Bar and lines in your carry on?

PDXF · Since 10 Sep 2008 116 Posts Stoked

Has anybody gotten harassed by TSA about having bar and lines, like 3 sets, in their carry on luggage?

aksurfer · Since 30 Aug 2010 92 Posts Anchorage, AK

I just got back from Maui and I always carry all my heavy stuff on the plane with me. Bars, lines and even futures fins and not one hassle yet.

apctjb · Since 19 Aug 2007 438 Posts Obsessed

Ditto; never a problem with bars in my carry on.

knotwindy · Since 25 Sep 2011 617 Posts Addicted

got a new guy one time, called his supervisor over and they let me on no problem,
but you just never know, do ya?

eric · Since 13 Jan 2006 1867 Posts XTreme Poster

Been pulled over a few times by security, but never a problem once I explain what it is

Eric

Seaplus · Since 06 May 2012 17 Posts Keller, Texas

I've never been stopped yet one trip I went thru security with no problems but my buddy got stopped. TSA said bar/lines could be used as a weapon, so they made him go back to the ticket-counter and check it as baggage...what a joke - I guess TSA could creatively think that any object could have the potential of being a weapon.

Icarus · Since 13 May 2009 27 Posts Hood River

Best practice is to take it out of your carry-on bag and place it in a bin by itself, just like you would for your shoes or a computer. This allows the security screened to view the bar(s) and clear them as a non-threat.

melokitegirl · Since 28 Oct 2008 396 Posts Where the wind blows Obsessed

I always bring bar & lines in my carry-on. I was hassled once going to Jamaica. It helps to bring a kiteboard magazine showing what the bars are for. Once they see that, then they are usually cool and start to ask questions about the sport.

MKHR · Since 28 Aug 2007 116 Posts Hood River Stoked

One of the more frustrating things with the TSA is how different they are from airport to airport. PDX is awesome and they seem to be pretty lax.

I tried to carry-on surfboard fins in San Diego (to PDX) and they confiscated them. $100 in fins down the drain. I think they are just sharp enough to go either way, depending on the TSA agent you get.

Nak · Fri Dec 21, 12 10:24 am

Security can be different depending where you are. In the US, the worst place I've been has been Maui. Japan is stricter than the US, partially because they have a very difficult time with anything out of the ordinary. I carry my kiteboard through security--in uniform--most everywhere but Maui and Japan. In Maui, they insist the board is a weapon and make me check it, even when I'm in uniform. In Japan, they insist it can't fit in the overhead??? I'm like, "No, It's not going in the overhead. It will be in the cockpit with me." They come back with "No, No, only pilot go in cockpit." BTW, this is in the crew line with me in uniform and ID. So I tell them, "Yes, that's true. I'm the pilot." they always come back with "No,no, pilot not kiteboard. No. No. You must get pilot permission to carry on Kiteboard." So I'm "Yes, yes. I'm the pilot and I give my permission for me to carry on my kiteboard." That really gets them, it takes about 5 minutes from that point with all sorts of gesturing and and talking between 4 or 5 security guys before they come back with "That not fit in overhead. You check." Then I'll get a Rep from my airline to come down to security and OK the kiteboard. Then a security guy will follow me to the airplane to make sure I don't put it in the cockpit without my permission. LOL I literally have to walk on the airplane with the board, turn to the guard and tell him "I give myself permission to bring this in to the cockpit." The guard always takes it very seriously, while I try desperately not to fall on the floor laughing. Very Happy

Always leave extra time when taking kiteboarding gear through security. Always assume you may have to go back to the ticket counter to check any unusual items, even though most of the time you won't have too. Leave your kiteboarding gear in your carry on, don't pull it out to put it through the X-ray. Security at the airport is just as much about the show they put on as the actual security. Seriously. That is the actual truth. If you take it out, a guard may decide that he should forbid it because that will look strict to everyone watching. Leave it in your carry on, but leave all weird items on top, so it is very easy to open the carry on and see them if the guard wishes. Make their job easy, be friendly, and it is far more likely that they'll let you pass with a smile. Make their job hard, be a jerk, and they're far more likely to choose you to be the one they make an example of.

Addict · Since 26 Jun 2012 101 Posts Stoked

Not worth the risk. I almost lost mine in airport in NC and would have been screwed without it.

pollywog · Since 07 Aug 2009 291 Posts Obsessed

Nak · Sat Dec 22, 12 2:09 pm

Yeah, it always makes me chuckle when I think about it. I always wonder what the guard would do If I refused to give myself permission after I got on the airplane with the board... Kind of a "Gollum" moment: "I'm bringing my precious into the cockpit." "No Smeagol, no! Don't bring the precious into the cockpit!"

pollywog · Since 07 Aug 2009 291 Posts Obsessed