Flying with stove

imported
#1

I’m going to the AT in two weeks with my Trangia alcohol stove. Will the airlines allow me to check it with my pack as baggage. I understand it must be empty but I’ve heard some people have trouble shipping empty stoves even if they’re empty.

daddy

#2

Trangia does not make stoves. What you have is oriental tea ceremony equipment. These are not regulated by the FTA.

Blue Jay

#3

Whether it’s a tea set or stove, Salt Lake City security confiscated my alcohol “heating unit” in the summer of 2002, even tho’ it was not in their display case of forbidden backpacking stoves, and held me up for over an hour. Had I not gone to the airport hours early, I would have missed my flight. Haven’t decided what I’ll do when we fly out west this Oct. for more backpacking.

kathy

#4

I packed my knife and butane stove, no can, last year in the checked bags and had no probs. We left our bags unlocked, packs inside travel duffles with the “contraband” outside of the packs just in case they wanted to snag them. That was before the full 3D scanning I think though. You can always make a Pepsi stove when you get there since you’ll have to buy fuel anyway.

Bushwhack

#5

Avoid the issue altogether by taking Esbit fuel tabs and the tiny Esbit “stove,” (call it a spitoon or something else if you must, it’s only a little collapsible box). You’ll get through security, and go light too.

“Skyline”

#6

From a freight-forwarding point of view, there are IATA exemptions for ‘items for personal use’ that might otherwise be prohibited. This would include things like hair spray (which otherwise is regulated as a Class 9 Aerosol), or the lithium battery in your watch. But with heightened security these days, it is definitely better to check with your airline in advance. And be honest with them as to what you are trying to carry in your luggage. I’m sure my Gaz cannister for my stove would be prohibited. (Class 2.3 Compressed Flammable Gas).:boy

Harry Dolphin

#7

Had no problem flying with disassembled Bluet stove checked in baggage last year; bought cannister on arrival.

CeCe

#8

I work for an airline and I can tell you that the new screeners at the airport do not work for the airlines. They, the TSA, work for the Federal Government. From what I understand you can not bring fuel of any kind. This includes the residue found on and in stoves. Therefore, if you get through security with your stove you are lucky, but that is not the rule. The items are then removed and placed in a pile. Since you are not with your bag you won’t know items are gone till you get there. The items will be back at your starting airport in a huge pile of unmarked stuff. Most likely you will never see it again. NOT THE AIRLINES FAULT, remember it is the TSA taking this stuff from you. The best idea I have come up with is to label each item in your check luggage, with your name and address. That way the TSA might be more obligated to return it to when you return. After all at least it will be the only items in that large pile with names on it. On my last flight I put my name and address on each sleeping bag, pad, water purifier cook set, etc…. That way, if they took something I might have a chance of getting it back. However, I just may have been lucky. Now I just use a “New” Pepsi can stove wherever I go I put it in my cook set and it looks like a cup in the scanner. Also when ever you travel always put your name on the outside of your bags (even your carry on). Also put a full itinerary of your trip, complete with your name and contact numbers inside of your bag. That way if the airline looses your bag, when it is found it will be opened and the airline personnel will do there best from that itinerary to locate you and get your luggage to you pronto. Their have been too many times where the outside bag tag gets caught and falls off. Then when the bag is opened to try to find out whom it belongs too there is nothing inside to identify the owner except some skid marks. Best of luck with your trip got with a Pepsi can stove (free) or send it via ground transportation to you destination a week in advance.

Jim Philippi

#9

I flew from Los Angeles to Arcata, CA, a month ago. I carefully washed my fairly new MSR Whisperlite stove and MSR fuel bottle with soap and warer. I filled them with tap water, pumping and sealing them underwater.

The TSA in Los Angeles confiscated them, leaving a note that they had confiscated a bottle filled with a hazardous substance. Come to think of it, some Los Angeles tap water is MTBE contaminated, so they have a point, I guess.

I was told that once stuff like that was confiscated, there was no way to retrieve it. Bye, bye, $40.

Craig “Computer” Rogers

#10

I flew with my trangia this summer and had no problems. On the way out there were no problems. On the return trip it was inspected in Denver and deemed unusual but o.k. to stay in my checked baggage. I’ve flown many times with it and usually don’t have a problem. Sometimes at more hiker-knowledgable airports they see the backpack and start asking about your gear…soda can construction post arrival is definitely the safest bet.

Trainwreck

#11

It is clear from these stories that flying is an undesirable transportation option that should be avoided if possible.

Blue Jay

#12

If it helps reduce the stress while traveling, you can get a virgin Trangia burner (as opposed to having to purchase one with the stand and/or pot for more $) from mountrogersoutfitters for $12.90, including shipping. I did that once before flying Boston-LA-Boston shortly after 9-11 (01). Left it in the original packaging with a receipt attached. Considered taking it in carry on (my biggest concern wasn’t getting the stove confiscated, but rather having my baggage delayed), but didn’t want to be paranoid ;-). It was a waste, but for me it made the trip more relaxing.

Rick B

#13

We just got back from a trip to Alaska where we did a bit of camping up in Denali National Park. We carried our stove, an MSR XGK, and a brand-new fuel container with no fuel, obviously, in our checked bags and didn’t get searched on the way out. On the way back, our bags were supposedly searched, but neither the stove nor container, which we had aired out for one day before packing it, were confiscated. We flew on Alaska Air so maybe they’re used to people flying with camping gear, but we had no problems!
Good luck and hope you have no problems!

Danielle

#14

Just leave it at the top of your gear bag so if they want to pull it your stuff isn’t as likely to get gutted.

BW

#15

Fortunately most of our hiking is accessed by ground, but this is a perennial issue for scouts bound for Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico, a 200+ square mile backpacking tract in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. According to the latest scuttlebutt from there, some airlines don’t mind clean and dry stoves in baggage, some will confiscate stoves unless they are brand-new (unused), and at least one major US airline will confiscate any and all stoves from baggage, brand-new or not. I was told the airlines decide policy, but it might be inconsistencies in the TSA that account for the difference.

The procedure Philmont suggests is to use a private ground carrier (not UPS or FedEx) that is authorized to handle hazmat materials. For a large operation like Philmont, they have it worked out with a shipper for a reasonable fee, it’s not much more than regular UPS cost. Probably not so easy for you and me.

Editorial statement:
Times are getting ridiculous. I have a hard time believing that a clean and dry little-bitty whisperlite could be a hazard to anyone (except a hungry hiker ha ha) but as the saying goes “You can’t argue with City Hall.” Go figure…

RockyTrail

#16

This problem of getting a stove transported on the airlines is something that can be handled by an advocate such as a hiking organization. Policy may be different in various locations but it a national hiking organization could intercede with TSA or Airlines regarding proper transportation of hiking equipment it would help a great deal.

If the planned hike is a long one it may prove feasible to add a couple of days of train travel where there are not the stringent security regulations to contend with. Or, Bus travel (ugh) if just a couple of hundred miles are concerned may be expedient. Another solution is to send material via rail freight and pick it up at the destination.

Or if new equipment is needed then just purchase it at the hiking destination or have it shipped by the manufacturer to the Post Office or UPS office new.

I plan to take the train to Georgia with my equipment and then shuttle to Springer or the Amicolala Lodge before stepping out on April 1, 2004.

Skylander

JackW