Do you check a bag just so you can have a knife?

I haven't started checking my bags for that reason alone, but I might as well have. I have to fly quite a bit, and often with a lot of sales material that can get very heavy. Add to that the fact that many of these states will honor my Texas CHL, and I have some very good reasons already to check a bag.

What I've found is that if I'm headed to a non-reciprocal locale (for my CHL), I'm still enormously happy to at least take along a minimal EDC combo. This usually means a SOG Paratool, a SAK, and a Cold Steel Gunsite folder. I'd be pretty ticked off if these turned up missing upon my arrival, but I could deal with it. My Wood Inlaid Sebenza will most likely live it's entire life without seeing the inside of a plane. ;)

One of the disadvantages of all this is that I will no longer have the opportunity to watch the geniuses at the security checkpoint open one of my (previously legal) folders, and then run their thumb over the edge to check for who knows what...:rolleyes: Like I told the last one who did that "Yeah, it's sharp! What did you expect?" :p geegee
 
Gollnick you idiot...

I am insulted that you would call me English...for your information i am Malaysian...i just happen to be studying here...

I never ever commented on luggage being lost...i travel all the time and have taken many airlines and have never ever lost my luggage...
BA, Singapore, Malaysian Airlines, Alitalia, AA, even Garuda has never lost my luggage...

Most luggage is never lost...usually you they get on the wrong plane...but you do get your luggage back...although i have never had any of these problems...

I was commenting on the fact that U.S. as a destination is the only place where they don't allow you to lock your bags due to 'random' checking...don't tell me that the U.S. doesn't do this because i have just recently had several friends flying to the U.S. and not being able to lock their check in luggages...

I am never worried about the airlines...they do the best job they can...it's those luggage handlers that i'm pissed off with...they throw your luggage around...they steal your stuff...with a lock on your luggage it gives you more security...

Too bad you got screwed by BA...

Whatever it is i'm still put off travelling to the US if i can't lock my luggage...
 
Like I said, Southwest lets you have your bag checked in your presence and then locked. I assume they go ahead and mark it as "searched." Guess I'll find out tomorrow for sure.
 
Originally posted by Guyon
FWIW: Airlines are now recommending that you don't lock your checked baggage in case of "random" searches (in which case they cut your lock). However, I called the airline (Southwest in this case) and was told that you can tell the agent you want the bag to be searched in your presence and then locked.
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O.K. So what would you do in the event that they will not allow you to even put your knives, swords, machetes, etc in your checked bags when they inspect them in your presence?

I would check a bag just for a knife.
 
Gee... you knife carrying types seem like a possibly maybe real threat to the Americans who outnumber you. "I'm gonna have to confiscate this, sir." Why you are presumed possibly guilty instead of possibly innocent...well...that's not for you to decide, right? I think it was Ben Franlkin who said... "Those who value security over freedom deserve neither." ...smart guy...Ben.
 
Folks, we get upset when people stereotype us for having knives, "Oh, you MUST be some sort of VIOLENT, EVIL CRIMINAL if you carry a knife!"

Are there evil, violent criminals who own knives? Yes. But the vast majority of us are nice, peaceful people.

Let's not do the same sort of thing ourselves. There is no evidence that the baggage inspectors are all thieves. Are there thieves among them them? Probably. But the vast majority of them a honest professionals working for our protection. To broadly characterize them all as thieves is the same sort of stereotyping that we, ourselves, object to.

Luggage locks are not and never have been for security anyway. Luggage locks are there to keep the bag from popping open in transit especially if one of the catches gets hung up on one piece of equipment. Notice, for example, that there are about three keys that will open practically every Sampsonite suitcase ever made. And you can buy all three at any luggage store anywhere.

This inspection-of-checked-baggage deal is nothing new. In the US, your checked baggage has been subject to inspection for decades. And it's a good thing too. Your bag is going onto a plane with perhaps several hundred other people aboard. It's quite reasonable for it to be subject to inspection. If you don't like that, then you don't have to fly on a public plane. You can drive or you can charter a private plane. But if you're coming onto the same plane as me, I want that bag of yours inspected.

The fact is that US Airlines have been inspecting a small fraction of checked luggage for years. Most bags are inspected by x-ray and never opened. The Portland Airport has had one of those big x-ray machines for checked baggage for years. The thing's so big, they can't get it downstairs. So, it sits right out in the middle of the ticketing lobby and you can watch 'em running bags through.

What's new is the 100% mandate. But does the percentage make any difference? Your bag has always been subject to inspection. If, in the past, we were only inspecting 10%, then statistically your bag got inspected every tenth time you flew, maybe once every five round trips you take.

In fact, most all of us here have had our checked bag inspected in the past. You never even knew. So what's to get all excited about?
 
I was commenting on the fact that U.S. as a destination is the only place where they don't allow you to lock your bags due to 'random' checking..
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Apparently, you've never flown El Al. Neither have I. But, I'm told that the best way to fly El Al is to arrive with your cloths in shopping bags and your suitcases empty and just let them pack for you.
 
Good Evening All-

Originally posted by Point44
Gollnick you idiot...
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You can call Chuck quite a few things, but "idiot" isn't among the valid choices. :( Hopefully your comment is in jest.

Anyway, I'm kind of torn on the whole topic of checked luggage. I used to PRIDE myself with being able to systematically pack my rollaway and duffle bags so efficiently that I could travel for a week of business without need for checked luggage. Needless to say, my 3.5" folders have traveled both domestically and across the oceans.

I've become a fan of mailing myself knives for extended trips, especially in likely situations such as alpine skiing. I've more-or-less stopped flying domestically and choose to drive or take the train. Somehow I feel that I'm "knuckling under" by yielding to the airlines and TSA...so I bring any knife I want by driving to my destination.

To answer your question...no, I don't check my luggage to have a knife. I choose an alternate form of transportation, instead.

Regards,

~ Blue Jays ~
 
El Al eh?

Might as well post your clothes before hand...hahahhah

Anyway...i have no problems checking in with knives and anything else other than firearms...

What happened to you Chuck is that your whole suitcase was lost...at least you got compensation...sorry about the knife though...i wonder who ended up with your suitcase and what they did with it...heheh

If your stuff gets stolen by the baggage handler...you get nothing!

Again...i have nothing against airlines...it's usually the airport that's the problem...they're just too strict...why can't you lock your luggage? we have a right to protect our possessions...if they break the lock the least they could do is replace it with a cheap plastic lock or something...


I just hope that they let flights coming to UK from US to be able to lock their luggages...i've got a friend who's coming to bring my knives over...if it gets stolen from his bag i'm gonna be really pissed off...
 
I leave for a sales training in Atlanta in about ten days. From there I'm going to Jacksonville to see my father who just developed a health problem, then it's back home to Simi Valley.

This trip is after just losing a small Sebenza in Las Vegas a couple weeks ago. I'm paranoid about losing another nice knife in a baggage search conducted without me watching. The collection is too small to take two hits so close together.

I'm not sure what to do. My choices are:

1) Cave in like Ren and go knifeless for 4 days.

2) Buy a $20.00 Kershaw Vapor at Walmart and put it in my check bag and hope for the best.

3) Play the odds and take something like my Delta Z high tech folder in a checked bag so as to have a decent knife at the other end but not risk a really nice knife?

I'd really like to be able to just carry a roll on, but I can't do that if I want a knife at each end of the airplane rides.

What do you think?

jmx
 
Good Evening All-

Originally posted by jmxcpter
I leave for a sales training in Atlanta in about ten days. From there I'm going to Jacksonville to see my father who just developed a health problem, then it's back home to Simi Valley...What do you think?

jmx
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JMX, get yourself three or four FedEx shipping envelopes and send the knives ahead to your destinations...especially since one location is your father's home address, which makes it easy. You can even send packages to hotels:

Mr. Fred JMXCPTER (Confirmation# 987654)
Guest arriving 2/16/2003
The Ritz-Carlton Hotel
123 Main Street
Gumshoe, Illinois 86753

Put the knife inside a pair of socks inside a padded envelope to protect both it and the deliveryman on his route.

~ Blue Jays ~
 
That FedEx shipping gets expensive. Why not just buy a decent, but inexpensive, knife like a Kershaw or a CRKT? I've decided to just take along a CRKT Mirage I gave all of $10 for. If it gets swiped, it's not the end of the world, and I can pick up another inexpensive CRKT.
 
just attach a note to the knife in the bag : 'don't take away my knife from me'
 
Good Evening Everyone-

Originally posted by Guyon
That FedEx shipping gets expensive. Why not just buy a decent, but inexpensive, knife like a Kershaw or a CRKT?
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Guyon, the original question was whether us Knife Knuts would bring an extra bag simply to allow us to bring a knife. If you were already going to bring a checked piece of luggage, your solution would be perfect.

If a traveler is packing lightly and doesn't wish to endure baggage delays/hassles, the FedEx option certainly makes sense. My company allows us to send personal express shipments directly from our offices and the cost of shipping is deducted from our paycheck. Big companies get HUGE discounts compared to Joe Schmoe sending an overnight shipment at the "retail" price. I'm talking like an 75% discount. Take a look.

Regards,

~ Blue Jays ~
 
Originally posted by jmxcpter
I leave for a sales training in Atlanta in about ten days. From there I'm going to Jacksonville to see my father who just developed a health problem, then it's back home to Simi Valley.
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That's easy. Leave your knives at home. Buy a nice one cheap in Atlanta and mail it to your father. Then mail it from him back to yourself in California.

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I got no choice on check-in. I have to bring my meds which include syringes, and they won't accept that as carry-on. But i don't think I'm bringing knives next time; a small SAK maybe. Last time I only checked-in my Umfaan. Too much of a chance.
 
I went to Vegas with my dad over holiday break. We were planning on just doing carryons, but I wanted to check a bag so I could carry a knife. So we did and actually it worked out well. We only had our toiletry bags with us to carry on, so no fumbling with carryons full of clothes on the plane. You can still do curbside checking, so for a $2 tip you get your bag checked and your boarding pass without having to wait in those lines inside.

I don't like the idea of not being able to carry knives, and will drive when I can. However, checking a bag is easy to do if you are willing to tip the skycap a couple bucks.

One thing is that you do have to wait for your bag to get unloaded at the airport. However, this was not a big deal for us in Vegas, as we could check into our hotel at the airport there. So my dad did that while I got the bag.
 
I leave for Atlanta on a Wed. From there I leave Atlanta at *:00 on Friday and arrive in JAX at 10:00. 36 hours later I leave JAX back to Atlanta, then change arilines and itinerary to return to LAX. Fedex overnight is too costly and too slpw for me. If I was going for a week in each place it might make sense, but would still be more costly than losing a $20.00 Walmart Vapor or a CRKT something.

jmx
 
I fly often and almost always only used carry-on baggage until 9/11. I now check my baggage and have found that I like it much better. No hassle with the luggage in the plane or airport. I've tried to count the trips I've made since 9/11 and I think it's about 50 or 60. I've never had my luggage lost only delayed for a few hours at worst. So yes I do now check my baggage to carry a knife but usually a multitool, SAK and Spyderco Cricket. Cheap good knives that can be easily replace.
 
Good Evening All-

Originally posted by Esav Benyamin
...I got no choice on check-in. I have to bring my meds which include syringes, and they won't accept that as carry-on...
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Sorry if this response is a bit off-topic. Esav, according to the medical checklist provided by the Transportation Safety Administration, you are absolutely permitted to bring medical syringes onto an airplane. Please do not let TSA security convince you to place any type of important medicine in the belly of the aircraft. That is a medical disaster waiting to happen.

People wouldn't discriminate against you if they didn't see that inane movie "Panic Room" with the young girl wielding a fistful of syringes like a dagger! :(

To get back on topic, I won't bring an extra piece of luggage to merely accomodate my knife, but I do try to think of solutions. If you're visiting parents, why not have an "away" knife that you leave at their home specifically for future visits?

Regards,

~ Blue Jays ~
 
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