Airline travel with metal detectors .....

[Ed SW Fla]

Got an E-mail forward from a friend who had heard that Delta would no longer allow detectors as a carry on item. They can only travel as checked baggage.

The original E-mailer called Delta and was finally able to speak with a real live USA person who confirmed this new Delta policy. The person said the other airlines will likely adopt the same policy.

I suspect there are two reasons for this policy change. #1, Airlines will make more money if the detector results in a second checked bag. Currently Delta allows only one checked bag without additional charge. #2, Due to the extra charge for additional bags, more travelers are trying to carry on a second bag for needed or fragile items, thus taking up time and too much space when boarding.

I've found when traveling, it is far easier to break down a detector and pack it within soft clothing in a suitcase. This also helps avoid extra time for inspection when going through airport security.

 

[Craig in Alabama]

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[Ed SW Fla]

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[Butch in Colorado]

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[therick]

the many other thrift stores in your area. If you can find one that is the right size, not too big, not too small, you can get a couple pf pieces of thick foam or padding and cut it down to size to fit into the suitcase. After that all you need to do is lay out your detector and accessories onto the foam padding and very carefully draw an outline of your equipment. Once you are satisfied with the results, get an x-acto blade or any other very sharp razor and cut out enough foam so that your stuff fits tightly into the foam cavities that you have created. I've seen old American Tourister hard cases transformed into detector cases and they are really neat. You may get lucky enough to get one with a lock and key as well but you may have to hit many thrift stores over the coming months to find just the right one.

Good luck and if anyone should do this, please post the results of your creativity. I've thought about doing one of these for years but I haven't found the right case yet and I forget about it from time to time.

therick

 

[Ed SW Fla]

... if you pack clothing all around the electronics portion of the detector. The coil and rods are tough. By the way, if you lock a suitcase, the TSA baggage inspectors may pry (break) the locks open if they don't have a pass key. If you want to lock luggage, use a TSA approved combo lock. You can set your own three digit code. TSA has a pass key that opens the padlock through a keyway in the bottom of the lock. They will cut off any regular padlock.
[attachment 99351 212317tsaapprovedlock.gif]

 

[dlm32]

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[Ed SW Fla]

.... like I said, pack it in your soft sided or hard sided luggage, the electronics padded with clothing .... clean clothing going out / dirty coming back

Haven't done it for years, but can you still specifically insure electronics / valuables in your luggage? Don't know, just asking. Even if insured, it would still ruin a detecting trip / vacation if the luggage was lost or equipment ripped off. That's another reason why I pack two detectors in two different bags. Knock on wood, haven't yet had a problem other than a rain soaked bag upon arrival in Manchester, UK several years ago. After getting to my B&B, and after using a hair dryer on the electronics of my White's machine ... it was all dried out and good to go.

 

[Ed SW Fla]

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[therick]

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[General Ray]

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[jeff & Maria]

I put part of it in my suitcase and part of it in my wifes suitcase that way If someone was going to steal something they would only get half. We mix our clothes in the two cases also instead of having a "his and hers" That way if a case gets temporarily lost we both have enough clothes until the case gets to the hotel. Much better than having to wear a dress.

 

[Ed SW Fla]

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[Elson(La)]

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