Trip to the USA ..

Kris · Post by **Kris** » Wed Nov 24, 2004 8:46 pm

Hi,

I am planing for a trip to the USA in April, to attend Celebration 3. One day I want to go as Indy.. and what is Indy without a whip (ordered from Molorom!)

And as I have to make the trip Belgium-USA-Belgium, I want to make sure my whip gets trough security and customs ..

Any word of advice ?

(Oh, and I checked already at the organizers of C3 on their whip Policy during the con, they replied with: "As long as it is not waved around in any unsafe manner it should be ok." )

Post by **Mike** » Wed Nov 24, 2004 9:01 pm

Your best bet may be to FedEx it to the hotel you'll be staying at.

I was looking forward to C3 myself, but it looks like another event may be keeping me from it.

Have a great time.

Mike

Kris · Post by **Kris** » Thu Nov 25, 2004 9:08 am

FedEx .. and what if funds don't allow that ?

Neolithic · Post by **Neolithic** » Thu Nov 25, 2004 9:33 am

I hear courier pigeons are cheap.

Maybe just standard post?

Kris · Post by **Kris** » Thu Nov 25, 2004 9:36 am

Can't I just take it along in a suitcase?

binkmeisterRick · Post by **binkmeisterRick** » Thu Nov 25, 2004 9:41 am

You may be able to stuff it in a suitcase as long as it's checked luggage instead of a carry-on item. I'd check with your airline's policy (as well as the policy of any other airline you may be taking) to see what they recommend.

bink

Neolithic · Post by **Neolithic** » Thu Nov 25, 2004 9:50 am

Leaving France I was able to get a can of Letap Leather conditioner on a plane in my carry on luggage.

I don't see why a leather whip would prove a problem in check in bags?
If you can FedEx it, why couldn't you just as easily stuff it in a case...

Good luck, Kris.

IndyMo · Post by **IndyMo** » Thu Nov 25, 2004 10:29 am

binkmeisterRick wrote:You may be able to stuff it in a suitcase as long as it's checked luggage instead of a carry-on item. I'd check with your airline's policy (as well as the policy of any other airline you may be taking) to see what they recommend.

bink

Checking it in with non carry-ons is the best and safest way too go. less hassles all the way around.

Mo

Snakewhip_Sable · Post by **Snakewhip_Sable** » Thu Nov 25, 2004 10:35 am

I posted something about this elsewhere.

I got hassled a bit for bringing my bullwhip from Canada to California, the US Customs folks randomly search a few check-in suitcases - even though they're not carry-on bags - and I was questioned about my bullwhip, though they let me pack it through. The next week, it was mentioned that bullwhips would no longer be allowed as carry-on (so I suspect before 9-11, they were allowed).

Anyway, another thing to mention is DON'T MAKE JOKES WITH THE CUSTOM FOLKS! Use that as a mantra.

You should have no trouble if it's stuffed in a suitcase which will ride in the belly of the plane, but DO NOT attempt to bring it as carry-on... or you'll have to go through the check-in and security lines a few times.

Scandinavia Jones · Post by **Scandinavia Jones** » Thu Nov 25, 2004 10:56 am

I wrote:When x-raying a bullwhip (I did this to mine) the metal spike looks pretty menacing. It is basically a truncheon. For the same reason you're not supposed to bring a policeman's nightstick on board - even big rifle scopes with steel housing are banned.

Why would you want to bring a whip into the cabin? There are perfectly good baggage holds in modern-day aircraft. You say you're to be trusted, your bullwhip/pocket knife/Gerber tool/whatever is in good hands... If I had a buck for every time I've encountered that argument in the checkpoints, I'd be treating you all to the QM summit.
The problem is not you, the average guy/gal/gearhead. Heck, I believe I would trust many of you guys to bring a Bowie knife or a loaded revolver on board... it's not about you. It's about the worried people crammed together on board an airliner. Most of all, it's about the stranger sitting next to you. What if someone seriously dangerous gets hold of your weapon?

When I work in airport security, everyone's a stranger to me - I must be consistent and not let anything pass that might be used for unlawful interference on board - and that goes for everything that might be unsettling to the passengers.

More on this here.

Swindiana · Post by **Swindiana** » Thu Nov 25, 2004 12:17 pm

Yup, listen to the guy above.

Traveling with this gentleman was actually one of the most learning experiences of my life when it comes to "stuff you didn't know". It's amazing what a ton of inside information there is to know when it comes to planes and airport stuff. And this only between us humming a ToD medley and me trying to explain to the cabin crew why I had no pants and a fez on while photographing the video screen.
-Beep, beep.

Good luck with bringing your whip. There shouldn't be any trouble if you check it in inside a suitcase, like mentioned. This is what SJ and I did when we went to the UK, no sweat. Taking mentioned bags to Harrod's and having a suitcase packed with a holster and a whip to big to go through the X-ray machine, now that's another story.

Btw. Did you find a way to do screen grabs, Scandy?

Regards,
Swindiana

Scandinavia Jones · Post by **Scandinavia Jones** » Thu Nov 25, 2004 12:41 pm

Thanks for your confidence in a simple airport serf, mate!

Swindiana wrote:Btw. Did you find a way to do screen grabs, Scandy?

Of stuff going through an airport X-ray machine, that is? I've been doing some investigations... there is a way, but I need to go through certain channels to get access... more to come.

Post by **Ken** » Thu Nov 25, 2004 1:41 pm

I went from the UK - US and then back from US -UK with whip in my check in luggage and never had any hassle or even questions.

Ken

Snakewhip_Sable · Post by **Snakewhip_Sable** » Thu Nov 25, 2004 3:22 pm

Swindiana wrote:...and me trying to explain to the cabin crew why I had no pants and a fez on while photographing the video screen.
-Beep, beep.

Before I ask, "What the H-ell?!" this sounds remarkably like an average day in my life... This is me in my Not-Indy Gear (on the right):

Okay, now what are you on about? Please explain that comment.

Scandinavia Jones · Post by **Scandinavia Jones** » Thu Nov 25, 2004 7:49 pm

Chiming in on the oriental headwear and pantlessness:

Check out this thread Snakewhip. Scroll down to the 17th post from the top and you shall be illuminated...

Snakewhip_Sable · Post by **Snakewhip_Sable** » Thu Nov 25, 2004 8:32 pm

LOL! Yep, typical day for me.

Robert Duke · Post by **Robert Duke** » Sat Nov 27, 2004 7:27 pm

Kris wrote:Hi,

I am planing for a trip to the USA in April, to attend Celebration 3. One day I want to go as Indy.. and what is Indy without a whip ...
And as I have to make the trip Belgium-USA-Belgium, I want to make sure my whip gets trough security and customs ..

Any word of advice ?

Do as Indiana did in Raiders when he was packing his bag. He threw the whip and the gun in his suitcase. That's what I'd do too. I carry guns around a lot when I perform along with my whips. Don't leave home without it.

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