This will be the first time I have flown in several years and it is to my understanding that since 911, the airline regs has change considerable. I am concerned with what I can take and what I will have to purchase once arriving in GA. I know the Fuel is out, but what about my knife and fork and other cooking utensils. Can anyone give me some forethought on this? Thanks, Spacewalker
Spacewalker
I just spoke to Nancy up at the Hike Inn in Fontana about the same thing…I am ground shipping everything I can up to them, just so i don’t have to worry about it. If you choose to take stuff with you, just know the inspections can be intense or nothing. I have gotten through with little trouble BUT have been stopped for significant time with things like you described…Nancy said in certain cases hikers arrive at the airport with their pack on the next plane, simply b/c the authorities are more suspicious of the packs. Anyway, Space, forward as much stuff as you can and be as careful with the other stuff. If you have to buy something in GA, it’s better than being interrogated in airport jail! Happy trails.
Rashberry
Yes fuel is out but as long as you check your pack then everything else is fine, including knives. a good thing to do is put the pack inside a cheap duffle to protect the straps from being ripped off along the way, the sorting machines were not designed with loose straps in mind.
Zaphod
Check this link below out, tells 99% of what you need to know. BTW most airlines and/or TSA will not allow stoves or fuel bottles on board, even if they have never been used. Put your pack in a big re-usable laundry or duffle bag (so the straps won’t get hung on the conveyeor) and put in checked luggage.
Some folks have tried wrapping the pack in plastic and duct tape, but if TSA has to search it they won’t re-wrap it, so that’s why it’s better to have a re-usable system like a duffle bag.
http://www.tsa.gov/public/display?theme=40&content=09000519800a91aa
RockyTrail
Most airlines didn’t allow stoves with integral fuel tanks even before 9/11. Stoves with external fuel tanks (like the MSR) were usually OK if they were in checked luggage. But not anymore. Fuel bottles were always chancy - some people lost brand new fuel bottles. OTOH, there were persistent stories of people who’d shipped or carried full fuel bottles. All of this depended on the airline policies, the on-site inspectors and pure-dee luck. In 1997 I started shipping my stove and other “possibly” hazardous stuff UPS to where I was gonna hike. It was easier than dealing with the bureaucracy. It’s even more so now.
Something else to think about - some people think their hiking poles can go with them on the aircraft. And some people have gotten away with it. But now there are at least 2 airlines that will “insist” that you check them before they’ll allow you on the plane - regardless of whether or not the TSA people let you through with them.
Jim
I have flown out of Atlanta several times to hike since 911. Once, the airport checker went through every single pocket/pack in my backpack. Luckily he missed my can of pepper(bear) spray. I then had to hurry to repack and not miss my flight. The other two times, not a single pocket/pack was checked. Who knows? You may not get checked or they could at least make you repack your pack.
Zydecajun
Other people said it already…no fuel, mail your stove ahead of time, used stoves (even once) may have enough residue from fuel to set off the alarm, and all stoves may look like something quite different in an x-ray machine…better to play it safe and mail it ahead and buy fuel on location then risk missing a flight due to time spent explaining yourself to a bunch of ex-rent-a-cops who now feel empowered with their completely unregulated government jobs…
Since 9/11, I have had to spend 45 minutes in line clearing my side-arm for transport in my baggage…this is after the 60 minutes I spent on the phone with TSA and 45 minutes with the airline security prior to all this to make sure I knew the regulations and procedures…airlines destroyed $5000 in specialized film that was undeveloped, even though it had already been cleared with the airport and TSA that the film was coming through, absolutely could NOT be x-rayed regardless of how “safe” their x-ray was (TSA said no problem, in a letter no less), and I had accompanying letters from both sending and receiving institutions, Kodak, the NIH (who was roaylly pissed, it was their money!!), and of all, TSA. Fruit fly cultures that were sealed (cleared ahead of time, as always), and finally, when I took my pets. I spent an hour explaining to them that 1) no, they will die very quickly in the hold due to both pressure and temperature drops, being much more sensitive then mammals are…2) I have the fax from the TSA administrator for this airport, please call him on his line provided in the fax for clearance…3) no, you cannot touch them, I put them in a clear plastic container that you can easily see throughout…4) no, you cannot violently shake the plastic container just to see if they will move for you…and 5), “I understand sir, you are proud that your family has inbred for 5 generations and you are the smartest one, having made it all the way through the 3rd grade, and now have a government job (READ: formerly a rent-a-cop), I promise not to take them out mid-flight to hop around and play with the kids.” I don’t think I said it quite THAT way, but I was definitely thinking that way. And although I obviously couldn’t tell the security officers this, their POISON DART FROGS YOU IDIOT!!! Play with them, let the kids touch them??? Are you nucking futs??..I did eventually get through, sans x-ray, and to my destination…my PDF’s are happy once again…maybe it wold have been worth it though to say “why, yes sir, try picking up that minty-green coloured one, he’s is friendly, and also the most poisoness animal known in the world, and even though in captivity, still will induce pain worse then kidney stones and giving birth to an IRS agent, combined.”
sincerely, :smokin
-xtn
airferret
After our last big trek, my son and I had to take an unplanned re-route to get to the airport we needed to go to; it was a one-way flight and we had bought tickets over the phone only 3 hours earlier. We got to the airport and checked our packs in checked luggage.
When we arrived at the security checkpoint, they politely pulled each of us and said that we “both had been Randomly selected for security checks.” With over 100+ folks on the plane, I figure the odds of that is less than 1 in 10,000 (hey why don’t I have that kind of luck everyday :-). The funny thing is they searched every bit of carry-on, even toothpaste etc but never touched the packs (maybe the smell did it ha ha).
We just smiled and went along with it, I wish they were that nice at our home airport.
RockyTrail
Due considerations should be given to 49CFR (The volume of the Code of Federal Regulations concerning the transportation of hazardous goods) and IATA (similar regulations from the International Air Transportation Association).
My fuel cannister is clearly marked UN2037, and the placard for a Class 2 (flammable gas). This is prohibited from air transportation without a hefty fee, and an dangerous goods form filled out by a qualified person. It does have a DOT Exemption, but I doubt that clears it for air transport. (That probably permits me to carry it througha tunnel in my car.)
Some hazardous goods are permitted in limited quantities, mostly in checked luggage. Such Class 9 hazards as spray deodorant, a cigarette lighter, and possibly even pepper spray. Class 4 (spontaneously combustible) items such as the lithium battery in my watch are permitted as carry on.
These are hazardous goods regulations, and do not reflect the Big Brother attitude of anti-terrorism laws. I carry my penknife in checked luggage when and if I fly. The same should be true of anything that might be construed to be dangerous.
Harry Dolphin
All good comments so far; in addition to checking out the Federal regs, be aware that EVERY individual airline has its own policies on what is acceptable, what isn’t, what can be OK if it’s checked; what can be carried aboard, etc. It would probably be wise to contact the individual airline if you have any questions or doubts in addition to checking Federal regs.
While we’re on the subject, be aware that postal regs have also changed; any post office can give you information on what can be mailed, what can’t, etc. Be aware that some stuff that can’t be air-mailed can be OK’ed if it’s clearly labelled for GROUND transport only. Also, be aware that UPS, FedEx, etc. policies are disfferent from the USPS rules, so make sure you check ALL applicable rules/regs depending on how you’re sending your stuff.
All Shipping Companies and the Post Office have this sort of information on-line, as do many airlines, but you should probably talk to a real person if you have very specific questions regarding stoves, knives, self-defense items, etc. And it probably can’t hurt to get the name of the person you’ve spoken with in case there’s any sort of problem later.
Lastly, be aware that these new laws and regulations are for your safety and security, and the various “inconveniences” involved are sure worth the alternative. If adequate security had been in place on 9/11 2001 regarding what folks could bring onto planes, who could fly on US airlines, who could learn how to fly jets, and who was allowed into the country in the first place, well, we wouldn’t be having this discussion.
The new rules and regs are in place for our safety, and are worth the inconvenience; by getting the necessary info BEFORE going to the airport, we can all lessen whatever inconvenience we might encounter.
B. Jack
this is just how scary our airlines still are. i went from indi to baltimore to visit a friend a couple weeks back. well, i was getting ready to go hiking for a three day stint and couldn’t find my leatherman wave. i finally found it in my backpack. the scary part was that the wave was in my backpack (remember, the carry on?). it went through indi and bwi! i could have been arrested for such an act- if they had caught it during inspection. i didn’t know the knife was in there! scary eh?
steelhead
Well it seems I will be forking more money than just buying the airline ticket. So I think I will just walk. Far cheaper.
Spacewalker
Even though it takes a little longer, AMTRAK is a better choice if you are traveling to Georgia (Gainesville) or a combination AMTRAK and Bus to Maine (Boston and then bus north).
Still – Fuel is verboten but it is almost always available at either end of the AT (and of course places inbetween).
My experience on AMTRAK to Georgia was without hassles. And the Hiker Hostel (www.hikerhostel.com) provided transportation to the trailhead for less than the local Taxi companies.
Skylander
Skylander