Island residents travelling to New York in search of Christmas bargains have been warned to check the baggage policies of the airlines they anticipate flying on to avoid frustration.

One angry traveller, who wished to remain anonymous, contacted The Royal Gazette after she was not allowed to check in a box containing a 13 inch television for her return flight to Bermuda from New York's John F Kennedy Airport (JFK).

She was told at the check-in desk that American Airlines had a policy which prohibited any box being checked in or carried on any flight from JFK to the Caribbean and Bermuda.

She was told she would have to take her box to air cargo and have it sent at her own expense, although it was unlikely she would make it to the cargo terminal to send her package and get back in time for her flight's departure.

She was just about to give the television to the check-in lady as a gift and wish her a Merry Christmas when the man who dropped her off at the airport came back in to check on her as he was waiting to pick up passengers from another flight.

She told him of her dilemma and he kindly offered to take the television to the cargo terminal ensuring she did not miss her flight.

The traveller, who dealt with this situation at 7.30 a.m., said the incident was "the height of frustration'' that put a damper on her entire trip and she questioned why the policy was not brought to the attention of travellers.

And to cap off her experience, she said boxes from her flight started appearing on the luggage collection conveyor in Bermuda leading her to feel victimised.

When she made inquiries into the policy, she was told that had she put her box in a bag, it would have been acceptable.

"Is a box in a bag still a box or not?'' she asked.

She also questioned whether the policy was a revenue raising issue, but was told the policy was in place as boxes may get crushed.

The traveller said she talked with American Airlines management in Bermuda who said agents in the US were going to be notified that Bermuda is exempt from the embargo, as had formerly been the case.

And in a move that angered the frustrated traveller even further, she was told the policy would not be taken out of the computer but would only be a verbal order meaning travellers are still liable to be told they cannot check in any boxes.

She was told the reason for this policy is that American Airlines is the largest carrier to the Caribbean, and they have discovered that residents of the islands take excessive amounts of luggage and merchandise with them when they go home and Bermuda is classed with the Caribbean.

The woman said her television cost $108, and if she had brought it with her she could have claimed the first $100 and paid duty on the remaining $8.

However, sending the television cost $76, and 33 percent duty of the full amount was a further $36 so it cost $112 to get the television to the Island.

The frustrated traveller said all she wanted was for American Airlines to inform the public of their baggage policy.

She advised travellers that there was a choice in which airline to use when travelling to the New York area and suggested using Continental out of Newark.

Carol DeCouto, American Airline's agent in Bermuda said: "It is a system wide policy that we don't accept boxes as checked baggage, they need to be in a suitcase.'' She also said she had been working with the manager at JFK, as they were in agreement that the restriction did not need to be so severe for the Bermuda flight.

And she said she was hoping to get headquarters to change the policy.

However, Ms DeCouto added: "Effective today, we are not going to restrict people unless the flight is full, then the boxes will have to be taken off and sent air cargo.'' Ms DeCouto spoke about the frustrated traveller and said she must have come across a newly hired staff member that did not know the relaxed policy for the Bermuda flight, and this was the first time such an incident had occurred in six months.

She added: "The manager (at JFK) has assured me that the policy will be relaxed for Bermudians.'' TRANSPORTATION TRA