Traveling on the plane with your detector???

[Robert2300]

Has anyone here traveled with their detector on an air plane?
I'm wondering what the best kind of packing would be and if they
had any problems, especially with TSA and later customs when
traveling overseas. There was a brief news report of some 400
TSA people arrested for stealing.

I am a bit concerned and also about damaging the detector in the loading
and off loading as well as TSA and customs. I have not travel overseas
for many years...not since 1989 so don't know what to expect since this 911
thing changed the world.
Robt2300

 

[steve herschbach]

I have traveled extensively with my detectors. I usually just pack them in checked baggage and have never had a problem. I do not use a special case as I do not want to attract attention. I have also packed detector components in carry on luggage. Never had TSA blink an eye. I am headed to Phoenix on Friday and will be taking two detectors. Both will go in checked luggage. Pretty much a non-issue for me.

Steve Herschbach

 

[juantonio]

I traveled to and from miami and California with my bounty hunter in checked baggage and my whites DFX on my carry on. No problems what so ever. One of the TSS officers did say as it was going through the scanner what the hell is that lol

 

[scott565]

I have gone across the US the last 3 years with 3 detectors.
I take them apart and put the shafts in checked bags and the control boxes and coils in a carry-on bag.
I figure the shafts can take the rougher treatment and environmental conditions of the baggage hold, but I don't want the expensive electronics going there - plus if anything happens and the checked bag gets lost or shows up "incomplete", well, no telling when or what I would get back - and that could mean a ruined trip. I use clothes to keep the shafts well wrapped and do not let them contact the luggage walls so they don't get bumped or crushed.
Never had an issue with carrying the electronics, last time the bag got a longer scrutiny, but the only comment was "... you've got a lot of stuff in there."
Doing it this way at least keeps the expensive pieces totally under my control and treated more gently than a checked bag. Plus the shafts by themselves weigh little and generally do not require checking an additional bag just because I am transporting detectors.
Just be sure your carry-on will fit under a seat or in the overhead bins, otherwise they may require you to check the bag, which kind of defeats the purpose.
Even if you choose to put them totally in a checked bag, I would still take them apart and wrap them protectively.

 

[Big Digger]

I just recently flew with my Minelab Explorer and on the out going flight I had no problem at all, but on the return flight the TSA agent at the x-ray machine give me the a strange look and called another TSA agent over to look at the monitor the second agent and I then proceedded to have a conversation about the detector, he remove the detector from my carry on bag and exrayed it again, just a short delay. They were just doing there job.

 

[Lem]

I travel from the states to panama, was advised by american airlines, that all electronics should go in carryon, with batteries outside the detector. In connecticut, the
inspector simply pulled me aside, asked about the controls and then xray them, No hassles, I dont trust putting in the baggage below, as I have had
some of my baggage crushed.