Traveling bladeless

C

cardimon

Joined
Sep 20, 2000
Messages
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How long did it take you folks to get used to traveling by air without anything that could be considered a weapon by THE POWERS THAT BE?

Are Swisstech MicroPlus tools allowed? Yeah, right.

Can one ever get used to being truly bladeless?

Do you still travel by air as much as before, or do you try to travel by other means if you can? I looked into train travel, but holy cow, this country is built around air travel. It takes about five days or more to travel by train to Las Vegas one way. That's just plain nuts.

The rest of my family just shrugs its collective shoulders, says oh well, and goes on with things, as in traveling by air. No one gives a second thought about being prepared, as I was taught in the Cub Scouts. Now I'm even more the odd man out for giving voice to such matters.

I never liked flying to begin with. After the events of September 11, I like it even less. Divested of my blades and tools, I like the idea still less. Even so, my wife wants to travel and see the world. I will simply have to get some tranquilizers from my doctor. Something to KNOCK ME OUT.

How are you folks handling it? Let me know.
 
I've found the answer to be quite simple: Stow my knives in my checked luggage. I understand that some folks like to only bring carry-on luggage. If that's the case, well, then it's just an excuse to buy a new knife at your destination. OR, you could mail one to yourself at your destination hotel, etc. There are lots of creative ways to work your way around the b&%$#^&#$it post September 11 regulations.
 
Originally posted by mnblade
I've found the answer to be quite simple: Stow my knives in my checked luggage.
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That's what I was thinking.

There are lots of creative ways to work your way around the b&%$#^&#$it post September 11 regulations.
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To which I would add only the simple postscript "...that wouldn't stop anyone anyway." Sigh.
 
Used to be, I was never without my Leatherman Wave, it was always in my briefcase. In fact, I was on a plane Sept 11th, from Connecticut to Detroit, I had my Wave in my carry on, and a Micra in my pocket. Thanksfully, I landed in Detroit at about 7:45am, before the fireworks began.

Anyway, I usually take all my bags as carryons, and have to go bladeless now. I do feel naked!

Collegeville, PA? I have a good customer there, right on Main St across from the Wawa!
 
There are lots of creative ways to work your way around the b&%$#^?$it post September 11 regulations.
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I wouldn't say "working your way around..." I'd say "living within the post Sept. 11 regulations."

You can still bring your knives along, but they have to be in checked baggage and you will be separated from them while in-transit. You can still bring your guns along too, but, just as before Sept. 11, they will also have to be in your checked baggage and you have to declare them when you check in, but, again, that's not new.

If you want to go all-carry-on, then the idea of mailing a knife ahead may work for you. Just address it to:

(Your Name)
Guest arriving (date) Confirmation #(number)
C/O Le Grand Hotel De La Expense Account
123 Main Street
City, State, Zip

When you put the knife in the box, also send along a prepared return address lable to ship the knife back to your home. When you go to the post office to mail the knife, purchase postage stamps for the same amount and put them inside the box with the knife.

When you arrive at your hotel, your box should be waiting for you. As you pack up to leave, just put that lable over the hotel's address, paste the new stamps over the old, put the knife back in the box, ask the front desk for a bit of tape to seal it up, and then ask the front desk to drop the box into the outgoing mail for you.

But, that still leaves you unarmed while you're in-transit... or does it? Maybe your definition of armed is just a little bit to narrow. The fact that I don't have a gun or knife on my doesn't mean that I'm not armed.
 
Being unarmed or not isn't even the point. If I were carrying a Marine Ka-Bar, then I'd be armed.

When I carry my Victorinox Classic I don't consider myself "armed," I consider myself merely "prepared." Security personnel would take a different view. A Vic Classic is a tool, nothing more. I simply like being prepared.

These days, tools are being viewed as weapons. Where does such a thought process end? Not in a happy place.
 
Well Im traveling bladeless at the moment...I don't like it!


I packed my benchedmade outbounder in my luggage and when I arrived here in Dallas...Viola..its gone!!!

ARG>. Im going to call the airline (DELTA) and bitch about it today, but I doubt that I see anything from it.


Darren
 
Anyone ever see what a heavy milled bar of soap, in the end of a sock can do to a person? Makes a great sap.:eek:
 
Im going to call the airline (DELTA) and bitch about it today, but I doubt that I see anything from it.
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No, you won't unless you push the issue. The airlines definitely go on a combination of "don't pay out on anything that you don't have to," and "the squeaky wheel gets the grease." So, you have t squeak to get paid.

But, the good news for you is that the issue of theft from passenger luggage is a very, very sensitive subject for airlines. Your best leverage will be this forum right here. Just tell 'em that if they don't either return your knife or buy you a new one, you WILL be splattering this all over the internet including here at BF.C where 15,000 members world-wide will see it.

Keep a detailed, written record of every contact you have with them: the date and time you call, what number you call, how long you sit on hold, the name of each person you talk to (and if they rattle if off quickly at the beginning, just say, "I'm sorry, I didn't get your name. Is that Cathy with a C or Kathy with a K?" etc.) and summarize what they told you. Then, before hanging up, read back your summary saying "Cathy, this is what I understand that you've told me... ... is that correct?" Keep photocopies of any written communications. Etc.

My guess is that ultimately you will end up talking to a customer service supervisor's supervisor and you will have to tell that person, "I have talked to twelve different people in your orgainization over the last eight days. I've spent 230 minutes on hold. And now I want my knife paid for." And that's when it will happen. British Airways lost an entire bag of mine and it literally took 48 telephone calls (four of them international long distance to England on my bill), 29 different people, 7 hours 48 minutes on hold, and twenty-some-odd pages of paperwork before the paid me for it. The thing that finally got me paid was the log. They were so embarased, not that the bag was lost, but that a customer would be transferred so many times, ignored, give wrong phone numbers, given contradicting advice, told that British Customs had detained his bag (hint: customs is only concerned with items coming into a country, not going out), and then told that the agent was 100% positive that US Customs in Seattle had detained my bag (When I called US Customs they said, "Nope. And I don't even have to go into the locker to look since the locker is totally empty right now. We haven't detained a passenger bag in weeks.") that they finally rolled over and paid. Baggage liability on international flights is limited to $618. But, BA is very generous. Since I had shown that the bag's contents were worth over $1500, that they paid me $620 (rounding off makes their book keeping easier).
 
After reading this thread I don't feel like flying anywhere which makes travel a bit difficult since I live in Hawaii.
 
Originally posted by Mike Hull
Anyone ever see what a heavy milled bar of soap, in the end of a sock can do to a person? Makes a great sap.:eek:
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I don't even know you -- but I like the way you think. Grin.
 
Originally posted by dman4384
Well Im traveling bladeless at the moment...I don't like it!


I packed my benchedmade outbounder in my luggage and when I arrived here in Dallas...Viola..its gone!!!

ARG>. Im going to call the airline (DELTA) and bitch about it today, but I doubt that I see anything from it.


Darren
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Nope. That sucker's gone. Never even existed, as far as the airline is concerned.

Now you know some nice conscientious security person considered it their duty to open your bag and relieve you of that dangerous weapon. The fact it made a nice addition to their own collection was merely an added bonus.

Take gear you can afford to have "liberated" from you. Because it will be taken and you will never see it again, especially if it's a nice, expensive knife.
 
Your bag should at least be locked with a real lock. Sure they can rip some of them open anyway but it get pretty obvious at that point. Don't bring your good stuff with you! A good piece of advice too. At this point, I wouldn't pack anything more expensive than a CRKT Mirage.

I am very depressed about the new regulations just as a lot of you must be. When I traveled domestically for up to a week I never had check-in luggage unless I was going to a really cold place. I'm lucky I haven't had to fly since 9/11 and I have...

1. Refused jobs that would require me to fly regularly.
2. Changed vacation plans to avoid flying.

I won't be able to keep this up forever, but I have and will continue to cut my use of the airlines down to the absolute minimum only-when-I-have-to-go-to-a-funeral sort of trips. Its too bad too because I didn't used to mind flying though I never liked airports!
 
Well the run-around has already started.

I called Delta today and the conversation went like this (paraphrased)

ME) Yes, what is your policy on transporting knives on your airline

Agent) Just pack them in your luggage and its no problem.

ME) OK,Well I flew from Cincinnati to Dallas Yesterday and I had a knife was taken from my luggage.

Agent) Oh <pause>. Did you declare it when you checked in?

ME) No, its not a firearm, am I now required to declare knives?

Agent) Umm, no, <pause> can you hold please?

Agent) Yes, when you arrive back at DFW, stop by the luggage counter and they will instruct you on your options.

ME) HMM,well ok thanks.

Im REALLY glad that I changed my mind and that last minute and left my Ultratech at home.

Fortunately, the BM outbounded is one my less expensive knives...
 
Round and round she goes, and when the wheel stops, you will be out one knife. The hapless agent you talk with will shrug. Over the phone you won't be able to see it, but you'll feel it none the less.
 
Yup, you are going to get run around. There's no surprise here. They have to see how loud this wheel will squeak before deciding to grease it.

Keep that written log of every contact you have.

The baggage counter at DFW will be a vital encounter for you since you will get to meet a real person face-to-face, shake hands, etc. So, dress well for this meeting and be on your best behavior.

If you're a frequent flyer, be sure to casually display your card. Another good option is to stop by the service desk first and request a complaint form. Fill this form out and have it with you when you talk to the baggage agent. If you can round up a file folder between now and then and start collecting your stuff in that folder and label the folder "STOLEN KNIFE" and have that with you, it'll be a good thing. Just open that folder up on the desk (in order to get to your notes, of course). This will, as a side effect, let the agent see that a) you have a folder on the subject (in other words you're serious), b) you're talking names, c) you've already got an official complaint form ready to go, and d) you've started a list of phone numbers and names and addresses. In otherwords, you winding up to make one very loud squeak.

When you talk to the person at DFW, be sure to get their full name and direct telephone number, what hours they work, etc. Tell them that you will be following up with them personally.
 
I fly at leat 2 weeks out of every month. I never used to check baggage and always carried a knife for defensive purposes with me on a plane. People always thought I was paranoid - "What can you possible need a knife on a plane flying at 30,000 feet for?" was a common questions. September 11 answered that question. Now I go through the inconveniece of checking baggage and I simply pack my knife. At least when I land I'll have my knife with me.

Art
 
Remember a few years ago when they started the zero tolerance knife policies in the schools? Kids were being expelled for carrying Vic Classics and butter knives with their lunches. Blade magazine had editorials and articles denouncing the policies. Letters to Blade expressed disbelief that these kinds of things could happen. Now it's accepted that kids cannot have knives in schools. The same thing will happen with regards to knives on airplanes. In a few years (or less), we'll have forgotten the days when we could carry a SAK worldwide and not get a second glance.
 
In a few years (or less), we'll have forgotten the days when we could carry a SAK worldwide and not get a second glance.
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Frank,

too true, and it's getting even weirder than that. I fly perhaps once a month. I also didn't check baggage unless absolutely necessary, and on a day trip to the Boston area I had some product samples with me, broken down to fit in my carry on bag. Of course, my bag was opened and checked, and some of the parts were deemed unacceptable--granted, it sort of looked like a thick wire coat hanger thing ( a headset stand) that screwed into a base unit. I had carried it thru the same airport at least twice before.

"The airline will hold them for you for thirty days, sir!" as they also pull out a tiny little eyeglass screwdriver that I've had in my bag for ages. As if I'll come back for perhaps $5 worth of stuff, so I bent the hanger thing and tossed them in the trash.

Now I carry a self addressed large tyvek-kind of padded envelope with $5 of postage on it, just in case something else, like a watch, becomes verboten and I don't want to trash it. Most airports have USPS boxes handy, as far as I see.

If I was a MailBoxes ETC kind of owner, I might want to investigate setting up a prepaid UPS/FedEx kind of thing near the security gates for travelers suddenly faced with a dilemma...I've heard from many of my industry friends that they're not as apt to carry a laptop as often, any more, either.
 
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