PSA Don't Fly With a

[Jsf721]

Williams ratcheting screwdriver.

They just took mine away ? Why because it is over 7". I got to keep the tips and the back cap but lost the actual body of the tool.

Going down to Florida to visit my in laws and I usually fix a bunch of little things.

Looks like I'll need to pick up a junk driver.

Glad it want a snap on-lol

 

[MikeF2316]

Yeah, I don't carry on anything I won't mind losing. If there's any doubt, I just check my bag, even if it's carry on size.

 

[Todd.Brock]

How do field service technicians transport their tools? There has to be a ruling or a way around- i.e.- checked baggage

 

[pcmeiners]

"They just took mine away ? Why because it is over 7".
No, they are afraid you are a suicide GJer, capable of disassembling the plane in flight.

 

[ratdoggy]

How do field service technicians transport their tools? There has to be a ruling or a way around- i.e.- checked baggage

They check them but even then TSA goes through some and will confiscate stuff.

 

[terpfords]

I had a last minute call to go out of town, not enough time to plan for shipping, and checked 2 tool boxes in as luggage. Lol

 

[Lassen Forge]

They check them but even then TSA goes through some and will confiscate stuff.

Especially if it's Snap-On. Never know when that full set of 3/8 ratchets are going to go off in someone's luggage...

Seriously, tho... I've never had anything go missing from my luggage, maybe it's because I also travel with at least my CCW pistol and occasionally my competition firearms, and when you declare them (by law) they check my baggage right in front of me and have me lock it in front of them. None of this "backroom sticky finger hidey hole shenanigans"...

 

[driftpin]

A funny story about screwdrivers on airplanes: My 3 y.o. grandson was traveling w/mommy & daddy. They were waiting to depart. The flight attendant made an announcelent that the flight departure was delayed because the ground maintenance crew had to check something first.

As the flight attendant was walking by him, my grandson told her, "if they need to fix the plane first, they probably need a screwdriver!" He knows which way to turn to loosen/tighten, and the difference beteween a phillips and a slot screwdriver. He also recently told me, "knurling gives you good grip!" He's such a sponge, I love his interest.

 

[Bdgjr215]

Just got back from a florida vacation a couple weeks back,what a dog and pony show the
TSA are.They confiscated a Disney snow globe from us and treated me like a criminal for
It.Funny thing is,if I was criminal minded It didnt take but a minute to see how you could get on a plane with a weapon and not get caught.
They exist to make everyone"feel" safe.

 

[Jackfre]

I fly a lot for work and do technical trainings. I carry DMM's, manometers, hand tools, etc. I always check my bags. That said I have left the little Swiss Army knives, which I must use 20 times a day, at airports all over North America.

 

[JJThrasher]

How do field service technicians transport their tools? There has to be a ruling or a way around- i.e.- checked baggage

They check them. My dad has been flown to South America several times with a large rolling toolbox that the company pays to have flown as an overweight checked bag.

 

[adam728]

Tools go in checked baggage. I've traveled all over the world with tools and equipment that way.

 

[ChevyEFI]

Even in 2002, the airline made me check an SK 7.5" ratchet, an extension, and 10 lug nuts. Idiocy.

 

[IndyGarage]

Just got back from a florida vacation a couple weeks back,what a dog and pony show the
TSA are.They confiscated a Disney snow globe from us and treated me like a criminal for
It.Funny thing is,if I was criminal minded It didnt take but a minute to see how you could get on a plane with a weapon and not get caught.
They exist to make everyone"feel" safe.

Taking your snow globe and making you feel like a criminal is done for three reasons. The first one you mention. The second one is to make them feel like they are doing something important and not get complacent with it (if they didn't take common harmless items there would be very little for them ot do).

The third one is psychological and the most important. They want everyone slightly nervous when going through security - Have you ever noticed they have people walking through the line observing you as you stand in line? Sometimes they will remark about the weather or ask you a question, sometimes they just look. They are looking for levels of nervousness and people trying to hide something will often check to make sure it's well hidden at that point.

There are huge security holes that are not covered. They just assume most don't know about them, and those that do don't want to lose the ability to use them, so they don't tell.

 

[LS6 Tommy]

A family friend that was visiting from Denmark brought my cousin a 2.5' x 4' x 3/4" MDF bar sign made by the Absolut custom shop. He had wrapped it in bubble wrap and cardboard and checked it as luggage...

Tommy

 

[SteveCh]

It does **** that one cannot carry such tools aboard, but there is not one person on the planet who does not know one cannot do it. Try to do so and you lose it.

 

[LS6 Tommy]

IDK, it's common knowledge that those items are banned. If you REALLY need to take it with you and can't afford to give it up, put it in your checked baggage. No big deal...

Tommy

 

[Falcon67]

Tools go in checked baggage. I've traveled all over the world with tools and equipment that way.

Or ship it ahead. Probably safer. I'd never approach a TSA checkpoint with anything like a screwdriver, let alone a whole tool bag. I'd think a tool bag in checked baggage would be way over the airline liability limits should it become lost.

Just got back from a florida vacation a couple weeks back,what a dog and pony show the
TSA are.They confiscated a Disney snow globe from us and treated me like a criminal for
It.Funny thing is,if I was criminal minded It didnt take but a minute to see how you could get on a plane with a weapon and not get caught.
They exist to make everyone"feel" safe.

IMHO do what a few people do - read up before you fly. Rules are very clear:
"Snow globes that appear to contain less than 3.4 ounces of liquid (approximately tennis ball size) can be packed in your carry-on bag ONLY if the entire snow globe, including the base, is able to fit into your one quart-sized, resealable plastic bag."

Don't like the rules, don't fly.

 

[ard]

Over the last 10 years I've averaged 120k actual flight miles a year...on rare occasion when I would find I had a tool in a bag that TSA had issues with, I will jump out of line- ask 'can I come back to the front after I check this?' (They almost always say yes) then find a spot to hide the item in the terminal. Checking it usually takes WAY too much time. A potted plant, a ceiling tile in a bathroom, etc,etc. There are hundreds of spots where nobody will look until the next time I return in days or a week. Worst case, you lose the item- just like if you give it to TSA.

Flyertalk.com has a TSA subforum if you want stories of idiocy

 

[Bdgjr215]

Or ship it ahead. Probably safer. I'd never approach a TSA checkpoint with anything like a screwdriver, let alone a whole tool bag. I'd think a tool bag in checked baggage would be way over the airline liability limits should it become lost.



IMHO do what a few people do - read up before you fly. Rules are very clear:
"Snow globes that appear to contain less than 3.4 ounces of liquid (approximately tennis ball size) can be packed in your carry-on bag ONLY if the entire snow globe, including the base, is able to fit into your one quart-sized, resealable plastic bag."

Don't like the rules, don't fly.

Read the rules and the globe did way less than that and when I pointed that out
That's when the TSA agent copped an attitude , but I'm there with my wife and kid and not about to argue over a ten dollar snow globe with a ten dollar an hour rent a cop.I have better things to do with my time.
How bout they stick with the rules they set!!

 

[BonzoHansen]

You can't take small souvenir bats like the 18" ones you can buy at the stadiums.

 

[Richard Cranium]

And there isn't a single one of them only making 10.00 per hours.
They are not rent a cops either.
That is a federal badge on their chest.
Interfering with them is a federal crime. In other words a federal felony, plus you can be banned from flying ever again.
Yes you hit a nerve. No I don't work for the tsa.
Richard D. Cranium

 

[Steve91T]

TSA have way too much power for their skill/education level.

 

[Thumper68]

IMO they are trying to do a ****** *** job the best they can, dealing with cranky travelers and all the other bs.

If you don't like the rules then drive....

 

[Bdgjr215]

And there isn't a single one of them only making 10.00 per hours.
They are not rent a cops either.
That is a federal badge on their chest.
Interfering with them is a federal crime. In other words a federal felony, plus you can be banned from flying ever again.
Yes you hit a nerve. No I don't work for the tsa.
Richard D. Cranium

All figures of speech and so sorry your "nerves" are hit and don't care if you work for the TSA,I'm simply stating what I encountered at the Orlando airport.
If taking a snow globe onto an airplane and asking a question gets me banned from fying, I probly don't want to anyway,Richard

 

[3baygarage]

I brought a bunch of tools home in checked luggage. You have to watch the weight regulations too.

The 7 inch carry on rule I was well aware of though.

I was nervous about my tablet and charger being accepted carry on so I asked an officer. He said just have it out. Everything went fine.

I don't travel a lot but was impressed with the speed which things move at security.

 

[ratdoggy]

I did think it was funny as one time we were flying they gave us plastic knives and real forks....Also real glasses

 

[Falcon67]

>How bout they stick with the rules they set!!

For that, I would have asked for a supervisor. If an attitude comes out - and it's not out of me - time to move things up the chain.

 

[Jsf721]

Supervisor told me I could go out put it in a checked bag and wait on security line again. Thus missing flight and paying 50 bucks for a second checked bag. Gate check not possible either. It was 24 bucks and I get the safety aspect although if they knew me I would be more likely to help the good guys if something went down than ever hurt anyone.


I get it, and yes it should have been checked but I really did not think it was a problem. My wife's hair brush has a Pinter handle and that slides right through. Lol.

>How bout they stick with the rules they set!!

For that, I would have asked for a supervisor. If an attitude comes out - and it's not out of me - time to move things up the chain.

 

[Bdgjr215]

>How bout they stick with the rules they set!!

For that, I would have asked for a supervisor. If an attitude comes out - and it's not out of me - time to move things up the chain.

I know but as I've gotten older and "wiser" I try to pick my battles in order of
Importance,and that one there wasn't that important.I had just spent ten great
Days in florida in perfect weather,and I wasn't rocking that boat with my wife.
Even funnier was I walk over to this gift shop after we got to the secure part of the airport to get my son some earplugs
And they had a similiar snow globe for sale.So of course I bought it just to bring over to my wife and laugh about how silly they are.

 

[slow]

Flaw back from Detroit with a $19.99 husky ratchet set no issues.

Figured I would try worse case I had to get rid of it (I would have just offered it to people arriving vs trashing it)

It was $25 to check a bag and I only paid 20 for the took.kit so it was worth the risk. No issue it now resides back in Florida.

 

[Toothaker]

I didn't know about the snow globe rules. Good thing, too, because on one of my last trips I bought a snow globe for my daughter. I got it in the airport in the gate area - behind the security lines - at one of the gift shops. It was about the size of a grapefruit. They had even bigger for sale.

 

[Jazz1]

I got on a carrier with a box of Hong Kong made folding scissors my BIL found at scrapyard. Security asked why I had so many keychains so she got the whole story. I was sure she would toss them but she allowed them on. Security and her co worker were both aware I had 24 pairs of scissors

 

[gte718p]

And there isn't a single one of them only making 10.00 per hours.
They are not rent a cops either.
That is a federal badge on their chest.
Interfering with them is a federal crime. In other words a federal felony, plus you can be banned from flying ever again.
Yes you hit a nerve. No I don't work for the tsa.
Richard D. Cranium

A good number of TSA "agents" are rent a cops. Interfering with them may be a federal crime, but so is tampering with a smoke detector in the lavatory of an air plane or interfering with a flight attendant on an airplane. Littering in DC is a federal crime. I can list stupid federal laws all day.

The list is out of date, go figure but here is the information directly from TSA.
https://www.tsa.gov/for-industry/screening-partnerships.

Once this is completely implemented most TSA agents will be rent a cops:
https://www.govconwire.com/2016/06/...3b-nationwide-airport-security-sreening-idiq/

I have a friend who owns a security firm who has the contract on two major airports and is bidding on another right now. The same folks could be working at the mall one week, and the airport the next. To be fair there is some training involved but not much. They pay minimum wage.

The TSA's purpose is to made sheep feel safe. They are an annoying waste of money. There own test show they fail 95% of the time. The article is from 2015, but they had a similar performance in 2016.

Thankfully there are good people in a plethora of three letter agencies that are doing the heavy lifting. They do a good job, but you don't see them. As a result the majority of people don't feel protected.

 

[racer-john]

Maybe the moderators should change the heading of this forum to TSA. I thought it was going to be about prostate tests.

 

[WhiskeyRanger]

Don't like the rules, don't fly.

Or point out the idiocy of the rules and fight to get them changed.

 

[teamextreme]

FYI, PSA = Public Service Announcement,
FYI, FYI = For Your Information.

I'm not sure why everyone is loosing items. I've lost 2 nice pair of Leatherman pliers years ago, but those were years ago. Recently, in the last 5 years or so, they have installed mail-it-to-yourself stations right there at security that they let you use. I've made the Leatherman mistake myself since then and they just let me step aside, do the mailer, then carry on. I seem to rember it being around $12. At least this is in my local airport, maybe not everyone has this feature.

 

[Falcon67]

Or point out the idiocy of the rules and fight to get them changed.

Yes, agree - However one person in the security line handing out that point and "fighting for change" is not going to change anything, they are just going to irritate the hell out of the agents and everyone else. The airport doesn't seem to be the place to make a stand on the rules - that would really seem to be the House Oversight Committee.

https://oversight.house.gov/hearing/examining-management-practices-and-misconduct-at-tsa-part-i/

If you got a couple of thousand people at the airport to block operations in civil protest, and it spread to other airports - THEN maybe the tyrants would begin to take notice. Otherwise, IMHO you're ******* in the fan and thinking it's raining

 

[WhiskeyRanger]

Yes, agree - However one person in the security line handing out that point and "fighting for change" is not going to change anything, they are just going to irritate the hell out of the agents and everyone else. The airport doesn't seem to be the place to make a stand on the rules - that would really seem to be the House Oversight Committee.

https://oversight.house.gov/hearing/examining-management-practices-and-misconduct-at-tsa-part-i/

If you got a couple of thousand people at the airport to block operations in civil protest, and it spread to other airports - THEN maybe the tyrants would begin to take notice. Otherwise, IMHO you're ******* in the fan and thinking it's raining

I don't think anyone was advocating having a temper tantrum in the security line. But (as noted) there are also better options than "deal with it or don't fly."

 

[NUTTSGT]

Maybe the moderators should change the heading of this forum to TSA. I thought it was going to be about prostate tests.

How about we just close it. It seems every thread that is started concerning the TSA evolves into a bitchfest or ******* match with name calling.