Q: "Why would anyone put tools in their carryon bags?"
A: Because they don't have any checked bags.
For short trips of 1-2 weeks in the warm Carribean, my wife and I have learned to pack light...really light.
We save a lot on not incurring baggage fees. If we need something, we buy it.
We take 2 std carryon and 2 personal items (backpacks/daypacks).
1 carryon has our clothes.
1 carryon has my dive equipment
(she does not dive)
I have been able to carry:
1-Zuma travel bc
1- pr dive boots
2- masks
2- snorkels
1- Stahlsac
1-pr gloves
1- AL Titan reg and 1st stage + hose
1- AL Air 3
1- Oceanic gauge set (bkup)
(depth/tank pressure) + hose
1- Suunto TX ( Vyper Air in pers bag)
1- ac power strip
1- usb charger
1- 18650 charger
1- battery powered spare dive light
(Batteries in pers bag)
2- L&M chargers (Sola 1200's in pers bag)
1-pr Tusa Hyflex fins
(bolt-on blades/removable footpockets)
1- med dry bag
Misc tools
All packed using my best Tetris skills.
Since it is warm water (82-86F) I use rash guards and no wetsuit.
The take-apart fins were what I needed to get the last piece of gear in the carryon.
Nothing above is top of the line, but all is quality equipment.
Yesterday I got my wrenches confiscated.
2-4" adj wrenches (I can replace)
1-thin 19mm x2.5" long wrench for my TX
(hard to find a thin one to fit b/w 1st and TX...maybe I'll add a small hose?)
I diverted the agents from the Allen keys
( I need one to put my fins together), the others are for my regs, and from my screwdriver bit set (it is In a plastic box, so it didn't look like a tool).
The agents said "No tools allowed".
I surrendered the adjustable wrenches, but begged for the thin wrench...then gave them that too.
Me, being me, looked up the rules later.
Summary: no
- power tools
- sharp/cutting objects
- working tools
"Tools that can be used to cause
severe injuries or damages to
aircrafts, including the following:
- Iron levers
. - Drills and gimlets, including
portable battery drills
-
Tools with blades or handles of
more than 6 cm long, that could be
used as weapons, such as
screwdrivers and chisels
...but no examples of wrenches?
- Saws
. - Blowlamp
. - Bolt pistols or nail guns
. -Blunt objects
. Objects that can be used to strike
and cause severe injuries, including
the following:
. - Baseball and softball bats
. - Nightsticks and sticks, such as
police nightsticks and
juggling
props ...really ? is this a better
example than, say, a hammer?
. - Martial arts equipment "
... but no examples of wrenches or
hammers ?
Actual doc here:
To me,
- my wrenches did not meet the 6cm handle requirement. Yes they were "working tools" but not going to cause "severe injury or damage to aircraft", which is what the intent was described as .
Allen keys don't seem to fit the intent either.
Wrenches seem like they fit "Blunt objects" but no tools were given as examples.
Thought about packing tools in my old lead-lined film bag... i still have from the old days, but figured if caught, I would be in bigger trouble for trying to smuggle them through customs.
So my solution will be to leave some tools with my diveshop, or a friend in Cozumel, or even mail them to my hotel, the next time I go because just like in the USA,
"You can't fight city hall"
Thanks for letting me ramble ...