flying domestic airline

[kelley]

Does anyone have any info on flying on a domestic airline. we are preparing to fly to Pennsylvania for a site survey and want to bring various hand tools with us..I know the tools will have to be checked in but is or are there any other restrictions or guidlines that you can offer to make the trip easier? This Is our first out of state job since before 9-11 and we want to be prepared.

thanks

Kelley

 

[karl riley]

Re: flying domestic airline

Kelley, I just flew cross country from Boston Logan and due to connection problems had to put all my tools into my carry-on. My tools are a dozen different electronic measuring tools, all looking sinister, with wires coming out of some of them. The check-point inspector took one look and said the bag could not be carried on. That would have meant I would miss my flights.

I replied that I had gone through Logan with the same tools many times. He was adamant but another inspector took over (my angel was helping) and went through everything. I explained what a gaussmeter was, etc. A third inspector grabbed the two pointed objects, a screwdriver and a pair of pliers. I said "no problem, those are expendable", so they were confiscated, but I was allowed to go on, after another machine determined there was no bomb in it.

Coming back I checked the bag! No problem.

Karl

 

[Guest]

Re: flying domestic airline

Kelley:
For a while nail clippers were a banned item. Then they were allowed. I went flying recently with my nail clippers knowing that they were allowed. I got gigged by the checkers. My wife and I were selected to go in the "extra security" line. There is a two tier system and if you meet certain guidelines you have to go into the more thorough line. They explained that because we bought one-way tickets, bought them at the last minute, and had no checked luggage that put us in the riskier category for inspection. Bad people usually buy one-way tickets at the last minute and don't check their luggage.

Here's the kicker: They busted my chops on my nail clipper. I pointed to the sign and that said nail clippers were OK. Then the inspector proceeded to swing out a little dull pen-knife blade about 1" long that I did not even know existed. It had a blunt end but it had a somewhat sharp blade. It was a very dull blade. I did not know it existed. They wanted to take my nail clippers away. Normally, as Karl did with his pliers I would have easily given them up. However they had the word CANADA on them and they were a gift to me from another couple we met on our honeymoon cruise. The clippers had sentimental value. I asked about my options. There are two options at the Oakland airport:
1. There is a private "hat check" service where you pay $1 a day to leave small items. You can retrieve them on your way home. Since we were not coming back to the airport that was not an economically viable option for a $4 pair of nail clippers (meaning driving to Oakland to retrieve them on our return to the Bay Area).

2. You can mail the items to yourself. I went to the magazine store and bought a padded jiffy envelope. They told me the stamp machine was on the side of the store. It was not there. I checked with everybody and they all said it was right there, but it was not. Turns out they had remodeled the airport and moved the stamp machine. They moved it to be near the mailbox. How's that for planning! So I bought stamps, sealed my jiffy bag, addressed the envelope to myself and sent it on its way.

Note: You cannot drop anything over one pound in a mail box. It will be returned to sender, so make sure your return address is on it when you send it to yourself

Conclusion: If you have any suspect items call ahead and see if they will be allowed. If there are questionable items check them. If you must carry them on, ask if there is a "hat check" if your item is rejected for carry-on. Also, bring some mailing envelopes and stamps in case you have to mail any less than one pound stuff back to yourself...or you can mail it ahead to where you are going if there is enough time.

Finally, allow some extra time. I got to the airport in plenty of time to get screened and get on my plane. However mailing the nail clippers to myself put me back in the screening line and I only made by plane by a few minutes. My wife was in a panic. Finding the mailbox delayed me. Going through the screening again delayed me. Additionally, in the time I mailed my letter the screening line quadrupled in size which compounded my delay.

The only way I got through the second check in time was to alert the head screener that I had a "hidden disability". This put me closer to the front of the line. It also upset some people who stated "hey, I'm going to miss my plane if he goes ahead of me". Of course I was going to miss my plane too so we were all in the same boat. And I do have a hidden physical disability from my workplace injury that I am now recovering from.

I went long here. I hope it is helpful and helps you avoid some the problem I encountered with an illegal item.

../Wayne

 

[sjaniga]

Re: flying domestic airline

Kelley, as long as you check your tools you should be just fine. I have been from MI to San Fran three times now since 9/11 with no problems, except on return flights my luggage ends up going to New York

Scott

 

[iwire]

Re: flying domestic airline

Originally posted by awwt:
You cannot drop anything over one pound in a mail box. It will be returned to sender, so make sure your return address is on it when you send it to yourself.

Wouldn't a package over a pound with the same address in the To and From fields cause some alarm to postal workers?

[ September 08, 2003, 03:57 AM: Message edited by: iwire ]

 

[tony_psuee]

Re: flying domestic airline

Kelley - I have not had a problem with carry on electrical equipment, and have checked all hand tools. To my knowledge, no airline is going to let you take hand tools on board. For hand tools I used a hard case and duct tape, or luggage with a cable tie. If you lock it, they will either not check it or pop the lock. The biggest problem is the inconsistency. The smaller airports will have more physical inspection of your checked and carry on baggage.

Tony

 

[Guest]

Re: flying domestic airline

Originally posted by iwire:

Originally posted by awwt:
You cannot drop anything over one pound in a mail box. It will be returned to sender, so make sure your return address is on it when you send it to yourself.

Wouldn't a package over a pound with the same address in the To and From fields cause some alarm to postal workers?

Good catch. I would hope so. I have wondered what would happen if you wanted to send something to somebody over a pound if you could address it to yourself and put them as the return address.

I don't want to take this thread too far off topic but I will add the following.

When the one pound rule first started I gave a 4-pound package to my mailman thinking that would satisfy the "hand it to mail personnel rule". The mailman was a temporary fill-in and about three weeks later the box came back to me with a note that I could not send a package over one-pound without going to the post office. When my mail man returned from vacation I asked him and he said that what he does is in such situations is hand-cancel handed over packages when he gets back to HQ.

Finally, I would hope that any over-one-pound packages are well inspected before being returned to their "sender". Sender in quotes as the return address can be spoofed-- just like these latest email viruses have spoofed return addresses.

It's all about our safety. It's annoying and time consuming but it's for our good.

../Wayne

PS: I was sending some bad computer parts back to a supplier recently and the supplier said NOT to use the US Mail because the current mail protocol is to irradiate ALL mail and the radiation will damage certain electronic items. Of course I wondered why they cared as my item was already broken-- but I guess they want the chance to test it to make sure it's broken before replacing it so I sent it UPS.

 

[tony_psuee]

Re: flying domestic airline

awwt-

Your point about the postage is something I forgot to mention on checking hand tools and equipment. Several airlines, United for sure, have added a surcharge to any checked bag over a certain weight. United it is $25 per piece over 50lbs.

tony