I heard through the grapevine that the TSA is about to (or already has) expanded the list of items you can carry on a plane when traveling. Does anyone have any information about this? I sure would love the peace of mind of being able to carry on my essential fishing gear. Traveling in May to the Bahamas and would love to get this clarified for me. Thanks!
TTT
Acuna,
The TSA has passed that you can now carry SMALL scissors and nail clippers ON YOUR PERSON. You can carry anything NON-EXPLOSIVE in your checked baggage. So if you’ve got knives or something, put them in your checked baggage. I would check with the guide service to see what restrictions the local government has on what visitors can bring into the country.
Has anyone heard if it is now possible to carry one 2pc rods in a case?
Call your airline is the best bet. I would not take fly tying equip on the plane. I wouldn’t push it, the rods should be enough.
Good luck on your trip
The Geezer
Excus my spelling and gramma, I hooked Mondays and Fridays so I could Hunt or fish.
I just called the TSA people because i am flying to Idaho in May. I was told I could carry my fly rod in the tube as carry-on bagage. My rod is in a 30" fly tube so they said that would not be a problem. Somehow I just don’t trust this. I am going to the air port and ask the questions of the air lines. I did see where Delta has a bagage size limit for check bags. 62" = length + Width+ height…It figures the bag that will hold my waders and rods is total 68". That would cost me another $100 fee to take. But I can carry two bags in the 62" catagory. Hmmm lets see…my bag is total 68" vs two 62" bags. Doesn’t make much sense huh? Oh well that air lines for you. Its best to check with your local air lines, get names of people you talked to and also call the other point of departure to be sure their requirements are the same as the place you are leaving from. Hope all that made sense.
Jim
Oh don’t take any hooks with you as carry-on. Those are dangerious. I can see me hijacking a plane with a size 14 nymph hook. LOL Funny, you can take a 3 piece rod on the plane. I would think the rod could be used as more of a weapon than tiny hooks. Just my $0.02
[This message has been edited by jim635 (edited 06 February 2006).]
I personally find there is little common sense involved with the baggage and carry on restrictions. Last time I flew my wife had her shoes checked because they were sneakers, I didn’t because they were slip on loafers!
I couldn’t bring a nail clippers on board but the passenger ahead of me was carring a 48" long pizza paddle made of hardwood, my wife was allowed to keep her 14" long metal knitting needles. Imagine your in a bar fight, you need to defend your self. You have a choice of the above three ‘weapons’ which would you grab?
I think the focus is more on public relations and making us ‘feel’ safe than actually making things secure. Prehaps it’s just too hard to change the existing buisness culture. How is it that most gas stations, movie theaters and convenience stores have a secure enclosure around the cash register while the airlines still say that a secure cockpit area is technically unfeasable or too expensive?
Spoke with a TSA agent last week at the Palm Beach Airport.
Rods, no problem
Reels, no problem
Flies, if they aren’t tied on gaff sized hooks, no problem.
I have tested the rods with 4 or 5 pc rods and never had an issue. I tend to pack everything else.
jed
Guys here is the latest from TSA. This is the list which we use at the local airport at which I am a TSA agent. [url=http://www.tsa.gov/interweb/assetlibrary/Permitted_Prohibited_Facts.doc:581cf]http://www.tsa.gov/interweb/assetlibrary/Permitted_Prohibited_Facts.doc[/url:581cf]
For additional Info just go to the TSA web site and click on the travel link.
Michael (Wooly) Woolum
State Certified Hunter Education Instructor
Hickory, MS
[This message has been edited by Wooly (edited 07 February 2006).]
Timely topic as I’m headed to Cabo San Lucas in a couple weeks.
Thanks for the list, Wooly. I don’t see anything close to a fishing rod mentioned in the list, but I see that pool cues would not be allowed. Guess I’ll have to call the airline to be sure that I can bring a 9.5’, 2 piece rod on the plane…or not. Since it’s a popular fishing destination one would assume it’s okay.
Bill
All of the rods that I have seen go through us have been in “hard” tube type cases and were put through checked baggage. I agree that you should check with your local carrier. Don’t forget about the return flight.
Michael (Wooly) Woolum
State Certified Hunter Education Instructor
Hickory, MS
[This message has been edited by Wooly (edited 07 February 2006).]
Revisiting this topic…
What about size 2,4, and 6 hooks? Could those be carry on. I really want to avoid checking anything if I don’t have to.
Found this link, and I THINK it answers my question. However saltwater flies are kinda different from trout flies…
[url=http://www.tsa.gov/public/interapp/editorial/editorial_1188.xml:7c753]http://www.tsa.gov/public/interapp/editorial/editorial_1188.xml[/url:7c753]
I have been tying on the plane since January. No problems, other than the TSA agents trying to figure out what the vise is. Hook, feathers, small scissors, tweezers. Just have it where they can get at it to look.
Litehen,
Thanks for sharing your experiences. I plan on having all equipment available for inspection. So what size flies are you tying?
I fly to fishing destinations about a dozen times per year. Each involves at least four flights. The constant admonition to check with the airlines about security issues went out the door on 9/11 or shortly thereafter. The airlines used to hire and train the security people, now they have little to do with it, though they can offer some basic help. They can’t guarantee anything, though. I will tell you airlines do not have to allow any carry-on item that has a single measurement longer than 22". It is rarely enforced, but it exists. Also, though TSA regs say you can bring on rods, reels, and flies, they don’t tell you several other things. You can bring on rods, but sometimes not rod cases. You can bring on reels, but maybe not the flyline or backing. You can bring on some flies, but as pointed out, maybe not anything very large. Many of these decisions are up to the person on duty in the security area when you go through it. Arguing about it (especially if you’re obnoxious) can mean being placed in a room while a supervisor comes to talk to you, but that supervisor doesn’t show up until you’ve missed your flight. Almost all of the travel agencies that deal with fishing travel (Frontiers, Angler Adventures, etc. ) will flatly state in their literature to you to check all your fishing gear through unless you’re willing to take a chance on missing a flight. It is wise advice. It bothers me to do so, too, although less so today than when I first started doing it. However, it really isn’t worth the hassle of being sent back to check-in to check something through (meaning standing in line again and maybe paying an extra baggage fee because now you’re up to three checked pieces) only to find out that you are about to miss your flight. At the very least, if you persist anyway, I would make sure I get to the airport the full two hours or more most airlines recommend (at least for foreign travel) to avoid missing a flight . If anyone doesn’t believe me, I have many stories of guys I travel with who thought they knew better and have missed flights. Understand, that there are lots of guys saying that they got through with their rods, reels, etc. and probably 80% of the time you won’t have a problem. But, eventually, if you fly enough, you will. TSA does not have to allow 30" rods in aluminum rod tubes, nor fly reels with 90’ of fly line and 200yds of backing. They may allow them, and they may not. All I’m saying is be prepared for the day when they won’t. The advice about being concerned for the return trip is valid, too. There are places that are much fussier at security than our own TSA and that can be a real problem for you. Also, if connecting at another airport where you have to re-enter the TSA security area if you change terminals can also be a problem. Your 30" rod tube that they allowed through in Newark isn’t being allowed through in Boston. What do you do now?