[Scan-DC] Fw: United Airlines confiscated my scanner.

[Daniel Brown]

Purely anecdotal evidence here - but I took a complete HF station in
my carry-on last year, flying United, going to Bahamas. Rig, Tuner,
antennas, audio interface, assorted cables, laptop, etc. Went through
TSA security no problems other than a slightly higher than normal open
the bag and look in at one airport. United, as far as I know, had no
idea I even had the gear, other than my small roll-aboard looked kinda
heavy when I put it in the overhead bin. That said, I used a "normal"
looking suitcase and a messenger bag with nothing to identify either
specifically as a "gear" bag. I kept my rig packed up and under wraps
the whole time I was in transit. I tried to look as much like every
other traveler out there as possible. Didn't need to attract any
unwanted attention, official or otherwise.


I'd agree it doesn't seem like the whole story is there. How would the
airline even know? TSA yes, thats their job. But the airline? Just put
it in a bag and keep it out of sight.




On Mon, Mar 28, 2016 at 7:04 AM, Andrew Clegg
<andrew_w_clegg at hotmail.com> wrote:
> Earl,
>
> I know that airlines forbid _using_ scanners or ham equipment on board (they have for decades), but I have never heard of them forbidding you from having them in carry-on luggage. I cannot find anywhere on the United Web site where they state this. The only restrictions for carry-ons seems to be hazardous/flammable materials. Something seems very wrong with this incident.
>
> Andy
> W4JE
>
>
>> On Mar 27, 2016, at 10:37 PM, Alan Henney <alan at henney.com> wrote:
>>
>>
>> This was the text from Earl’s e-mail.  I don’t know why it disappeared:
>>
>> From: Earl Suitor
>> Sent: Sunday, March 27, 2016 10:43 AM
>> Subject: United Airlines confiscated my scanner.
>>
>> I just want to let my friends in the radio community know that yesterday United Airlines confiscated my $500.00 scanner & my $500.00 ham radio, and embarrassed the hell out of me at the Denver Airport. I am being made to ship these items home at my expense [and nothing better be broken]. This is not a TSA rule/regulation. Both radios are allowed by TSA in the carry-on. Both radios have passed through TSA screenings 8 times in the past w/o so much as an inquiry. On this flight the radios were even openly placed in the basket for visual inspection [not in my luggage] and passed. On the flight the stewardess asked me about the ham radio & I told her what it was, and showed her my Federal FCC Amateur Radio license. She had a hard time finding it but showed me the United list of what may or may not be carried in carry on. Scanners & two-way radios are on the list. So she took them [I was very nice but steamed] and then had three customer service people escort me and my wife from the aircraft at Denver [not TSA.... just United folks]. They treated me like a criminal & publicly embarrassed me and my wife. I offered to remove the batteries from both and was denied this. I pointed out that neither can transmit on aircraft frequencies. As I said I am being made to ship these items home at my expense.
>>
>> Hopefully [for them] both will arrive shipped to my home w/o damage.
>>
>> They also lost our luggage for 4 days out of a seven day trip & offered no compensation. We are pressing them on this. So, needless to say I am not too happy w/ United.
>>
>> So I am and encourage you to boycott United and if you must fly "The Friendly Skies" and for Gods sake, put your radios in the luggage and not in the carry-on. BTW: I like to put valuables like radios in my carry-on so they will not get lost or broken.
>>
>> Please tell all you friends.
>>
>> Earl C Suitor
>> WV4NSS
>>
>>
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-- 
Dan Brown
brown at brauhaus.org