rutankrd if you or anyone else thinks my £5000+ worth of camera gear which fits neatly into a backpack weighing 6.8 kilos and has travelled all over the world with me is going into any aircraft hold, you have another think coming. The hold IS the place for luggage but a combination of loaders who sling bags into containers, and in any order, and ever increasing hold luggage charges ensure that only my suitcase goes under the floor.
In case anyone thinks I'm attacking MAN, I have been a supporter of the airport for over 60 years and served on committees which helped promote the airport in the days of Gordon Sweetapple and Gil Thompson, both of whom I knew well and would likely be delighted, as I am, to see the airport prospering but would be wringing their hands at the chaos the lack of development coupled with the increase in security have visited on the operation for which they fought so hard.