New experience flying

[Elkins45]

I flew from Cincinnati to Las Vegas and back over the last two weeks for a trip to the Grand Canyon. As it would have been very inconvenient to have to track down all new camping gear should my bag have been lost I elected to have my bag receive special treatment. By this I mean I checked a handgun in my bag with all my gear. Two new things happened that didn’t occur the last time I flew with a gun, which was 2-3 years ago IIRC. First, they put a special label on my bag instructing that it not be placed on the carousel; I had to pick it up from the baggage office. Second, when I picked it up in LV there were giant thick zip ties around the long dimension of my bag. It was actually quite a pain to get them off, and the baggage lady asked that I please not open my bag until I was off the airport property.

I had the same “no carousel” sticker applied on the way home, but this time the zip tie was a tiny one and it was just thru the zipper pulls. I’m not sure if the zip ties are applied before the bag goes on the plane or after it arrives at the destination.

I guess that idiot that pulled a gun out of his checked bag and shot up an airport must have forced the airlines to take these new steps in the hope it might somehow lower their exposure? So as a PSA you might want to pack a small pair of side cutters in your carry-on if you fly with a gun in your bag, or some other sort of tool you can wedge into the connector to release the zip tie. The Vegas tie was one of those giant industrial things that could probably support hundreds of pounds. I wasn’t about to twist it loose with my hands.

 

[Craig_AR]

you might want to pack a small pair of side cutters in your carry-on

Uh, don't expect any such tool to make it through the carry-on screening. I know of a three inch crescent wrench on a key chain being confiscated at that point.

 

[Hokkmike]

Rules generally come about because of the actions of a least common denominator type person.

 

[Zahn]

Last year I few several times with a knife in my carry-on bag. I completely forgot about it. It is a folding, locking 2.5 inch blade cheapie knife. It went through an x-ray machine about 12 times over several months. I'm not bragging about being a scofflaw - I'm an idiot. But it was never caught. Of course, the blissful ignorance on my face didn't flag me or my bag for further review.

 

[whughett]

I simply can’t resist this. Do you by chance resemble your avatar.

 

[Zahn]

I simply can’t resist this. Do you by chance resemble your avatar.

Ever since I started working from home, yeah.

 

[Wimbo]

I flew out of Atlanta twice, once to Fort Lauderdale (same airport of the shooting) with 5 guns, and then to Denver with just my Glock and had no zip ties. Dunno what or who does that thing but I’ve heard it a lot.

 

[Havok7416]

I used to fly a lot - as in almost every day. For the longest time my bag would get extra scrutiny and no one would tell me why. After the 20th or 30th time this occurred with nothing being found, I ended up at a secondary, random checkpoint. The lady there opened my bag, reached right in and grabbed an 8-inch pair of metal sheers. I had put them there some time before and clearly forgotten about them.

If you plan on putting sharp objects in your bag, expect to receive a slightly different attitude from whoever is checking your bag. Also plan on continuing your trip sans whatever sharp object you initially had.

 

[earlthegoat2]

I simply can’t resist this. Do you by chance resemble your avatar.

A guy my age from my hometown was named Brian but everyone called him Alfred because he looks just like that.

 

[Captcurt]

A guy my age from my hometown was named Brian but everyone called him Alfred because he looks just like that.

We had a Beetle Juice.

 

[I6turbo]

From 2012 to about 2015 I flew a couple of time each year with several long guns and handguns in airline-approved cases. Every single time I had to pick my gun cases up from the baggage office or a door beside the carousel. They never put them on the carousel. Otherwise no problems at all. This was my favorite airline, Southwest.

Since about 2015 or 2016 I've just driven to my destination so that I can carry more guns, ammo, and equipment.

 

[hso]

side cutters

Nail clippers do fine with plastic zip ties and wont get a second glance.

 

[JohnKSa]

So as a PSA you might want to pack a small pair of side cutters in your carry-on if you fly with a gun in your bag, or some other sort of tool you can wedge into the connector to release the zip tie.

As long as they don't have a steel core, you can cut one really quickly using a piece of sturdy string. Just put the string through it, get a good grasp on each side and pull it back and forth rapidly while applying pressure. The string will melt/cut its way through the zip tie in a surprisingly short time.

 

[Elkins45]

Nail clippers do fine with plastic zip ties and wont get a second glance.

I’ve never seen a pair of nail clippers with jaws wide enough or strong enough to cut the industrial monstrosity they applied on the way out. I was fortunate I had a slim key on my keychain that I used to release the slider. My knife would have worked, but of course it was inside the bag.

 

[JCooperfan1911]

They almost took my P38 can opener from my wallet once.

Worst government outfit ever thought of. What I think of them is not allowed on the electronic boards.

 

[JohnKSa]

What's irritating is that when it comes to tools, they don't follow their own rules.

https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/whatcanibring/items/tools

Power tools and all tools longer than 7 inches (measured from end to end when assembled) are prohibited in carry-on baggage; these items must be packed in your checked bags.

Tools 7 inches or shorter (measured from end to end when assembled) are allowed in carry-on baggage.

 

[Ru4real]

What's irritating is that when it comes to tools, they don't follow their own rules.

https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/whatcanibring/items/tools

Those aren’t rules. Thats bait, and a way for TSA agents to get the free stuff they steal from you and me.

 

[TrickyDick]

I worked at an airport for a private security company patrolling the outside area, and I never realized what a joke the TSA was until I worked there. Talk about the bottom of the barrel employees, probably the most unqualified bunch I've ever seen, and I worked at McDonald's in high school

 

[Captcurt]

Haven't flown with a gun. but my wife had a pocket knife in her carry on. It is a skeletonized frame with a 2" blade. I guess that it looks like a hair barette because they didn't catch it. Been on 19 cruises and always had a knife in my shaving kit each time. I don't get off of the ship with it when in port, but it sure comes in handy onboard.

 

[Pat Riot]

How to open a zip tie without a knife or cutters:


How to open a cable tie with a knife or implement without cutting:


I have flown a lot. I hate flying because of the process of flying. The silly security rules and the inept unfriendly people in security and at service counters is a big part of that.

I have had TSA approved locks cut and removed. I have had them vanish. I have had baggage searched, I am sure, only because I zip tied my zippers. I have lost knives, multi tools and metal objects taken at security checkpoints without having the ability to mail them home. I have had similar objects stolen from my checked bags. Every airport seems to do things a little differently. What does not come under scrutiny at one airport does at another.

One thing I do with knives and tools in checked baggage is I put those items in a baggie and then put that baggie in a laundry bag with underwear. Clean or dirty underwear, it doesn’t matter. Since doing that on every flight I have never lost a knife or tool.

Flying with guns? I will no longer do it. I haven’t done it in years. The last time I was flying somewhere that I wanted to have a gun available I shipped the gun via FedEx to a gun dealer in the area and picked it up there. When I flew home he shipped it back to me. Sure, it cost me but I had no hassle at the airport. I have only done this once so my success rate is limited. One thing I learned was it would have cost me less, about half, if I would have sent the gun from and FFL to an FFL. The hassle with doing this is time. It takes 2 or 3 days each way for the gun whereas you get from place to place in a day. Oh, and I had to buy ammo at my destination. I gave the unused ammonia to the dealer that shipped my gun.

 

[dodo bird]

I flew from Cincinnati to Las Vegas and back over the last two weeks for a trip to the Grand Canyon. As it would have been very inconvenient to have to track down all new camping gear should my bag have been lost I elected to have my bag receive special treatment. By this I mean I checked a handgun in my bag with all my gear. Two new things happened that didn’t occur the last time I flew with a gun, which was 2-3 years ago IIRC. First, they put a special label on my bag instructing that it not be placed on the carousel; I had to pick it up from the baggage office. Second, when I picked it up in LV there were giant thick zip ties around the long dimension of my bag. It was actually quite a pain to get them off, and the baggage lady asked that I please not open my bag until I was off the airport property.

I had the same “no carousel” sticker applied on the way home, but this time the zip tie was a tiny one and it was just thru the zipper pulls. I’m not sure if the zip ties are applied before the bag goes on the plane or after it arrives at the destination.

I guess that idiot that pulled a gun out of his checked bag and shot up an airport must have forced the airlines to take these new steps in the hope it might somehow lower their exposure? So as a PSA you might want to pack a small pair of side cutters in your carry-on if you fly with a gun in your bag, or some other sort of tool you can wedge into the connector to release the zip tie. The Vegas tie was one of those giant industrial things that could probably support hundreds of pounds. I wasn’t about to twist it loose with my hands.

Just wanted to say to the op. Your right that is a pain to deal with. That being said. I work for the airlines and wanted to thank you for flying. Rough times right now and I appreciate your business no matter what airline you fly.

 

[Bfh_auto]

I simply can’t resist this. Do you by chance resemble your avatar.

If he does. He doesn't need a firearm...

 

[whughett]

In these pages at least it would seem the people tasked with keeping us safe in the skies aren’t very well thought of, but then neither are those tasked with enforcing the laws of our nation.Perhaps it’s a human trait to resist those in authority.
JMO.

 

[Speedo66]

In these pages at least it would seem the people tasked with keeping us safe in the skies aren’t very well thought of, but then neither are those tasked with enforcing the laws of our nation.Perhaps it’s a human trait to resist those in authority.
JMO.

While they hassle ordinary travelers, they are particularly inept at stopping actual threats, as shown by their constant failures in threat tests.

They are also the sloppiest uniform force I've ever seen, in dress, physical appearance, and manner.

 

[hso]

I’ve never seen a pair of nail clippers with jaws wide enough or strong enough to cut the industrial monstrosity they applied on the way out.

I've seen plastic zip ties I expect I'd spend quite a bit of time nipping through using the "toenail" clippers I pack, though. A nip to opposite sides and a few twists back and for might (maybe) break the monster ties.