Heated vests & helmets through Customs
 

We have had conflicting replies about taking helmets as carry on baggage. Qantas has replied "That's fine" A US carrier has said now way, you may use it as a lethal weapon. Not even game to ask about the heated vest.
Looks like there is no other choice for the helmet, but I think the vest will raise a few eyebrows whichever way I send it.
Anybody else had any recent experiences????

Glen

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Six months after 9-11 I took a series of 10 flights, into and out of the USA on four different airlines, carrying helmets and there was no problem.

Regards

Nigei in NZ

Former airline pilot here (I don't mean that like it sounds), travelling with a helmet on our airline was not prohibited. Your "only" problem might be with the TSA (Transportation Security Agency- or Thousands Standing Around as we call them), rules vary from airport to airport- and person to person. You can get your e-ticket these days without checking in with the CSA's (customer service agents), the e-machine doesn't know if you have a helmet or not. So, you then have to clear the "security" folks (is this REALLY our last line of defense?) and board the aircraft. No flight attendant will turn you away with your helmet after you've cleared security- unless perhaps you're wearing it and have a strange look on your face. The TSA people have the final say with regards to what they allow through security. No airline I know of has a no helmet policy, nor does the FAA (Federation Against Aviation). You should have no problem travelling in the US with your helmets. I'm curious about which US carrier told you "no way" with regards to travelling with your helmet (and again, it wasn't an airline, just one person. His/her supervisor may well have said something else). Good luck on your trip. D.

I've also done it lots of times, in and out of the US and elsewhere, never even had anyone look at it. I DO carry it in a duffle bag, :eek2: because a. a helmet is awkward to carry, and b. as protection for the helmet, and I can carry odds and ends in it too.

I have transported my helmet on Swiss, Air Canada, and Air France, without anyone raising an eyebrow. Like Grant said, just put it in a duffel bag or bowling ball bag or something like that. Things might be different if you are taking a flight to, from, or within America - the security folks in America are much more twitchy and jumpy than elsewhere in the world.

As for the heated vest, I wouldn't suggest you wear it, that's for sure. I think you could probably take it on as carry-on baggage, but it would be best if you passed it through the x-ray machine in its own plastic bag, so the staff could see exactly what it is. Once they have a second look at the x-ray, they will see that it is harmless. The first look, though, might surprise them, so it might be a good idea to tell the person who puts it through the machine what it is, before they have a look at the picture. It would probably make the whole process easier if you could bring along a brochure or catalog from the company that made your heated vest, something that explains what it is and shows pictures of it. Chances are that the security screeners will never have heard of such a thing before.

Obviously, it would be better if you could pack the heated vest in your checked luggage. I normally pack mine in the saddlebag of the motorcycle, then ship the whole darn motorcycle as air cargo.

Michael

To their credit, they're "twitchy" for a big reason.

If you have it in a cloth bag, it should be no problem. I would never check a helmet - who knows how much it would get thrown around by the baggage handlers?!?

Last summer I flew from Frankfurt to Boston on Air France with my helmet as a carry on (openly, not in a bag). The personnel at the gate or security check point (don't recall which) had to check with a supervisor to determine if it was allowed, but it was. One of the Air France employees asked if I was afraid of flying and if that was the reason I had the helmet with me!! I wasn't sure if he was joking or not.

Mike
Idaho
www.rtwrider.net