Plane carry on help

[Katdaddy]

We are flying to Yellowstone area for a short vacation in a few months. This is my first plane trip in 30 years so I am needing a little help from you experienced travelers. I have a Camelbak Trailblazer pack which I use for short day hikes. Will this make an acceptable carry on bag? If not what do you recommend? Do I need something specially designated as a carry on bag? All of my travels for last 6 years have been with a fifth wheel camper, so I can carry anything and everything I think I will need. Flying is going to be a real challenge for me.
Thanks for your help.

[ballistic]

It depends ;). Are you checking baggage? How long is your flight? How many layovers?

In my carry-on, I usually carry a change of cloths and toiletries (see TSA guidelines (http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/prohibited/permitted-prohibited-items.shtm)) in case my checked baggage gets lost/delayed. Foods/snacks, reading material, MP3 player/iPod, anything valuable that you don't want to check (camcorder, laptop, jewelry, etc). If you need any meds, keep those in your carry-on. You are allowed one carry-on piece of luggage for stowage in the overhead compartments and one personal item (small bag, backpack, briefcase) that can fit under the seat in front of you.

Wear shoes that you can slip on/off, and put keys, jewelry, watches, money clip (minus money), cell phone, etc in your carry-on before going through security and then put them back on after you clear security. Put your belt and shoes in the same bin. It will make it go much faster.

[Codeman]

You might want to check out TSA's What To Know Before You Go (http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/prohibited/permitted-prohibited-items.shtm) and 3-1-1 for Carry-Ons (http://www.tsa.gov/311/index.shtm).

Also, LuggageOnline (http://www.luggageonline.com/tsa-airline-regulations.cfm) has carry-on size/weight restrictions.

[WillCAD]

I have a Trail Blazer, too.

Size-wise, the pack is definitely acceptable to use as a carry-on, even if it's full. If it's very full it may not fit under the seat in front of you, so you might have to put it in the overhead bin; keep this in mind if you put anything fragile in it, like an iPod or DVD player, because the stuff in the OH shifts during take-off and landing and could crush fragile items inside a soft pack.

But the liquids regulations will prohibit you from carrying any water in it, so to make things safe, easy, and simple, I'd recommend that you remove the bladder from it and pack the bladder in your carry-on. You can put it back in when you arrive.

It's also a good idea for outdoorsy types and EDCers like us to make a very thorough inspection of our carry-on bags when we pack them to make sure we haven't accidentally left a prohibited item (such as sharps) in a side compartment somewhere. A few people I know have accidentally forgotten stuff like pocket knives, dinner forks, and scissors in their carry-on bags, and either wound up getting them confiscated or having to mail them home from the airport terminal. It's a minor inconvenience, but since so many of us here on the EDCF carry knives that cost in excess of $100, having one confiscated would suck, big-time.

Ballistic's suggestions are all excellent. I like to empty all of my pockets into my carry-on before I even arrive at the airport, except for my ID and boarding pass. I will usually put a sandwich-size Ziploc in an outer compartment of my carry-on, just to keep the small items from my pockets from falling into the bag and getting lost; once past security, I can then easily put all of my pocket junk back into my pockets where it belongs.

If you travel with a laptop, it's also a good idea to practice taking the laptop out of its bag while standing up and wearing the bag on your shoulder, becuase you will have to do this in the security line and put the laptop into a plastic bin all by itself to pass it through the x-ray scanner. And if your laptop bag falls open and its contents spill onto the floor when you open it, that would be highly inconvenient and a little embarassing!

One last tip - if you still shoot a film camera, DO NOT PACK FILM IN YOUR CHECKED BAGS! The x-ray scanners used on checked bags wil ruin film of any speed. The x-ray scanner used on carry-ons can damage film, too, but depending on the speed of the film it can require multiple passes. Still, I prefer not to have my film x-rayed at all, and any time I fly with film I make sure to get it hand inspected. See my web page for complete details on why and how:
http://willcad.org/image_film_tips.html

Enjoy the flight!

[Katdaddy]

So you empty all change, keys and other pocket contents into a baggie. Does this go in the bin with the liquids or stay in the carry on bag? I'm guessing the carry on also goes through the xray machine? Painfully obvious that I am inexperienced at this isn't it?????

[WillCAD]

So you empty all change, keys and other pocket contents into a baggie. Does this go in the bin with the liquids or stay in the carry on bag? I'm guessing the carry on also goes through the X-ray machine? Painfully obvious that I am inexperienced at this isn't it?????


The stuff from my pockets just stays in the carry-on. The only reason I put it into a Ziploc is to keep it all together, so it will be easier to put back into my pockets after I'm through security.

Yes, everything you carry on the plane goes through the x-ray machine, except you. You go through a metal detector, which is why you have to empty out your pockets and let your pocket contents go though the x-ray machine with your carry-on bags.

You do have the option to ask for hand inspection of a few items that might be harmed by the x-ray scanner, namely undeveloped film and undeveloped disposable cameras. Electronics like digital cameras, laptops, PDAs, phones, etc. won't be affected by the x-ray scanner at all, but film can be damaged.

When I go through the security checkpoint, I wind up taking myself apart thus:

Me, my shirt, pants, and socks, my ID and boarding pass, all go through the metal detector.

Meanwhile, my stuff goes through the x-ray scanner. The scanner has a conveyor belt under it, so you might hear people use the term, "on the belt" to refer to this; your stuff goes on the belt, and the belt feeds it under the scanner. A TSA person on a stool behind the scanner looks at your stuff live in the x-ray scanner, as the stuff moves past on the belt.

TSA provides plastic bins for you to put your stuff on the belt; the bins are just big enough to hold a large laptop, or two pair of adult shoes. When you get to the beginning of the belt, you grab some of these bins and put your stuff in them for the trip through the x-ray machine. My bins usually look something like this:

Bin 1: Laptop. NOTE- Laptops must be in a bin by themselves, with nothing else in it.

Bin 2: Shoes, belt, jacket, and the baggie with any liquids and gels (see the links Codeman posted above for more info on what goes in the liquids and gels baggie). Any other loose stuff I might be carrying can fit into this bin, too.

Bin 3: My carry-on bag, containing my digital camera and its accessories, my phone, all of the accessories for my laptop, and the baggie with the junk from my pockets. Since the carry-on I use is more rigid than your Camelbak, I usually don't bother putting it into a bin, I just put it right on the belt. But it would be a good idea for you to put your Trail Blazer into a bin, because the lose straps might get caught in the belt someplace, and that could lead to all manner of hassles.

Bin 4: Carry-on #2. I usually travel with only one carry-on bag, a rolling backpack that holds both my laptop and my camera equipment, but many people travel with two bags. Again, if your carry-on is fairly rigid and doesn't have trailing straps, you can usually just put it right on the belt without a bin.

Extra note: if I'm travelling with film, I keep it in a 1-gallon Ziploc in the top of my carry-on; when I get to the belt, I take the film bag out, hand it to the TSA agent at the metal detector, and say politely but with utter confidence, "I'd like this hand-inspected, please." Sometimes they try to give me the old line of bilge about how the carry-on scanner doesn't damage film, but I tell then, "I know, but I have high-speed film in there, and that WILL be damaged by the scanner." That has always been enough. The TSA screener will take my film bag aside and swab each roll of film or disposable camera with an explosives detector, and I'll get it back at the end of the belt when the rest of my stuff comes through.

At both the beginning and end of the belt, there are metal tables where you can put all of your stuff into the bins, and where you retrieve your stuff after it comes out of the scanner. Sometimes these can get a bit crowded, so keeping your stuff neat and organized is key to prevent accidental mix-ups or leave-behinds. It also allows you to get out of the way quicker so the folks behind you can get through.

Most airports have benches or chairs just past the end of the belt where you can sit down to put your shoes, belt, and jacket back on, but some do not. Slip-on shoes are very helpful in this regard, but if you don't have slip-ons, then at least wear sneakers. Hiking boots, combat boots, or anything that takes more than 3 seconds to put on or take off will only delay you and everybody behind you! Since you're going on a hiking vacation, I recommend that you pack the boots in your checked bag and wear footwear that's lighter and easier to remove and replace.

I know all of this stuff seems pretty complicated, but some pre-planning and preparation will go a long way toward getting you through security with no delays or hassles. Keep it linear:

1) At Home: Check carry-ns to be sure they contain no prohibited items like pocket knives, multi-tools, or C4. Add an extra empty baggie to your carry-on to receive the stuff from your pockets. Put all liquids and gels into a Ziploc per the TSA regs. Wear shoes, belt, and jacket that come off easily, and choose comfy clothes that have little or no metal on them.

2) Upon arrival at the terminal: Remove everything from your pockets except your ID and boarding pass, and put all this stuff into the extra baggie you put into your carry-on.

3) Getting into the security line: Keep ID and barding pass in hand - they will be inspected at the entrance to the line. Once in the line, keep them in your pockets - do not put them in carry-on or jacket.

4) In the security line, waiting to get to the belt: Remove jacket and belt. Remove laptop from bag.

5) When you get to the belt: Put laptop in one bin, carry-on in another, and everything else in another. Take of shoes and add to the bin with jacket, belt, etc. If travelling with film, hand film bag to TSA screener. TSA screener will again look at your boarding pass as you pass through the metal detector. If you've done it right, you won't set off the metal detector.

5A) If you set off the metal detector: Don't panic! This is routine; you won't be sent to Gitmo or mowed down by a pimply-faced National Guardsman with an M-16 (those guys never carry live ammo anyway). But you will be led to the side slightly and passed over with a hand-held metal detector wand. Listen carefully to the TSA screener - he will tell you what to do, and the wanding process will only take a minute.

6) At the end of the belt: Collect your stuff as quickly as possible and make like a shepard - get the flock out of there. The easiest way to do this is to gather everything in your arms and carry it to the chairs or benches nearby, and put yourself back together there.

7) Take a deep breath, and find a place to relax till your flight boards.

[Katdaddy]

Thanks WillCAD. Very informative!! That answers most of my questions. This is very stressful for me. I don't like flying to begin with and all the security stuff, plus having to dramatically cut back on what I normally travel with is killing me!

[Katdaddy]

Thought of another question last night; does wallet go in carry on? Will xrays damage strip on credit cards? Thanks again!!

[gizzyeq]

Thought of another question last night; does wallet go in carry on? Will xrays damage strip on credit cards? Thanks again!!


Of course they go in your carry on...actually best is your pants! Why would you want to trust the throwers with your wallet/cc's? Not to mention if they lose your luggage...twice the pain
X-rays wont damage the strip....Magnets will!

Edit to add: Best best advice as mentioned before is to be calm and relaxed...and sort of expect "some" hassles/annoyances/delays so that when and if anything does happen you'd of expected something so it takes the "edge" off and you can be a bit more relaxed

Don't forget to take off your watch BEFORE you get to the scanners ^_^ everyone always forgets to take off their watch and/or big *** jewelry(thin stuff is ok...just no 1lb gold chains etc hehe)

Easy to take off comfortable shoes is a really good thing if you end up traveling often...and just in case if your really worried about an item getting thru the scanners...carry a SASE(self addressed stamped envelope) and if its a problem at the scanner drop it in the envelope and ask for a mailbox...tons of people do this and its a great backup just in case

[Katdaddy]

Well yeah, the wallet is always in my pants pocket. I was just wondering if they wanted it in the carry on for scanning purposes and if xraying would damage any of the strips on the cards. I have not flown on a commercial airline in 32 years so I am a total dip when it comes to this. Thanks for everyones patience and advice!

[WillCAD]

Well yeah, the wallet is always in my pants pocket. I was just wondering if they wanted it in the carry on for scanning purposes and if xraying would damage any of the strips on the cards. I have not flown on a commercial airline in 32 years so I am a total dip when it comes to this. Thanks for everyones patience and advice!


I always put it in the baggie with the other stuff from my pockets.

I don't know if the metal detector would damage the magnetic strip on my credit and debit cards, but I do know that the x-ray scanner will definitely NOT harm them, so I put my wallet through the x-ray scanner with my carry-ons. Besides, I also don't know if the metalic content of the stuff in my wallet is high enough to set off the metal detector when I walk through, so I err on the side of caution.

[inthedark]

Check out some of the other threads regarding carry-on, it should give you a good idea of what you can and can not carry. The main things to avoid are liquids, lighters, and any type of weapon. There are some exceptions to the rule, but don't bring anything with you that you aren't willing to throw away on the spot. So leave the fancy leathermans and antique lighters at home. Remember, it's up to the screeners discretion, so even if you're technically right, there isn't much you can do if they don't want to allow it pass the security.

When I'm going through security, I usually empty my pockets and throw EVERTHING inside my carry on except for my boarding pass (sometimes they check as you go through the metal detector) and passport (if required). That includes watches, wallets, cellphones, belts, change, etc. It just makes things a lot quicker and easier, and I don't have to worry about forgetting loose change or anything. Most of the delays are caused by people who always seem to forget their cellphone, keys, or have bottled water in their bags, even though you're standing in line for at least a 1/2 hour staring at the signs that tell you to remove everything and put it in your bag. :rolleyes: If in that rare case everybody follows the rules and prepares ahead of time, the security line can move quite fast (and by that I mean a slow walking pace). You will have plenty of time at the gates to put everything back in your pockets at your leisure. The only thing you need to worry about is film, everything else is fine.

If this is your first time flying in a while, allow yourself a LOT of time to check in and go through security, at least 2 hours if you're on a cross country flight. Lines are probably a lot longer than your remembered. And I dont' know if you're checking in bags or what, but always carry a spare change of clothes and one days worth of stuff with you. That way if the airline misplaces your luggage, you're not screwed. But most of all, have fun. Don't worry too much about it, flying isn't that big of a deal. Don't overpack either, you can buy most anything you need at your destination.

[Katdaddy]

Thanks guys! I may be overthinking it a bit. I guess I would rather ask a lot of quesions here than be the idiot who stares at the signs for an hour and then holds up the line.

[bpa]

Thanks guys! I may be overthinking it a bit. I guess I would rather ask a lot of quesions here than be the idiot who stares at the signs for an hour and then holds up the line.


Don't worry about it. There's always somebody. If not you, it will be someone else. You get philosophical about it after a while.

[ttate90303]

Good write up gang. I too have had my share of fun getting thru the TSA and all the restrictions. One way I got around the belt was to wear convertible cargo pants which had a webbing style belt - so no metal. Everything else mentioned here is good stuff to practice. I'll add the plastic baggie to my list for storing pocket stuff.

[Katdaddy]

Lots of good info in response to my question. I mentioned a Camelbak Trailblazer in my original question as a possible carry on. What do you guys actually use for yours?

[inthedark]

I use a Timbuk2 underground, which is just a normal backpack.

Are you planning on checking in luggage, or trying to pack all your stuff onto your carryon? If you want the maximum allowable carrying capacity, most companies will make bags specifically for that. A lot of them are called "Maximum Legal Carryon" or something like that. Two examples are the Pagtagonia MLC (guess what the MLC stands for?) and Outdoor products Ultimate Carryon, and you can find something similar to those in every Target or Walmart store. However, just because they're legal carry-on bags doesn't mean you always want to carry that large of a bag. I like to use a smaller backpack stowed under the seat in front, that way I can have access to the bag without having to get up and disturb everyone. That's especially important if you aren't in the aisle seat. If you're checking in luggage, your camelbak should be fine to hold everything you need for the flight.



Don't worry about it. There's always somebody. If not you, it will be someone else. You get philosophical about it after a while.


The absolute truth. Leave yourself plenty of time to get through security, especially since 9/11, and be prepared to deal with delays. The usual experience is something like this:

Find the shortest line and stand in it.
Watch the other lines pass you up as you don't move for 20 minutes
Pass no less than 3 signs (with pictures) telling you to remove your shoes and laptops from the bags, and no liquids over 3 oz.
Listen to the TSA employee yelling out those same rules for 45 minutes like a broken record
Get near the front of the line
Hear the baggage screener ask the person in front of you if he has a laptop in his bag
The answer will always be "Yeah, why?"
Wait for a few minutes while he/she digs out their laptops from their bags (it's always going to be buried under everything else)
Wait for them to go through metal detector
Wait for them to come back and start unlacing their shoes because they didnt' read the signs or listen to the TSA. Usually they'll be wearing combat boots or some other form of footwear with about 3 feet of laces
Watch them go through the metal detector
BUZZ!
Watch them empty their pockets of 1 lb of keys, wallets, $5 in change, a cellphone, and other random electronics
Watch them go through metal detector
BUZZ!
Watch them come back while mumbling "I didn't think my watch would set it off"
Watch them pass through metal detector for the third time

Then you just breeze on through the metal detector and grab your bags, while the person in front of you is having their bag searched. I normally don't hang around long enough to find out what's going on, but I usually overhear something like this, "Whaddya mean I can't bring that gallon of costco-sized hand lotion on the plane! But it was a gift...." <--- I'm not making this up, I saw someone trying to bring about a gallon of lotion on the plane one time.

It's actually pretty funny to watch, what normally is a 10 second process per person can be 4-5 minutes. It much less amusing when 6-7 of those people are right in front of you, all doing the exact same mistakes as the person in front of them. Don't worry about being one of those people, you won't be. Not unless you happen to be standing directly in front of me on your next flight. ;D

[Katdaddy]

LOL! I love your description. That sounds just like what I would expect to encounter. I work with the public so that sounds very close to the truth. Yes, we will be checking luggage so I will have hopefully the minimum in my carry on.
The more I find out the more questions I have. Your mentioning the watch made me think of my wedding ring. It has mysteriously shrunk over the last 10 years and I can't get it off without the finger going with it. Do I need to announce this in advance when going through the metal detector?

[WillCAD]

I've used a lot of different carry-ons over the years, but lately I've been using an American Tourister wheeled backpack that I got from WalMart for about $40. It has a padded laptop compartment, plus a large main compartment, a smaller "files" compartment, and the typical pen/pencil type compartment in the front. It's semi-rigid, so it doesn't compress when empty and offers a bit of protection for fragile items within.

The reason I chose this pack was that it had room for both my laptop and my camera gear, plus most of their accessories, which you should never put into checked bags. It's big enough to hold all that stuff, but small enough to use as a carry-on (though it will not fit in the under seat area, it has to go into the overhead), and it's got good, smooth wheels on it. Since I usually load it down with a lot of stuff, having wheels and an extendable handle is a must for getting around the airport without breaking my back. It also has a top-load configuration that makes it easy to get the laptop out when going through security.

I never use it as a backpack, though. I have buckled the two backpack straps together to form a single shoulder strap for short carries where I can't use the wheels.

Overall, it's about 20% larger than a full Trailblazer.

By the way - if you are in the security line and see someone around you doing something that will obviously hold up the line, let them know, politely, that what they're doing will probably cause them problems when they get to the belt. Many people are just too dense to listen to general announcements or read signs, but if someone tells them specifically, they will usually get the message.

[inthedark]

I wouldn't worry about the a ring, it's not big enough to set off most detectors. Depending on how sensitive they set them, you can probably get away with small metal object like a key or two, maybe a small belt buckle, but large keychains, steel toe boots, heavy watches, and the like will set it off. Even if you do set if off, there is always a secondary screening process where they use the hand wand and wave it over your body to find out what part of you is doing it.

What time of the year are you going to Yellowstone? I spent about 3-4 days camping there last summer, I loved it and can't wait to go back. Don't forget to bring a raincoat or umbrella there. It seemed like there would be sudden thundershowers everyday, only lasting maybe 1/2 hour, but it would rain hard enough to get you completely soaked in minutes. All that waiting in the security lines will prepare you for the traffic jams caused by the bisons wandering onto the roads. It's well worth it though to be sitting in your car and have a herd of bison walking by within 5 feet of you. They are HUGE!

[Katdaddy]

Thanks for the heads up on the umbrella and rain coat. Hadn't thought about that. We are going around the middle of May. I am looking forward to seeing bison up close and personal!

[Tikigod]

Yellowstone... I am jealous. i have not been in quite a while.

I travel weekly and don't take off my ring, necklace, or belt (small buckle though) I have not had any issues... In the winter, my jacket has zipping pockets, so I put anything (watch, blackberry, wallet, and keys) into the different pockets and zip them up. That way I don't have to dig through my bag for them. ziplock is also a good idea. For a bag I carry on a small roller bag and then either a eastpack back pack with laptops or if I am not carrying a laptop I carry a camelback mule.

Take your shoes and jacket off no matter what. I see people that think that since they don't have metal in their shoes they can walk through. This is not the case.

Last tip is make sure you have anything you want to use on the plane (books, etc) in your hand or in your pocket when you board. it is tough to get things out from under the seat, or worse if you forget them in the overhead. Boarding is a little rushed as everyone is trying to get past you to get to their seats...

Overall, it is not bad, just relax and know that it takes a little while and you will be through before you know it... Have fun on your trip. :)

[wmcamp0]

Anyone know if you could carry a SF Defender 6p on board? I carry one for my edc, and have a trip in a couple weeks. if i don't go ahead and switch it out, I will forget I have it in there.

Thx

[greenLED]

There's tons of reports on CPF of people carrying lights with crenelated bezels and had no problems.

[Brules]

I've flown quite a bit and never had to remove my Omega Seamaster (watch). It's never set off the metal detectors.
Off the topic, my brother was flying into a small Asian country a couple of years ago and realized he forgot to remove a pocket knife, he then noticed the metal detector was unplugged. He just laughed and walked right thru the metal detector with no problems.

[Katdaddy]

I just wanted to check back in and thank everyone for your help and advice. I followed your advice and the trip went off without a hitch. My poor wife got a little flustered and tried to walk through the metal detector with her purse over her shoulder. TSA agent ordered her back to the belt. One thing that aggravated me a little; I had TSA approved locks on our checked bags. When we got to our destination the lock on my bag was gone. I had put the lock on my wife's bag through the zippers and the zippers were torn off of the bag. Nothing but clothes and a shaving kit in my bag so nothing of any value to pilfer, just ****** me off that the lock was gone. Anyway, thanks again for helping to make this a good experience!

[inthedark]

Well you can't just say everything went fine and not give any details about the trip. We'll need a full trip report with pictures.

If the zippers were ripped off, that could possibly have happened during the handling. Things get caught on those baggage carousels or conveyers and rip things apart. On my last flight I saw some poor persons bag get shredded at the baggage claim. There was a sharp piece of metal sticking out that just happened to catch it at the right place, it was almost like watching a wild animal tear apart it's prey on the Discovery channel.

[Katdaddy]

Yeah, I figured the zippers could be something getting caught in machinery and nothing to be done about it. The lock missing and nothing torn or damaged is something else. It was a TSA approved lock so I know they didn't have to cut it off. I was also told that if they went through your bag they were supposed to leave a note. No note so I wonder if some baggage handler cut it off looking for goodies. I only took 280 pictures on the trip. We went to Yellowstone and it was wonderful! I love mountains and wildlife so I was in heaven.