Airline Embargoes to Ecuador and Elsewhere

Can You Say Airline Quarantine?

Air travel from Quito to the U.S. this year promises to be very different from past trips, and I haven’t even left yet! (actually, Linda left on Monday) I booked a RT flight from Quito/LAX on Copa. Gary checked baggage restrictions, but we didn’t read far enough down . . . about embargoes.

I’m glad I asked the ticketing agent at Copa to go over bag restrictions after I booked the flight. He told me two checked bags up to 50 pounds each and ONE carry-on, max 20 pounds. Period. Not one pound over. He said that the online restrictions we read were “general.” LAX and other areas now have “special” baggage restrictions.

So better check carefully next time you fly!

After hyper-ventilating over the idea of only one carry-on, INCLUDING a purse, I calmed down and listened. The LAX embargos means that not only can I take one carry-on and absolutely no extra weight, any extra baggage has to be shipped through a cargo company. He gave me two phone numbers to call.

This was a dead end. One number never answered. The other one was Qantus Airlines, who couldn’t help me. They gave me another number, which kept hanging up on me after a message in rapid Spanish.

Tracking Down the Truth, Sort of . . .

So I called Copa again and talked to someone in baggage. She assured me that the embargo is accurate—not one extra pound could I bring. No boxes and no animals, either! But I could bring a purse in addition to my one carry-on. A small victory!

Luckily, as I scanned the online baggage info again, I noticed there were two embargos for L.A., from December 1 – April 30 and June 16 to August 15. I pointed out that my return flight was May 14, when there was no embargo listed. The woman then said, yes, I could bring extra weight with me during that window of time, but it will cost me $25 more, plus even more if the bag is over-sized.

Quivering in Quito

I still feel nervous, though. I got her name as proof that an employee of Copa had given me this information, but what if the airline changes its mind or changes the embargo dates? Will I make it home with the books on adobe construction? What about my new pots and pans? Stay tuned for the continuing saga.

Since other readers have reported that they are getting different bag restrictions at different times when they call their airlines, there seems cause for concern or at least some diligent detective work.

According to Copa, the embargo is an attempt to control the large amounts of baggage carried by travelers or zealous consumers during high season. Further investigation indicates that the high price of fuel is also a factor. This move may not be too well-received by the North American tourist industry or stores hoping to sell to foreigners to make up for the sluggish U.S. economy.

But What About the Necessities of Life?

I just want to bring back essentials, like good cookware, good sheets and towels, good silverware, books. Okay, the list is pretty long. And all of these things are heavy!

Obviously I’ll have to find another method. The good news is that I am constantly finding new sources in Ecuador for quality items I previously couldn’t find. So I will keep searching locally. My latest quest is for a three-ring binder. But if I can’t find one here, Office Max, here I come!

Friends in the states are also wonderful about offering help. I feel like a pioneer waiting for each new wagon train to arrive that might be bringing me some necessities from back home.

Anyone shipping a container to Ecuador any time soon?

How Sweet the Salsa!

This little foray reminds me of those many mind-numbing minutes in the U.S. spent with a phone to my ear, listing to loud canned music or recorded messages while waiting for a human to tell me they can’t help me, try this number. . . or this department. . .

I think I’ll go sip some papaya juice and sit on my terrace, watching the clouds play over Imbabura volcano and reminding myself that here in Ecuador, today, life is serene.

Wait, I hear some salsa music wafting up from the tienda down the street. Maybe I can get Gary to dance with me. . .

Click here for a glimpse of our dancing style and a humorous reminder about living life to the fullest. (Jim Carey dancing)

Update: I called Copa again and this time was told that I could bring a third extra bag on my return flight because the embargo is not in effect, but it will cost $100. But the extra bag might show up at my destination as much as five days after I do!

Also, if there are lower weight restrictions on connecting flights, I must comply with those restrictions and take even less. These restrictions are subject to change at any time and I could be stuck in line with my purchases in LAX and unable to bring them with me to Quito.

I called Northwest, my other flight and while I can take two bags on the departing flight, on the return, I can only take ONE bag. This is getting complicated. . .

Further Update: Five North American airlines have now declared bankruptcy or filed Chapter 11—Aloha Airlines, ATA Airlines, Skybus Airlines, Champion Airlines and Frontier Airlines. Delta and Northwest are talking merger. It all has to do with soaring fuel prices. Will I even make it back to Ecuador?

And what does the future of flying hold for us? Will we soon have to fly naked to minimize weight? Cut our hair short? Remove heavy dental fillings? If we weigh too much will we be restricted to one leg or arm instead of two? I vote for alternate fuels and bi-locating.

Filed under: Living in Ecuador