscription was half price (normally £250) a short while ago if you’re a BA Bronze, Silver, or Gold Member, and gives you “priority” boarding, two cabin bags, and a decent seat. In my case Plus paid for itself after just two trips.
Ah yes, I missed that you’re travelling with easyJet, but it’s the same story indeed.
Some activators may have gotten away with taking it in hand luggage, but it was probably just luck.
What? You have to pay separately for hold baggage for each leg of the flight? That is daylight robbery. For a hold bag, it used to be (and I believe still is with larger airlines), pay one charge for the complete route, even when using partner airlines.
£35 per person each way is “OK” but £150 is not!
I just took a look at your possible flight routes on Opodo - whichever airline, it’s a long, expensive journey!
To be fair I might get away with it too, but if I’m going to lose the item then I’d rather it went to another amateur, rather than whatever happens to all the confiscated contraband at the end of the week.
It’s a transparent agreement (albeit an expensive one) which you can either take or leave. Not quite robbery.
What is a bit naughty is EasyJet charging extra for “Super Cover” so that you’re not liable for the connecting flight if the first one is disrupted. Most airlines have to look after you when both flights are part of the same booking, but EasyJet seem to get away with charging a little extra for this.
You see my problem, hehe. I could book the same route with BA and get check-in baggage as well as onwards cancellation cover, but the cost is eye-watering. All said and done EasyJet isn’t too bad, but I do miss free check-in baggage.
I flew with a Carbon 6 pole, slim-G and handheld from Aberdeen to Manchster (and back) a few years ago. That, along with two days worth of clothes and toiletries just fitted inside my Mamut 16l pack.
Not sure if I’d risk it now though. I suppose they could say it could be used as a weapon - a baton or club.
). DM/BW-854 should also be possible without a mast, just attach one end to the lookout hut and the other end below on the hiking way or to a tree on the way leading up to the hut and operate from the bench at the tree (that’s what I did two years ago with good success, using my ~13m EFHW antenna). The only problem is that the site may be crowded (both with amateurs and muggles), giving you not much choice. But then the activation zone is large.
- So, it should fit diagonally into the suitcase…
