Air Travel

Question:

http://www.smh.com.au/news/National/A-baggage-handler-took-my-camel-s… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> While we obviously wouldn’t put valuables in our luggage, I guess we > now have to worry about our clothes as well. Has this happened to > anyone else? > Yes. Iberia, LGW->MAD->RIO->SCL, with bags checked all the way through. > Someone stole a lightweight waterproof jacket from my wife’s rucksack. > We deliberately used old rather battered rucksacks for the trip and we > were a bit dismayed that something we needed for the trip had gone > missing, especially as we planned to do quite a bit more air travel in > Chile and Argentina. > We tied up the zips with bits of string and trimmed the ends so that > they would have to be cut off rather than untied, and we didn’t lose > anything else. > — > Simon Elliott    http://www.ctsn.co.uk

Response:

> How many times can they go through the machines without damage is the > point… I acknowledge once or twice may have no *noticeable* effect; > how many more times are safe  considering the other tourist site > security x-rays your stuff gets these days?  The pre-flight x-rays are > the only ones I hare a right and method to abstain and eliminate.

Why not just get your exposed film processed while traveling or mail it back home? When I shot photos with film, I would just buy mailers from a local photography store and drop them off at a post office during my travels, but these days, 1-hour photo places are common in many areas, so that’s an option for those who still shoot photos with film. The only reason not to do that that comes to mind is pros who may shoot with film that isn’t easily handled at 1-hour photo shops.

Response:

I don’t need the added expense if I can limit x-ray damage during the trip; every roll doesn’t go through every tourist site nuke, but they all go through the airport machines.  I can get nice size prints for just less that $3 per 24 exp roll with a coupon locally.  I’m taking Ten rolls; it adds up! Tim K

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> How many times can they go through the machines without damage is the > point… I acknowledge once or twice may have no *noticeable* effect; > how many more times are safe  considering the other tourist site > security x-rays your stuff gets these days?  The pre-flight x-rays are > the only ones I hare a right and method to abstain and eliminate. > Why not just get your exposed film processed while traveling or mail it > back home? When I shot photos with film, I would just buy mailers from a > local photography store and drop them off at a post office during my > travels, but these days, 1-hour photo places are common in many areas, > so that’s an option for those who still shoot photos with film. The only > reason not to do that that comes to mind is pros who may shoot with film > that isn’t easily handled at 1-hour photo shops.

Response:

How many times can they go through the machines without damage is the point… I acknowledge once or twice may have no *noticeable* effect; how many more times are safe  considering the other tourist site security x-rays your stuff gets these days?  The pre-flight x-rays are the only ones I hare a right and method to abstain and eliminate. Tim K

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I’m even going to ask for the dreaded "hand inspection" of my 10 rolls > (400asa) of unexposed film so it won’t get fogged by x-rays, no matter > how much they *insist* it is "safe"… > It is safe. I have had hundreds of rolls of film inspected by the x-ray > machines at check-in stations in the United States and Europe without > any problem at all. In this day and age its a moot point for me though > because I shoot digital now.

Response:

> I’m even going to ask for the dreaded "hand inspection" of my 10 rolls > (400asa) of unexposed film so it won’t get fogged by x-rays, no matter > how much they *insist* it is "safe"…

It is safe. I have had hundreds of rolls of film inspected by the x-ray machines at check-in stations in the United States and Europe without any problem at all. In this day and age its a moot point for me though because I shoot digital now.

Response:

I *dared* to order a ’special’ low-fat in flight meal too!  The last vestige of gratuitous gastronomical transcontinental flight perks… <Bwahahaha> Tim K – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> You may want to plan a meal after you go thru security.  The extra time > makes a nice cushion for problems and  will calm you after the ordeal.

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > I’m even going to ask for the dreaded "hand inspection" of my 10 rolls > (400asa) of unexposed film so it won’t get fogged by x-rays, no matter > how much they *insist* it is "safe"… > A few times maybe… add in all the times at museum and attraction > Tim K  <bwahahaha> >>I’ll just brave the security screening this year; NOthing is going > to be >>checked…  I’ll make sure I’ve got my allotment of matches anyway; > Two >>hole packs in lieu of a disposable lighter; not to forget my blunt >>scissors and miniature nail trimmer… bwahahaha…<g> >>Tim K >I dare you to try and take 10 sets of metal knitting needles through >

You may want to plan a meal after you go thru security.  The extra time makes a nice cushion for problems and  will calm you after the ordeal.

Response:

I’m even going to ask for the dreaded "hand inspection" of my 10 rolls (400asa) of unexposed film so it won’t get fogged by x-rays, no matter how much they *insist* it is "safe"… A few times maybe… add in all the times at museum and attraction Tim K  <bwahahaha> – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I’ll just brave the security screening this year; NOthing is going to be > checked…  I’ll make sure I’ve got my allotment of matches anyway; Two > hole packs in lieu of a disposable lighter; not to forget my blunt > scissors and miniature nail trimmer… bwahahaha…<g> > Tim K > I dare you to try and take 10 sets of metal knitting needles through

Response:

> I’ll just brave the security screening this year; NOthing is going to be > checked…  I’ll make sure I’ve got my allotment of matches anyway; Two > hole packs in lieu of a disposable lighter; not to forget my blunt > scissors and miniature nail trimmer… bwahahaha…<g> > Tim K

I dare you to try and take 10 sets of metal knitting needles through

Response:

I’ll just brave the security screening this year; NOthing is going to be checked…  I’ll make sure I’ve got my allotment of matches anyway; Two hole packs in lieu of a disposable lighter; not to forget my blunt scissors and miniature nail trimmer… bwahahaha…<g> Tim K – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> While we obviously wouldn’t put valuables in our luggage, I guess we > now have to worry about our clothes as well. Has this happened to > anyone else? > Yes. Iberia, LGW->MAD->RIO->SCL, with bags checked all the way through. > Someone stole a lightweight waterproof jacket from my wife’s rucksack. > We deliberately used old rather battered rucksacks for the trip and we > were a bit dismayed that something we needed for the trip had gone > missing, especially as we planned to do quite a bit more air travel in > Chile and Argentina. > We tied up the zips with bits of string and trimmed the ends so that > they would have to be cut off rather than untied, and we didn’t lose > anything else. > — > Simon Elliott    http://www.ctsn.co.uk

Response:

Pete, Thanks for your reply. Some thoughts: >Who would watch the cameras?

They would be recorded to tape, like most other cameras you pass at the ATM, 7-11, elevator, traffic intersection, hospital… >And are they going to cover the whole route?

At least the key points. A decent video camera and tape recorder will run you $300. There should be cameras at any point people are freely rummaging through checked luggage. In my girlfriend’s case, the thief examined the contents of her suitcase, chose the two best items (which together would have filled a backpack), and walked out of the airport with them. This is evidence to me of outrageous security lapses. >Inside the cargo hold as well?

I guess the question is: When you board your next plane, do you want a secure or insecure cargo hold? Planes already have cameras, though I’m not sure about in the cargo hold. If this is a place where large items can be stolen (and perhaps bombs placed) with impunity, then yes. Every bus in my city has a camera. Planes should too. >With the recent requirement by TSA to send checked baggage unlocked

(or with TSA-approved combo locks which amounts to the same thing), it’s a lot easier for theft to occur. Exactly, before we always locked our suitcases. The TSA changed the rules so I can’t secure my bag, but they refuse to make sure it’s secure. >Just make a claim and the airline will make all the right noises and

pay up. Thanks, that’s what we’re doing. But we also want the problem fixed. >Theft from checked luggage is rare

In Seattle alone it was $689,427 over a two year period. See: http://www.katu.com/stories/73487.html . How many $300 cameras can you buy for that kind of money? Burt

Response:

> While we obviously wouldn’t put valuables in our luggage, I guess we > now have to worry about our clothes as well. Has this happened to > anyone else?

Yes. Iberia, LGW->MAD->RIO->SCL, with bags checked all the way through. Someone stole a lightweight waterproof jacket from my wife’s rucksack. We deliberately used old rather battered rucksacks for the trip and we were a bit dismayed that something we needed for the trip had gone missing, especially as we planned to do quite a bit more air travel in Chile and Argentina. We tied up the zips with bits of string and trimmed the ends so that they would have to be cut off rather than untied, and we didn’t lose anything else. — Simon Elliott    http://www.ctsn.co.uk

Response:

What make you so sure that it wasn’t the security officers that ‘confiscated’ the clothes? As for explosive. Any explosive put in the aircrafts is ‘authorized’ by airport security. No, make that it’s ‘authorized’ to be strapped inside the body of the aircraft, since that if it’s put in the cargo hold of the aircraft it wouldn’t severly damage the aircraft.

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> My girlfriend had a favorite skirt disappear a couple of years > ago on a CHO-ORD flight connecting through IAD (which > is otherwise our preferred United connection versus CLT). > It was an expensive Banana Republic number. > I remember seeing her pack it in Chicago, her sister looked for > it high and low in Virginia.  It could only have gotten pulled > along the way. > gld >While we obviously wouldn’t put valuables in our luggage, I guess we >now have to worry about our clothes as well. Has this happened to >anyone else? Does anyone know if there are indeed cameras out the >luggage route?

Who would watch the cameras? And are they going to cover the whole route? Inside the cargo hold as well? Theft from checked luggage is rare, and so long as the thieves are reasonably discreet and don’t get too greedy, all but impossible to trace. An airline or airport would happily pay the occasional claim rather than pay for full time security officers and a camera system. Unless it became cost-effective for them to do so. With the recent requirement by TSA to send checked baggage unlocked (or with TSA-approved combo locks which amounts to the same thing), it’s a lot easier for theft to occur. Just make a claim and the airline will make all the right noises and pay up. Pete

Response:

My girlfriend had a favorite skirt disappear a couple of years ago on a CHO-ORD flight connecting through IAD (which is otherwise our preferred United connection versus CLT). It was an expensive Banana Republic number. I remember seeing her pack it in Chicago, her sister looked for it high and low in Virginia.  It could only have gotten pulled along the way. gld – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – >While we obviously wouldn’t put valuables in our luggage, I guess we >now have to worry about our clothes as well. Has this happened to >anyone else? Does anyone know if there are indeed cameras out the >luggage route? >Thanks, >Burt

Response:

My girlfriend just returned on an American Airlines flight from Boston to San Francisco. Two leather jackets and a shirt are missing from her luggage. I’m shocked- there must be no camera survalence or security on the route her luggage took to or from the plane. If these areas are insecure enough to steal bulky jackets, I doubt it would be hard to smuggle in an explosive. While we obviously wouldn’t put valuables in our luggage, I guess we now have to worry about our clothes as well. Has this happened to anyone else? Does anyone know if there are indeed cameras out the luggage route? Thanks, Burt

Response: