Flying To Washington

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  • Pappy
    The Full Monte
    • Dec 2002
    • 10453
    • San Marcos, TX, USA.
    • BT3000 (x2)

    Flying To Washington

    The wife drove to Washington to see her family earlier this month. She brought her brother down on the bus to ride with her. I am going to fly to Portland and drive back with her. First time I have flown in many years. Last time was around 1988 and that was on a C-141. Haven't flown commercial since I came back from Japan in 1981.

    Needless to say I am a little apprehensive about dealing with all the regulations and the TSA. I plan to go by the airport when I am in Austin for a VA appointment on Tuesday to get some first hand info. I have already read through a lot of the TSA and Southwest Airlines websites for travel tips and rules.

    For the checked bag I have an older hard suitcase. I know if I lock it TSA will break the lock/latch if they want to inspect it. I still want to protect it from coming open during handling by the baggage gorillas. My though is to make a light 'strap' from 1/16 wire rope, wrap it around the suitcase through the handle and secure it with a TSA lock.
    Last edited by Pappy; 08-27-2017, 10:36 AM.
    Don, aka Pappy,

    Wise men talk because they have something to say,
    Fools because they have to say something.
    Plato
  • leehljp
    Just me
    • Dec 2002
    • 8429
    • Tunica, MS
    • BT3000/3100

    #2
    I always use straps on my suitcases; Usually a high visible color for helping me spot it when it comes onto the baggage carousel. I have traveled enough to know that some get slung around and can break.
    Hank Lee

    Experience is what you get when you don't get what you wanted!

    Comment

    • Mr__Bill
      Veteran Member
      • May 2007
      • 2096
      • Tacoma, WA
      • BT3000

      #3
      Enjoy your stay in Washington, hope you get to see some of the sights.
      A strap or old belt works well to hold the suitcase together. Whatever you use make sure it's not going to catch on things.

      A few thoughts on flying.
      Make sure you have the proper ID that is accepted for flying. Wear shoes that are easy off and on, leave your knife at home and bring something to read. An empty plastic water bottle can be filled past security, most food can be taken on too. Allow plenty of time for tsa lines.
      Just incase you need something there is a Harbor Freight not too far from from Portland airport.

      Hope it's a good flight

      Bill on the left coast

      Comment

      • Pappy
        The Full Monte
        • Dec 2002
        • 10453
        • San Marcos, TX, USA.
        • BT3000 (x2)

        #4
        I have looked at the straps that have the TSA locks in the buckle. Just wonder what the chance is of them loosening from being handled.

        Won't be there long enough to sight see. Flying up on the 3rd and plan to hit the road on the 5th or 6th. My pocket knife will be in my checked bag along with my carry gun. That's the main reason I want to make sure it is secured from coming open. For ID I will have my DL, military ID and my LTC. Plan to carry a good book and some snacks in my carry on.

        I also plan to fly in a coat and tie with boots on.
        Don, aka Pappy,

        Wise men talk because they have something to say,
        Fools because they have to say something.
        Plato

        Comment

        • capncarl
          Veteran Member
          • Jan 2007
          • 3564
          • Leesburg Georgia USA
          • SawStop CTS

          #5
          I've always leave my carry gun at home. I checked it a couple of times but felt like it caused me more headaches than it was worth. I don't carry anything of great value in my luggage so I don't bother locking it. I secure it with a big wide fabric strap type belt or a couple of bunji cords. The only times that I have suspected TSA
          has opened my luggage was when I was carrying something that probably didn't look right on the X-ray, or I was bringing booze back in my luggage. ( the last time I carried booze in my checked luggage one of the bottles was broken... it was bubble wrapped and shielded by clothes..... I know they broke it as a message to me not to transport booze) I'd leave the gun and pocket knife at home, you won't need it in Washington.

          Comment

          • Pappy
            The Full Monte
            • Dec 2002
            • 10453
            • San Marcos, TX, USA.
            • BT3000 (x2)

            #6
            You're right, Carl, I won't need my gun in Washington but I won't be flying back. I will be driving and except for WA and OR my license to carry is honored in every state I will be driving through. I have carried a pocket knife since I was 8 years old. Don't feel right without it.
            Don, aka Pappy,

            Wise men talk because they have something to say,
            Fools because they have to say something.
            Plato

            Comment

            • capncarl
              Veteran Member
              • Jan 2007
              • 3564
              • Leesburg Georgia USA
              • SawStop CTS

              #7
              You might consider what I had to do one trip. I'd flown into Waco to inspect some equipment they were removing from one of our sister plants, and was told that the equipment that was to be delivered to our plant was already loaded onto a truck and was asked if I minded driving it home. Since I'd flown in I didn't have my carry gun, nor did I have enough personal cash to purchase one, so I purchased a nice large fillet knife that I'd been wanting. Not as good as a pistol, but just shy of being a sword...... it'll do the job. I felt a lot better having it handy on the trip home.

              Comment

              • Pappy
                The Full Monte
                • Dec 2002
                • 10453
                • San Marcos, TX, USA.
                • BT3000 (x2)

                #8
                Actually went fairly smooth as far as transporting the pistol. Showed up at the airport 2 hrs early as recommended. Checked my bag and cleared TSA in about 30 minutes. The only problem was the security strap I bought from Samsonite failed. It did the job but the first time TSA opened it at check in the catch release jammed so it had to be opened with their key. Once I retrieved the suitcase in Portland I had TSA open it and stuck the strap in my carry on bag.

                The trip back was somewhat an adventure. We were only an hour from Portland and it took most of 2 days to get through Oregon. I-84 was closed about 1/3 of the way across the state. Traffic was heavy on the US and state highways with a lot of delays due to road repairs and smaller fires.
                Don, aka Pappy,

                Wise men talk because they have something to say,
                Fools because they have to say something.
                Plato

                Comment

                • durango dude
                  Senior Member
                  • Mar 2011
                  • 934
                  • a thousand or so feet above insanity
                  • 50s vintage Craftsman Contractor Saw

                  #9
                  Congrats, Pappy - glad you made it!

                  My son (in FL) called me a few months ago ----- "since you're visiting grandpa, come see me, too."
                  "Sure" I replied ---- always happy to see him.
                  "And dad - bring the firearms" ------- ahhhhhh ------ he wants to go boom boom ------- happy to oblige.

                  Well - the girlfriend and I loaded up all our goodies ------- 2 nice shotguns, and 2 excellent pistols --- packed into one big locker.
                  We were a tad worried ---- but TSA had absolutely no issues.
                  The challenge was the zealous folks in Orlando.

                  That worked out fine, too ---- just with a little smiling and patience.

                  The worst part ----- returning to Pitt. They put my gun case on an ordinary luggage system ----- and sent it flying down a ramp ------
                  all the guys at the airport looked at me with pity as I ran to try to catch it on the way down. Picture an outfielder taking a lunge for a line drive.

                  Supervisor gently explained to a worker "we generally don't put gun cases on the ramp." Came over, escorted me to a private area, where we inspected for damage ---- and everything was fine.



                  Comment

                  • Pappy
                    The Full Monte
                    • Dec 2002
                    • 10453
                    • San Marcos, TX, USA.
                    • BT3000 (x2)

                    #10
                    I took the bad security strap back to the Samsonite outlet store and they replaced it. Since this is the first time I have been on a commercial airliner in 36 years it will probably collect dust and rot before I ever need it again.
                    Don, aka Pappy,

                    Wise men talk because they have something to say,
                    Fools because they have to say something.
                    Plato

                    Comment

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