Last Minute Air Travel Poll??

[sdctlc 0]

OK, this is last minute for my trip tonight but I wanted a quick poll on how people have been taking gear with them on air trips. I have read a bunch of posts with new restrictions but all seem to be getting through OK. Basically when your traveling now, carry on or check?

Never had a problem in the past but with "CODE ORANGE" in place now trying to guess at the best way to get through TSA crap.....

Scott C.

"He who Hesitates Shall Inherit the Earth!"

[BikerBabe 0]

Since 1 Jan 03 and the impplementation of the "TSA can go through your checked bags without you present" rule, I've carried on my rig. Like I've told my teammates, I don't want some half-literate TSA monkey pulling on anything he shouldn't be when I'm not around. *no offense if you happen to work for the TSA*

I come prepared with Southwest's little printout that the dept. of transportation has deemed Cypres's as "not regulated", my cypres card, and a good attitude. I also use a gear bag. I don't give any information unless asked, and then I give as little info as possible. I say the Cypres is a barometer that acts to pull the reserve ripcord in case I'm unconscious (if asked). Also, I tend to wear casual clothes and tennis shoes (so I don't have to remove them), and I put every extra thing that I can INTO my purse, so I don't set off the metal detector, nor have lots of extra free crap in one of those little bowls.

Since then, I've only been stopped once, and then they guy was more concerned about my metal reserve handle than the Cypres, for some reason. I've been through security with my rig in Atlanta, Cincinnati, Ft. Walton Beach, Albuquerque, LAX, and Phoenix.

Maybe I've been lucky, but I feel like the more I travel, the more TSA agents see my rig, and perhaps I'm doing my small part to educate them.

Never meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup!

[WFFC 1]

No problems in DEN, IAH, ORD, ATL, PIA, Cincinnati since Jan 1.

[Guest]

Quote

I come prepared with Southwest's little printout that the dept. of transportation has deemed Cypres's as "not regulated", my cypres card

Do you have that letter? I've been all over SWA's site and haven't seen it.

"The mouse does not know life until it is in the mouth of the cat."

[Guest]

Personally, I think carrying your rig on is worth the risk. I've been through SEA once since 9/11; they were curious about the Cypres but the x-ray card helped. The inspector's supervisor told him it was okay as long as there were no gas cartridges in the rig (I still don't know where thy got that one).

Went through Midway and BWI without any hassles, but if you want to be completely hassle-free, FedEx your rig to your destination.

"The mouse does not know life until it is in the mouth of the cat."

[BikerBabe 0]

Mark,

It's not on their website. It's a little thing they can print out for you at the ticket counter in the airport (when you check in). It's the same size as and on the same paper as the boarding pass.

It's in their baggage system database, or something like that...not sure of the actual name. Ask them to do a search on "Airtec" or "Cypress" (with 2 "s"'s they spelled it wrong) and it should come up.

Of course, since they started doing that I've never needed it. Knock on wood...

Never meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup!

[Guest]

Quote

Mark,

It's not on their website. It's a little thing they can print out for you at the ticket counter in the airport (when you check in). It's the same size as and on the same paper as the boarding pass.

It's in their baggage system database, or something like that...not sure of the actual name. Ask them to do a search on "Airtec" or "Cypress" (with 2 "s"'s they spelled it wrong) and it should come up.

Of course, since they started doing that I've never needed it. Knock on wood...

I called the reservations number (800-IFLY-SWA), and asked them for it, but they said they found nothing - I'm concerned it'll happen again at the check-in desk tomorrow morning.

"The mouse does not know life until it is in the mouth of the cat."

[DivaSkyChick 0]

I've done Southwest with my rig, not in a bag, just thrown over my shoulder, many times. Had more problems with my shoes! So now I carry my rig and wear flip flops.

---
www.facebook.com/mandyhamptonfitch

[Zenister 0]

Quote

I called the reservations number (800-IFLY-SWA), and asked them for it, but they said they found nothing - I'm concerned it'll happen again at the check-in desk tomorrow morning.

i'd almost bet they didnt even look. Its there, i've been given it at least twice by the SW people at SEA-TAC unfortunately i never bothered to keep it..

____________________________________
Those who fail to learn from the past are simply Doomed.

[SpeedRacer 1]

code orange = before going thru security, it is advisable to purchase a large jar of Vaseline.

Speed Racer
--------------------------------------------------

[NoShitThereIWas 0]

I check my rig but make sure it is in a protective container like a plastic tub. Then I put the rest of my gear in there also. Easy to carry/push and no need to drag it through security onto the plane. I prefer to travel light without carrying a lot of stuff onto an airplane. The benefit of carrying it with you though is that you don't know what whuffos know about your gear. It is somewhat alien to some of them and if they go touching it and poking at it that could be a bad thing. I have only had that experience once but I did not have it in a protective container that time ...

Roy Bacon: "Elvises, light your fires."

Sting: "Be yourself no matter what they say."