Traveling on an airplane

[treb76]

My family and I are traveling to Colorado for the spring break holidays and I would like to take my lasers with me. I am wondering what kind of things I might run into with airport security. I have removed the batteries from all three lasers I will be taking thus rendering them useless
-one pen-style bluray at 76mw
-two romisen rc-a2's
one with a 6x diode
other with a long canned red
both at 250mW...

I see no regulations prohibiting the carry-on of laser pointers or flashlights for that matter.
What do you guys think? Will they hassle me over any of my lasers-namely the flashlight hosts?

Also a side note- none of the hosts have a warning label fixed to them.

 

[x101xtreme]

I've done this before on several occasions. Just make sure you remove the batteries, and leave them in your carry-on during the entire flight. I think it's safer to keep them in your carry-on, just in case something happens to your luggage bag.

I have one 140mW green and another 125mW green that I've taken with me on my plane trips in the past. I've brought my lasers from Seattle to China, Taiwan, Canada, and Hawaii all without any problems. As long as you don't take them out during the flight, and remove the batteries before boarding, you'll be fine.

 

[treb76]

Made it through with no issues.

 

[pseudonomen137]

In all likelihood you'll be fine, but you never know what may happen these days. I've taken lasers on a plane before without problems, but its still not a good idea. At the very least if you gotta take 'em, put them in your checked luggage, don't carry them on you.

While you probably won't have any issues, with today's paranoid security can you imagine how quickly someone carrying "dangerous, home-built, unmarked, class IIIB laser weapons" (take them as TSAs words, not mine) could get into some serious trouble

 

[BrewCityMusic]

I was reading this thread again and just realized that I took my green 200 with me when I went skiing in Colorado last month and never even thought about it, I had it (as always) in my briefcase with my laptop, etc, batteries in it and everything...

Either way, though - next time it goes in the checked luggage, just to be safe!

 

[tmcquaig]

I wouldn't carry them in a carry on. I find the you can check just about anything though.

 

[treb76]

lols. yeah, they even allow one to check swords...

But there was zero issue with the security. Didn't even pull my bag aside to do a visual/hand check- where they dig to find a suspicious item they saw on the xray machine.

BTW, I flew to denver from IAH in houston.

 

[laser83]

I wouldn't risk losing an expensive laser trying to carry it with you on the plane. If you can check guns in as baggage I'm sure "flashlights" will be no issue. Just don't leave the batteries in.

 

[Joe]

Hey just thought I would add:

I am a pilot so I fly all the time and go through security around 12 times or more per week. Only once has the TSA even blinked at my bluray pointer. (it is in a dorcy host) They pulled it out of my jacked and started asking questions. I just told them that it was a laser pointer and warned them that if they turned it on they best not look at the beam or they would risk some serious eye injury. So they had me turn it on and show them that it was a working pointer. I even told them that it would burn things. I told them that I made it myself out of a PS3 and a flashlight. They werent too concerned at all. They did ask me about people shining lasers at airplanes. I told them that I just shoot back with my pointer! There are currently no regulations or restrictions on carrying lasers with you at all. I would be cautious though on carrying some of those hack-job pointers with you. You know the kind where people use lame stuff for the host like old laser pointer cases, PVC pipe and stuff like that. They might get a bit jumpy with those. As long as it looks like it came from a factory somewhere they wont even blink. After all; the only things the TSA is looking for these days are liquids and gels. You can even get a firearm through without too much trouble! And just a side note just because I am a pilot the only things I enjoy are not removing my shoes at the security check point and the ability to carry unlimited liquids. They scrutinize airline crews just as much as anyone else. I cant even carry a pocket knife or leatherman with me and I dont even need those things to do harm. Heck, why are they taking my pocket-knife when there is a big crash ax in the cockpit?

 

[Joe]

... "dangerous, home-built, unmarked, class IIIB laser weapons" (take them as TSAs words, not mine) could get into some serious trouble

Yeah but the thing about that is the TSA employees barely have a GED let alone a HS diploma most of the time and wouldn't have the foggiest clue what class III B even means.

 

[Jimmymcjimthejim]

there is a big crash ax in the cockpit?

;D
Great info Joe.

I have some experience also;
While traveling on vacation for Christmas, I took a green pen laser to give as a gift. Had absolutely no problems! The batteries were even in the case.

 

[dr-ebert]

Heck, why are they taking my pocket-knife when there is a big crash ax in the cockpit?

I read about that in an article. A pilot got so p****d off that he had to give up his pocket knife that he stormed into his cockpit, grabbed the emergency ax and slammed it on the table of the security people. Unfortunately no info was provided on their reaction...

 

[Joe]

[quote author=Joe link=1236488599/0#8 date=1237516071]Heck, why are they taking my pocket-knife when there is a big crash ax in the cockpit?

I read about that in an article. A pilot got so p****d off that he had to give up his pocket knife that he stormed into his cockpit, grabbed the emergency ax and slammed it on the table of the security people. Unfortunately no info was provided on their reaction...[/quote]


Yeah I am not sure who it was, but I heard that he was "detained."

 

[Lotus_Darkrose]

"I've had it with all these motha f-in lasers, on this motha f-in plane!"

 

[electricmonk9@aol.com]

As long as you check it you should be fine. If you try to take it through security (especially in US) some screener is going to get all freaked out and confiscate it for no reason.

 

[Joe]

As long as you check it you should be fine.  If you try to take it through security (especially in US) some screener is going to get all freaked out and confiscate it for no reason.

Not true. Tell them it is a laser pointer and they will send you on your way.