ltdiver 3 #1 February 10, 2003 Had the opportunity to travel a bit this past weekend. From CA to OR and back. I experienced 3 different scenerios with checked luggage going through the new security machines. 1) Ontario, CA : Checked baggage goes through the x-ray machine and disappears from view. If your bag passes, you hear your named called and that it's 'clear'. Next time you see it is at your destination. If they find something, then they call you back for interrogation. If locks are present, they are cut and discarded. 2) Portland, OR: You can witness your luggage going through the x-ray machine and can be present when it is inspected. Nice, especially if you want to keep tabs on what they are doing to your stuff. The best, however: 3) LAX: You can witness your luggage going through the machine. They will open and inspect it. However, at least with this particular inspector, they will let you lock your bag after inspection and will tag it with a sticker saying it's ok. Nice for those who want to check their camera equipment or rigs. Any other International airport experiences? I carry my rig and camera helmet on the plane with me, but others might not... ltdiver Don't tell me the sky's the limit when there are footprints on the moon Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nacmacfeegle 0 #2 February 10, 2003 Some airports can give you a 'security check' on your gear with you present (London Gatwick, and Aberdeen spring to mind) then they seal your bag with a security anti tamper thing. May be worthwhile exploring this option if you have time....-------------------- He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me. Thomas Jefferson Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ltdiver 3 #3 February 10, 2003 Quote then they seal your bag with a security anti tamper thing Portland did this for me. However, Ontario did not. They cut my lock and then left it that way for transport. ltdiver Don't tell me the sky's the limit when there are footprints on the moon Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
diverdriver 7 #4 February 10, 2003 Quote Quote then they seal your bag with a security anti tamper thing Portland did this for me. However, Ontario did not. They cut my lock and then left it that way for transport. ltdiver TSA is supposed to make it very clear NOT to lock ANY of your luggage or it will be cut off. And as many people post here about traveling with gear I believe it has been mentioned once or twice about this. It still sucks that they don't call you back to unlock it. Like how hard is that? We just had a pilot stopped for carrying a FAA required flashlight in his flight bag. They were going to confiscate it. Didn't matter that the TSA guy was WRONG. They just do things on their own anyway. So even when you're right. Your still wrong. Gotta love the Thousands Standing Around. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billvon 3,107 #5 February 10, 2003 >They cut my lock and then left it that way for transport. Cable ties are a good option for securing luggage. It will stop the casual thief (you can't break them with your fingers) but are easy to cut off, and you can carry some extras. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CanEHdian 0 #6 February 10, 2003 I just got back from a trip to Florida. Security staff at Tampa airport take your luggage into a restricted access area for the x-rays and tells you that they'll find you if needed - you don't get to see them check anything. I did NOT appreciate the mess that I found when I got home.... rig was obviously taken out of gear bag (which was in an unlocked hard shell suitcase) and had been messed with. Gear check proved to be okay, but I really would have preferred to be around when they dissected though my equipment. CanEHdianTime's flying, and so am I... (69-way, 108-way and 138/142-way Freefly World Records) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ltdiver 3 #7 February 11, 2003 QuoteCable ties are a good option for securing luggage. It will stop the casual thief (you can't break them with your fingers) but are easy to cut off, and you can carry some extras. It would have been fine if Ontario had let me even reapply a cable tie. However, even if I had given it to them with one on, they would have cut it and wouldn't have replaced it. Sounds like Tampa has the same hang-up. Wish all security check points were as gracious as what we found at LAX that one day. Hey, at least Portland secured my unlocked suitcase with a cable tie....even though I wasn't around. ltdiver Don't tell me the sky's the limit when there are footprints on the moon Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freakyrat 1 #8 February 11, 2003 Gotta Love the Thousands Standing Around. Remind's me of when I flew Airtran from Hobby in early December. They have the only gate on Concourse B. My flight was a full B717 (117 pass.) They had 11 screeners on the concourse. That's 1 screener for every 11.7 passengers. Go figure that one out. Chris Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freakyrat 1 #9 February 11, 2003 I flew out of Palm Springs this past January. TSA does the wipedown of your bag right in front of you at the ticket counter and the hands the tagged bag back to the airline. Nice and convenient. My rig was a different story however when I went through security. I had to spend some ten minutes explaining it etc. Finally a TSA supervisor who was familiar with skydiving gear got me through etc.. When I got home I contacted USPA and SSK (Cypres). I went to the TSA web site and found out who the security director for Palm Springs was and I called him and wrote him a long letter stating the facts concerning my experience with security and received this nice letter back from him I'm sending a copy of it to the USPA and maybe SSK. It's all about communication and TSA is suppose to have guidelines for parachute rigs issued within the next two weeks. This should eliminate the hassles. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AirMail 0 #10 February 11, 2003 QuoteI called him and wrote him a long letter stating the facts concerning my experience with security and received this nice letter back from him. You are doing better than I am. In December called the TSA and sent them email explaining that I was travelling in January and wanted clarification on what I could carry on. To date I have received nothing in response to either my phone messages or my email. Patrick-- It's never too late to have a happy childhood. Postal Rodriguez, Muff 3342 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freakyrat 1 #11 February 11, 2003 Patrick I can't post the letter here because it exceeds what can be posted in a PDF format but it essentially said that He would make sure that all screening personnel at Palm Springs are aware of the cooperative effort between USPA and TSA to educate the screener workforce with respect to Cypres equipped parachute rigs NOT being classified as Dangerous Goods (DG). In addition , on a national scale I can remind the TSA Training Directorate that more information specific to traveling with parachute rigs and devices may benefit all parties. I might add that the TSA director at Palm Springs has an extensive background in aviation as I do with both of us having been Air Traffic Controllers in the military and him being a former Flight Service Specialist with the FAA a job that I still hold. I just think it is all a matter of basic communication and the more that gets out there the eisier it's going to be for everybody. Chris Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kallend 2,146 #12 February 11, 2003 Quote Quote Quote then they seal your bag with a security anti tamper thing Portland did this for me. However, Ontario did not. They cut my lock and then left it that way for transport. ltdiver TSA is supposed to make it very clear NOT to lock ANY of your luggage or it will be cut off. And as many people post here about traveling with gear I believe it has been mentioned once or twice about this. It still sucks that they don't call you back to unlock it. Like how hard is that? We just had a pilot stopped for carrying a FAA required flashlight in his flight bag. They were going to confiscate it. Didn't matter that the TSA guy was WRONG. They just do things on their own anyway. So even when you're right. Your still wrong. Gotta love the Thousands Standing Around. It's the Government, it doesn't have to make sense.... The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AndyMan 7 #13 February 11, 2003 QuoteYou are doing better than I am. In December called the TSA and sent them email explaining that I was travelling in January and wanted clarification on what I could carry on. You'll have much better luck getting letters from your individual airlines. The TSA is not in the customer service business, the airlines are. A letter clearly explaining their policy will get you past 99% of TAS idiots, who're enforcing what they think the rules are rather then what they really are. _Am__ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
