2008 Summer Nationals

[teacup]

Did they show you what it looked like?

New challenge for Fencers: Does earning bottom tier elite status on an airline (usually takes 30 flight segments or 25k miles) save enough in baggage fees to be worth concentrating all those flights on one airline?

I would say, no. To me, it is better to get the best price and time on a non stop flight. When airfares are compared, I include extra charges due to luggage, taxes, etc. (Taxes are higher on connecting flights.)

Southwest isn't charging for bags so if possible, fly them.

Unfortunately, many times the day event schedules, forget the close of check in, aren't posted early enough to use reward miles with airline frequent flier plans, so in my opinion it is better to get cash or any airline rewards on Capital One, as well as getting miles on the four major frequent flier programs, One World, Star Alliance, SkyMiles and SWA.

[Peach]

Did they show you what it looked like?

I hope that the TSA is a little more sophisticated than to expect terrorists to use a cartoon bomb icon to blow up a plane

No, they never showed it to me--they don't show passengers anything, just treat us all with equal bland suspicion. I'm beginning to think I should just up-end my carry-on into the bin and reassemble on the other side, because I'm so often asked to unpack for a reason I didn't anticipate--and I travel enough that I anticipate a large number of reasons. This time it was eyedrops (yes, in a clear plastic bag) on the way up and belt buckle on the way down.

[irishfolker]

When we were flying out to Chicago, one of our fencers was asked if he was carrying a spaghetti strainer in his carryon.

[KD5MDK]

I hope that the TSA is a little more sophisticated than to expect terrorists to use a cartoon bomb icon to blow up a plane

I was focusing too much on the ribbon to think of that.

[pacer]

Quote:
When we were flying out to Chicago, one of our fencers was asked if he was carrying a spaghetti strainer in his carryon.

LOL, Here in Denver, the screeners seem to take particular delight in being able to correctly identify a mask.... Once, the more senior screener, while smiling at me, asked the newbie if he could figure out what it was ("remember we talked about these...?"). And nope, I wasn't wearing a club jacket.

[journalmom]

When we were flying out to Chicago, one of our fencers was asked if he was carrying a spaghetti strainer in his carryon.

No wonder 9 out of 10 times, they open my carry on bags with masks in them. Ha!

[KD5MDK]

LOL, Here in Denver, the screeners seem to take particular delight in being able to correctly identify a mask.... Once, the more senior screener, while smiling at me, asked the newbie if he could figure out what it was ("remember we talked about these...?"). And nope, I wasn't wearing a club jacket.

That's awesome.

[happy]

Speaking of flying, I saw this and thought it might be useful - it's a list of airlines and their baggage rules/fees:

http://www.kayak.com/airline-fees

[Inquartata]

Actually, that's pretty close to what they told me. One day I asked a TSA supervisor if I would be allowed to take one on, and the told me that it would be considered a weapon and they would not allow me to take in on.

I'd love to see how they word the rule that defines it.

I've a co-worker who once worked for the TSA. She says that they are plagued by inconsistent and ever-changing policies. ( "There are national SOPs. And regional SOPs. And single-airport SOPs. And shift-specific SOPs. And they all conflict." )

I carry a small but quite heavy glass bottle of cologne, with square corners. Drop that into a sock and you've got a pretty serviceable cosh. But it's never raised an eyebrow.

I've flown dozens of times with one of those plastic Blue Ice blocks, to keep a lunch cold. Then the last time I flew, it was suddenly a "liquid or gel", despite the solidity of it...

[peet]

Also note I had my test weight rejected in my carryon at LAX, so you probably can't carry that on to save weight in the weighed luggage.

Jerry Benson has a kinda funny story about that:

TSA, finding his test weight: What's this?
J: It's a measuring device
TSA: What do you mean?
J: I'm officiating at a sporting competition, and this is one of the tools.
TSA: Do you know how much this weighs???
J: 750 grams.
TSA: How come you know that??? (casting suspicious look)
J: As I mentioned, it is a measuring device....



-p

[notalent]

I've a co-worker who once worked for the TSA. She says that they are plagued by inconsistent and ever-changing policies. ( "There are national SOPs. And regional SOPs. And single-airport SOPs. And shift-specific SOPs. And they all conflict." )

I carry a small but quite heavy glass bottle of cologne, with square corners. Drop that into a sock and you've got a pretty serviceable cosh. But it's never raised an eyebrow.

I've flown dozens of times with one of those plastic Blue Ice blocks, to keep a lunch cold. Then the last time I flew, it was suddenly a "liquid or gel", despite the solidity of it...

Thie blue ice is a gel in it unfrozen state, which over the legnth of a flight it's (correct use of apostrophe peach?) likely to return. TSA gets a pass on that one, more so when you think of the amount energetic materials that could be stored in it.

[telkanuru]

My own personal experience is that fresh lemons look very much like hand grenades on x-ray.


I've never had my carry-on bag with my mask searched, but I always love watching the face of the examiner as he tries to figure out what the heck this thing is. For added amusement, stuff your body cords inside some cloth and put that in your mask. You can get some pretty artsy designs going.

[oldguy]

I see that equipment check will be available on Monday. Will there be any vendors set up? My son is in need of (at least) plastron, jacket and lame. I'd like to have him try on some different brands for fit. He is fencing early on Tuesday, so a head start on Monday would be great, at least for the lame so it can be stencilled.

[Peach]

I've never had TSA question the mask, even though I generally carry it on crammed with wires, overglove, breast protectors, and sabre lamé. Weird.

(correct use of apostrophe, yes)

[mfp]

No, they never showed it to me--they don't show passengers anything, just treat us all with equal bland suspicion. I'm beginning to think I should just up-end my carry-on into the bin and reassemble on the other side, because I'm so often asked to unpack for a reason I didn't anticipate--and I travel enough that I anticipate a large number of reasons. This time it was eyedrops (yes, in a clear plastic bag) on the way up and belt buckle on the way down.

It's not everyone -- you must look or act especially suspicious or threatening.

I have gone through airport checkpoints some 30+ times in the last year and yet to have anyone ask to look in my carryon ...

This includes a flight last night where my carryon bag contained a large metal box with lots of switches, dials, wires and circuitry; an aviation transceiver, an aviation GPS, a automotive GPS, a digital SLR, a small digital camera, a subnotebook computer, a PDA phone, another cell phone, some seriously dense battery packs, random cables and chargers, and a "Gorrilla tripod" large and heavy enough that it could be used to club a baby seal and its mother.

But it's good to hear the TSA is doing their job protecting us from the likes of you and your eyedrops.

[brtech]

Usually they aren't open, although they are often around setting up, and sometimes you can at least try things on.

There really is plenty of time to get some gear in the morning if you get the equipment checked on Monday.

[oldguy]

We will be there early on Tuesday, I just hate to be the chooch asking for an emergency stencil (again).

[Inquartata]

Thie blue ice is a gel in it unfrozen state, which over the legnth of a flight it's (correct use of apostrophe peach?) likely to return. TSA gets a pass on that one, more so when you think of the amount energetic materials that could be stored in it.

Hey, steel is also a liquid at the right temperatures.

Meanwhile C-4 is neither a liquid or a gel. It is quite solid, and remains so at normal temperatures. It can be molded into any number of innocuous-looking shapes. Painted. Glazed. Etc. And yet, the TSA is worried about bottled water...

But really, the anecdote was more about the Blue Ice going through without raising an eyebrow on 5 or 6 flights out of the same airport before someone finally decided it was prohibited...

[edew]

Strips all set. 60 strips done in 3 hours. That's 3 minutes per strip! (And, ooh, my aching back! And arms. And knees. And fingers.)

[KD5MDK]

You worked very fast!

Now, what are the armorers going to have to do on Monday?