Going to a knife show - Forget the airlines

From not2sharp's link:
[Under Secretary of Transportation for Security] Loy reminded travelers that all bags are subject to search, and urged passengers to leave their checked bags unlocked so that screeners don't have to forcibly open those that require further physical inspection.

Note that using luggage locks is being discouraged, but not explicitly prohibited as not2sharp stated. I know that someone's going to want to post some comment along the lines of, "but this is a slippery slope and it's bound to happen sooner or later", but this is a factual thread to remind us of what's happening to our rights now.
 
Note that using luggage locks is being discouraged, but not explicitly prohibited as not2sharp stated.
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True, however, security inspectors will be free to break the locks off the luggage if you do bother to lock them. You draw a fine distinction. The bottom line though is that if someone wants to get into your luggage, they can, irrespective of the lock, and there is little you can do about it.

But you can take comfort in this:

"When asked about the potential for theft if luggage is checked unlocked, TSA spokesman Brian Doyle told WorldNetDaily the agency was in the process of setting up a system to deal with that issue."
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I am glad they are setting up an unnamed system, at an unspecified time, to deal with the present problem. :grumpy: I'll plan my next air travel once the new system is fully proven and in effect, and not before.

n2s
 
zipties.

besides,i think im done flying. takes 2 hours of security to take a 45 minute flight.its bullshit.
 
The way things are going, about the only way that anyone will be allowed to fly is to be totally naked. (Which in SOME cases, that might not be a "bad thing"...And it'll make becoming a member of the "mile-high club" alittle bit easier! :D.).
 
If for some reason I was forced to fly somewhere, and I wished to carry a couple of "reasonable" pocket knives in my checked baggage, what is the procedure I would have to go through? Do I have to notify the airport beforehand?

Chris
 
It's life...and life is a bitch sometimes. Only a matter of time before that was added to the security measures. Oh well.....that's what overnight shipping companies are for....god bless UPS :D
 
Do I have to notify the airport beforehand?
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Chris,

You are not prohibited from taking your knives in your checked bags. Unfortunately, airport security isn't prohibited from breaking your bag lock and rummaging for valuables. So there is a greater risk that your bag will turn up a little lighter then when you checked it.

n2s
 
If the knives are going to be put in the hold, then is there a problem?

I am planning on visiting the NYC knife show in the next year or two and will be bringing about 10 of my fav knives across from the UK. I am planning on getting written permission from the American Embasy in London as well as the British Embasy and the airport and:rolleyes: the airline to bring such items in the checked in luggage.

You can't be overly careful...:confused:

Perhaps at some point someone will realise knife collecting is not just for weirdo's!
 
I have so far managed to avoid flying since before 9/11, but living on an island makes it rather difficult to take a trip without flying. I was (and still am) extremely pissed off about this latest invasion of privacy. It seems that there is no limit to the lengths that they will go through in the name of "safety." No airline will be making any money off of me as long as they have these "security measures" in place.

And I love the part about the orange locks that can be "snipped off by the owner." What the hell are they supposed to use to snip it off?

edited to add: Read the link on that article about the screeners touching the pregnant woman's breasts--it's enough to make you sick.

On second thought, here's the link.
 
Bummer. Probably less big name makers at distant shows.

By the way, don't even say the word "knife," or any other word some random airline employee subjectively finds threatening, while you're in line, regardless of what is going on with your checked baggage. I know someone who had a rotten experience with this not too long ago, but I'll let him tell it.

John
 
This thread is wandering around on more then one topic but, I'll give you my recent experiences flying from the USA to Europe roundtrip. Knowing beforehand that everything between emory boards for a manicure to normal pocket knives would be confiscated at the security checks at the airport, I put my knife and anything that could possibly be construed as a weapon (except my shoes :( ) in my checked baggage for carriage in the belly of the airplane. This got me through a domestic flight to Los Angles, on to Heatherrow and, finally to Amsterdam. This was roundtrip on United, American Airlines, British Airways and, British Midland and included various levels of pat downs and other security measures that ranged from a public relations event :( to real security.

If you put anything of value in the belly of an airplane, you are being very foolish. You are faced with potential unintentional bag loss, intentional theft and, rough baggage handling. Yes, the airlines insure your bags against loss - anybody care to guess how much it used to be and currently is?

If you have anything of value that you CANNOT carry on your person and carry on baggage, ship it via UPS, FED EX or, the US Postal System where you can insure it for true value and track it.

General, unless you have a real reason to travel with that many knives, I would strongly encourage you to leave them at home - taking only the one you intend to use. It just isn't worth the hassle going through customs TWICE each way and all the security hassles. In my case, loss of a Victorinox Spartan would not be good but, much better then loosing a Kit Carson Model 4. The Spartan did everything I needed while in Europe.
 
Great....
All hail MiniLove.
All hail Big Brother.
War is peace.
Freedom is slavery.
Ignorance is strength.
Locks are discourage now... next time they'll ask you outright not to put them on cause they're going to make you open it or cut it open or something.
So what if I'm saying this is a slippery slope now? They've enacted enough BS that will come to that. Funny, I just saw it on TLC/Discovery less than a week ago that if you line the cargo containers and the freight areas with bomb proof materials, there's not even visible damage to the fuselage. Passengers cannot access the freight compartmants from the passenger areas, so why are people encouraged not to lock their luggages? Can't they even have a little bit of privacy? If it's a gun that they're worried about, it's going to show up, unless you've lined the whole bag with lead, which makes it very obvious anyways. They have enough tools to make sure the luggage isn't dangerous and free of bombs/narcotics, but they don't choose to do that, they choose to just say F*** it and open your luggage.
I don't know what this world is coming to. When I came to Canada, we changed flights at SF and Seattle. The flight from HK to SF is already delayed an hour because of security checks. Maybe if they do the right things, they won't be so freaking paranoid.

Rant out.
 
You do have a choice in most cases. Personally, I drive a lot more now. Why would I put up with multiple hours of delays for a 45 minute flight to an over crowded grid locked airport facility?

Rant all you want about the security checks but, that won't make them go away as long as the general populace is afraid fly unless PR related security checks are advertised near and far. It no longer is about speed or convenience.

Vote with your wallet and use a different means of transport.
 
Sid,
I don't even have a means to drive down to the States at any time I wish, but if I do, I'll damn well drive down there. Firstly, I think it's more fun, I might as well visit a couple of knife stores and people down there, and secondly I don't really like this BS they're coming up with now.
The wonders of the media always makes matter worse. This public panic of airline security as you said, a PR related thing, just as the guns and knives laws here.
 
Originally posted by calyth
So what if I'm saying this is a slippery slope now? They've enacted enough BS that will come to that.
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I just wanted to make sure that the reader who casually glances through the thread won't get the wrong idea and think that locks (or knives) are prohibited. It happens often enough, I just don't want false information to be spread in this large community of knifenuts.

Second point:
Maybe I'm being very trustful here, but I think that if the tamper-proof lock idea becomes widespread, it will be even better for us. It will set up an accountability system for the airlines, an improvement over the currently unclear procedures for theft claims.

It will also make the hassle involved with opening luggage (for theft purposes) too great to be worth it. The potential thief would have to snip the tag, replace it with another one, and redo the signature.
 
When I Flew back from Kodiak last fall I checked my baggage w/ two fixed blades and my Endura. All I had to do was tell the inspector that there were knives in the bag. It was no big deal at all. Kodiak was the only airport I was searched/hassled with. Ancorage and Minn/St. Paul only asked for a picture ID.
 
Tamper-proof locks are worthless. It would just give them a bigger reason to cut you bags open.


"The TSA also suggests putting personal belongings, such as underwear, in clear plastic bags to reduce the chances of a TSA screener having to handle them."

Maybe spread dirty underwear and socks around your bag so they WILL have to handle them. :D

As far as the frisking/strip search thing, I've heard several people they will be free-balling next time they fly. One even said he'd do a striptease if asked to strip.
:rolleyes:
 
Originally posted by AlphalphaPB
I just wanted to make sure that the reader who casually glances through the thread won't get the wrong idea and think that locks (or knives) are prohibited. It happens often enough, I just don't want false information to be spread in this large community of knifenuts.
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While I realize that there is a difference, I think that security cutting off a lock whenever they feel like it is very nearly the same as prohibiting a lock. Of course it is still good to clarify.

Second point:
Maybe I'm being very trustful here, but I think that if the tamper-proof lock idea becomes widespread, it will be even better for us. It will set up an accountability system for the airlines, an improvement over the currently unclear procedures for theft claims.

It will also make the hassle involved with opening luggage (for theft purposes) too great to be worth it. The potential thief would have to snip the tag, replace it with another one, and redo the signature.
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This is if they do in fact implement a well thought out system. It seems like no one takes responsibility for anything nowadays. There will probably always be some loophole added in fine print to indicate that "we really don't care about your stuff and we'll do whatever we damn well please since we already took your hard earned money." That's the same reason why the idiot UPS guy keeps leaving my packages sitting in plain view of the street at my front door without even bothering to ring the doorbell.
 
The more sensible approach taken at a number of UK Airports over the years (we have had domestic terrorism for some time :( )is that hold bags are x-rayed/checked just prior to the check in process.

This way the bags can be unlocked with the owner present. After checking a tamper proof sticker is placed across the locks and signed - that way anybody can see if things have been "played with".

Another advantage of this system is that it is very visible and there is a reduced chance of people looking through your baggage once it is out of sight - so reduced claims for theft - this actually works for everybody!

It even means that you can travel with locked luggage :D

Regards,

Ed
 
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