TSA and checked luggage cue info question.

Pete1175

Pete1175

Registered
I am planning to put a cue in my checked baggage for a trip at the end of the month. Has anyone got any info regarding things to do or not to do? Do I inform the people when checking in? I am concerned that when they xray the bag they will wonder "what the hell is this?" Any comments or advise will be appreciated.
 
As for the TSA....
I used to always carry my laptop in my carry-on. Then when they made a ban on liquids on-board (2005?), I had to check my carry-on. The first such flight, my checked bag completely disappeared. I think the X-ray operator got himself a new computer. I asked a friend of mine who is a federal prosecutor about the chance of recovery. He said that if they got enough complaints about a specific airport, they would install surveillance cameras, but they were not routinely watching baggage handling.

The airline payment for them losing your luggage does not include computers or anything expensive. I suppose that's not unreasonable since you have no proof of what was in the lost bag. For that matter, they don't know whether your buddy picked it up off the carrousel for you and then you just faked being heartbroken over losing your ten ounces of gold coins.

Bottom line: don't check anything that you wouldn't be willing to give to a stranger.
 
Thanks Bob, that has been my overall philosophy with checked bags. I have no experience with cue sticks in checked bags however. I was thinking they would see an elongated object in the x-ray and want to tear my bag apart. Thanks for the info.
 
Pete1175 said:
... I was thinking they would see an elongated object in the x-ray and want to tear my bag apart. ...
Click to expand...
It is forbidden to lock your luggage with a lock that the TSA can't open. The recommended locks can be opened in about five seconds with simple tools and a little knowledge. People also sell sets of TSA keys that will open all such TSA approved locks. I think there are six keys in the set.

The TSA probably won't break anything, but if you are an "excessively fastidious" packer, you may not like the rearrangement.
 
If you have something you don't want to lose AND you're flying to a state where firearms laws permit you to legally transport/carry, check your important stuff in a case with a firearm at the airport. It can even be an AR-15 lower with no rest of the rifle, a pistol with no mag, whatever.

I've done other posts on it you can search for. It's the easiest way to ensure you have a locked case that only YOU have the key to. And you can put on a real nice lock.
 
HomeBrewer said:
If you have something you don't want to lose AND you're flying to a state where firearms laws permit you to legally transport/carry, check your important stuff in a case with a firearm at the airport. It can even be an AR-15 lower with no rest of the rifle, a pistol with no mag, whatever.

I've done other posts on it you can search for. It's the easiest way to ensure you have a locked case that only YOU have the key to. And you can put on a real nice lock.
Click to expand...
Does it require an inspection before it is locked at departure?
 
Bob Jewett said:
Does it require an inspection before it is locked at departure?
Click to expand...

It does mean you have to stand in line at the airline counter to declare it. The airline folks then call a TSA person to whom you show the weapon for an inspection to ensure it is unloaded (really nothing more). The agent watches you lock the weapon into a case for which only you have a key (note the actual law here that requires that ONLY YOU have a key to this case now).

And off you go. Neat thing is that when they then put your weapon's case through a scanning machine just for you (ever notice that big scanner somewhere that never seems to get used?) it gets loaded from there and you can proceed through security without any luggage to scan, provided that was your only bag.

FYI I used a Pelican case that the rest of my stuff was in, locked with two Abus Diskus padlocks, keyed differently from one another of course. When I used to do physical security consulting (breaking into places legally) I would fly with about $1k worth of lock picks, custom bypass tools, etc. and didn't want them stolen. Interestingly, nobody ever even asked the first question about them, hahaha.
 
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