[50mhz] [VHF] RE: Radios in carry on luggage

[William Pasternak]

Well, I can't match most of your stories, but heres one that worked 
well for us media types until about about 2 years ago.  When I was 
still working full time (as opposed to being retired and being busier 
than working full time) one of my long gone compatriots in the TV 
news business taught me this trick.  When he showed up at check-in, 
he would wear a jacket that had the station logo or pin on it and 
would ask if there were any "Complementary Media Upgrades" available 
on his flight.  Never once was he asked to show any form of employment ID.

I tried it and about half the time I would wind up in 1st or Business 
class on an el-cheepo 30 day advance purchase ticket.  I'd say about 
50% of the flights on the old America West (now US Airways) gave me 
and others said upgrades as did the now defunct TWA and Western 
Pacific.  Actually, TWA was the best of all on coast to coast 
overnights because they were running Lockheed L-1011's that were 
usually only 1/3 filled.  An L-1011 with only 40 to 50 passengers 
looks like the bleachers in a deserted football field!

That all went away when the economy tanked a few years back and the 
airlines became cheaper than hams in giving anything away free of 
charge.  And in case you have not figured it out, as far as I know 
there never was such a thing as a "Complementary Media Upgrade" -- 
but -- obviously many at the Cheek-in counter didn't know that.


At 05:19 PM 2/22/2011, WA5JCI wrote:
>Before 9/11 I flew to most parts of the world and always carried my 
>Case two bladed yellow trapper pocket knife along with various small 
>hand tools. By accident I discovered an easy way to come back 
>through customs. I worked for a government supported science agency 
>and we used various government forms etc. I had a message envelope 
>with technical papers inside in my brief case and opened it and was 
>waved through customs. After thinking about it a little I did that 
>each time and was waved on through. I guess government messengers 
>get an easy pass.
>
>de Pete WA5JCI
>
>
>
>
>
>At 06:57 PM 2/22/2011, Chris Boone wrote:
>>The idiots at the TSA vary from airport to airport....(gotta tell this with
>>a little humor in it...and further below, what happened BEFORE 9/11 with
>>LOTS of radio gear in bags)
>>
>>Last flight I did to Colorado in May 09, I flew through IAH Houston......in
>>my laptop bag, they would not let me take a Leatherman clone (the multi tool
>>tool...pliers, knife, skinner, can opener, etc..comes in handy with wire
>>antennas or radio work!)....even though it HAD made it through earlier
>>flights....IF I had the bag checked, it would have gone ok,,,I could have
>>had them MAIL it back to me..for $15?? It only cost me $14 so I let them
>>keep it; yet they let me go with 2!!!  6in long screwdrivers..one Phillips
>>that I use to unscrew radio covers on a regular basis!..checked 2 days later
>>when I came back..the clone was gone (I bet the TSA agent took it home)....
>>
>>NOW, flying  back from Denver with the same setup minus the Leatherman
>>clone?? (which I had used on MANY antenna installs including 6m ones!!) They
>>wanted to check not my PC  bag but my other one..???? Turns out I had a 6oz
>>tube of tooth paste...that was a nono....only 3 oz allowed!!....SOOO I took
>>the tube, opened it, hit it with my palm on the shelf and out came 3 oz....I
>>looked at the TSA person and said "any problems"??? She called a supervisor
>>over and said I was being a pain (well my plane left in 10 mins!!!) The supv
>>looked at me, I asked for their cell phone and told them to call
>>202-456-1414......the supv looked at me with a raised eyebrow....hmmm
>>something about that number...they dialed it...."White House
>>switchboard"...The supv hung up and looked at me with open eyes...I said if
>>they wanted to hold me, I was going to talk with my "uncle Charlie"....they
>>let me go....one of the other folks boarding with me came over as we ran to
>>the gate...asked if I really had an "uncle Charlie" at the White
>>House..NOPE!! never said that!! Just gave them the WH number and then said I
>>would talk with my "uncle Charlie" who happens to be a distant cousin and
>>works in a non government job ...but it never failed yet!! He was laughing
>>all the way to the plane! Find a copy of the 70s song Sugarloaf's "Don't
>>Call Us, We'll call you"...the last number in DTMF in the song? That's it...
>>(missing the leading 1!) Tnx to Casey Kasem for that one!
>>
>>BEFORE 9/11 I walked through DFW AND Boston Logan with two shoulder bags
>>full of ham and broadcast radio gear (had a live broadcast at Sam Adams old
>>brewery in Boston TWO weeks before 9/11)...got the wand and HEAVY inspection
>>at DFW but a hand wave and "have a nice flight" at Logan (I can understand
>>why the terrorists chose that airport...I could have had C4 or something
>>else in bag!!! They didn't wand or anything!!)
>>
>>However, in todays world, for a DXpedition??? Better to check your bags to
>>be sure....Otherwise, they MAY require you to power it up if possible
>>(sure...let me find a 12V car battery handy!! :)  You can get HTs through
>>without an issue..but anything else is hit or miss..
>>
>>Be sure to let us know where you are headed!!
>>
>>Chris
>>WB5ITT
>>
>>
>> > -----Original Message-----
>> > I am planning a couple of grid expeditions that will involve commercial
>> > flights, and wonder what experiences others have had with taking radios in
>> > their carry on luggage. Does TSA get very involved in this?  Did you have
>>to
>> > take it out of the case?  Demonstrate it?  Was it a bunch of hoops to jump
>> > through, or very smooth sailing?
>> >
>> > 73s John AA5JG
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