Baggage things (Metlakatla: insurance, to buy, shop)
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Anyone know if I can take a pipe on the plane in my checked baggage?
It was the last thing a friend of mine up north gave me before he died. It doesn't have anything in it but it's been well used.
I don't want to get hauled off by Homeland Security or some such unsavory bs but I would like to take it back with me.
I wouldn't take ANYTHING I cared about in checked baggages, not even my favorite clothing. You wouldn't believe some of the stuff that the Security types took off people in Seattle, when they first started. Can you believe one little old lady [in her 70s, I think] tried to carry on a chainsaw with a full gas tank? Depends on what it's made of - if it's bone, pack it in a box of bones and mail it to yourself as craft supplies or souvenirs - ditto for any other material. Be sure to insure it and put a high value on it. Or pack it and wait until you get to someplace where UPS or FedEx will take it.
TSA does random baggage checks as well as x-ray. They will look inside and rumage around, then leave a card a layer or two deep. I found one this last trip to Sweden, stating they had rumaged through my bag. Also they have the occasional dog sniffing around in the back of some airports. You got a 50/50 chance or so. If it was found...might only be a misdemeanor in some places. Might be a year in jail in others. Could be a federal thing at an airport.
And then it could be at the Post Office too!
I would package it well and ship it via USPS and insure it. I have been sending a ton of large packages to AK lately and so far all have arrived just fine. My husband is Native American and he has a pipe that belonged to his family. It is being wrapped in bubble wrap,peanuts and in 2 boxes and being sent up,insured for $200. There is NO way to replace it so we didn't go any higher.
I agree with the other. I would pack it securely in a box and ship it to yourself. I would also get insurance on the package. Besides security at the airport they also throw your luggage around so you take a risk of getting it broke. Not that they don't do that at USPS, UPS, or Fed Ex, but if is properly packaged it will be fine. The last trip I took I finally was able to buy new luggage and TSA managed to break that
I agree with the above posters. As a rule, I never check baggage when I fly. If I can't pack it in my carryon backpack, it doesn't go. Too many bad experiences...and Seatac is really the worst. There was an investigative report on television not too long ago regarding all the "airport shopping" that was going on in the baggage dept, courtesty of the handlers... and Alaska Airlines got the worst ratings for "lost" baggage and items.
I've made 2 trips over sea's in the last year. Have not had one problem getting my luggage which amazes me.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Depends on what it's made of - if it's bone, pack it in a box of bones and mail it to yourself as craft supplies or souvenirs - ditto for any other material. Be sure to insure it and put a high value on it. Or pack it and wait until you get to someplace where UPS or FedEx will take it.
