canister lights on airplanes

[Potapko]

I did a search and couldn't come up with an answer so forgive me if I am duplicating something.

I am preparing to fly to the states from Europe and need information from you traveling types. What are the requirements to take this large bomb-looking device on the airplane? Will they allow the batteries? Will it need to be opened for inspection? Can they determiine with the x-ray, that the contents are only a battery? I plan to check it through, but wasn't sure if I would be better to show it at check-in and deal with it then? How many checked bags are they x raying these days. I suspect very few. Thanks for the help,

Jeff

 

[MSilvia]

I don't know the exact answer, but the last time I flew with dive gear I was able to have them X-ray and inspect my checked baggage while I was present, and answer any questions. I'd think that your light would cause them to ask some reasonable questions, but a quick explaination and demo would probably be enough to convince them that yes... it's just a very powerful underwater light.

 

[kidspot]

Jeff, I think I'd be tempted to hand carry mine, except perhaps the battery. Maybe stuff other fragile carry on items in the canister to protect them.

Tim

 

[Uncle Pug]

Shane and I recently took our canister lights in our carry-ons to Alaska from Seattle. No problem including the battery.. they did inspect them and use a swab to detect for the presence of explosives.

I don't know if there will be a difference coming from Europe. I would definitely refrain from joking or making comments that it *looks like a bomb* and you should be fine.

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

I recently took my Terkel light to Bonaire ... through security at Seattle, DFW, Miami, Curacao, Bonaire, Port-Au-Prince, and LAX (all the airports we visited round-trip).

I carried both it and my SEU's NiteRider in my backpack. The battery for the NiteRider is integrated into the canister ... you can't take it out. The battery for the Terkel light looks like three sticks of dynamite taped together with a couple of wires sticking out.

At every stop I had to watch while my backpack was searched. They run a little wiper pad over everything and check it for explosives, then they let you repack it and go on your way.

A minor inconvenience ... at worst.

FWIW - our checked bag containing our dive gear was searched by TSA in both directions.

So my recommendation is hand-carry the light. Make it easy to get to, and easy to repack. Keep a friendly demeanor. It'll work out just fine ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[Mo2vation]

I never fly to dive - but in July we did a trip to Mexico and another trip to FL.

On both trips, we tossed our can lights into the reg bags. I'm glad we did. At LAX we went in circles with the guy, trying to convince him it WAS a flashlight.

When he called over his supervisor, the supervisor saw the regs, and our story held water.

Me so funny.

Seriously - the LAX guy in the way to Mexico was not buying the flashlight story until his supervisor saw the regs and let us through.

K

 

[lairdb]

I would definitely refrain from joking or making comments that it *looks like a bomb* and you should be fine.

Indeed -- I occasionally, and others who work in my department frequently, have to hand-carry odd bits of half-assembled electronics.

If questioned, using terms like "unusual looking" or "not your everyday carry-on" acknowledges that you have something out of the ordinary, without for a moment admitting that it's something that ought to be considered suspicious.

Never use the B-word, not even to say "that's not a B-thing", don't joke about anything. (At least in the U.S., the court system works fairly well, but very very slowly. Civil liberty arguments aside, it's best not to wake the sleeping dog.)

 

[Potapko]

thanks for the advice, and yes, we have also traveled enough after 9/11 to realize that the airport security have no sense of humor about these things at all. A friends daughter, just a typical 15 yr old went through the detector and 10 feet away said to her friend, "I made it". It took an hour for them to get out of the security office.

Anyway, This light is a local company's design. Stainless steel tube, 3.5" in diameter and a foot long. Built like a tank could run over it and not damage it. Tested to 300 meters. Nearly impossible to open! My biggest question was to check it or carry it. I will be with my family, 6 of us and 12 suitcases so extra carry-ons are not a blessing. I would check it without question if I felt sure they wouldn't find it and just take it out thinking it was something else.

Then I arrive in the states and it is missing, no explanation. If they found it and came to get me, that wouldn't be so bad.

anyway.........thanks

 

[padiscubapro]

I did a search and couldn't come up with an answer so forgive me if I am duplicating something.

I am preparing to fly to the states from Europe and need information from you traveling types. What are the requirements to take this large bomb-looking device on the airplane? Will they allow the batteries? Will it need to be opened for inspection? Can they determiine with the x-ray, that the contents are only a battery? I plan to check it through, but wasn't sure if I would be better to show it at check-in and deal with it then? How many checked bags are they x raying these days. I suspect very few. Thanks for the help,

Jeff

I usually have all my cannister stuff in my checked baggage.. Never had a problem. Lats trip my bags were a bit heavy so I decided to put the battery pack in my carry on luggage.. BIG Mistake... after 30 mins at the security checkpoint I had to check the battery or lose it..

 

[Tom Winters]

Every time I go through an airport anywhere, I get called into the back security area when they open my bag. The backplates are the main thing that set the screeners off, but wrapped battery packs draw attention also. If you try to take something through in your carry-on that arouses suspicion, you better have the time to explain or check it if you have to -> if you're running late for a gate and don't have time to check it, it's history.