<p>Getting ready go with DD on the plane in the AM. I have packed her keyboard into a regulation size box (less than 62 inches total), but to do so I had to cut the box down and tape it shut. Now I wonder if TSA will require the tape to come off at some point. I am afraid it would spring loose and have to be taped again but not sure they would do that. Anyone try to do this before?</p>
<p>checked baggage is OK. Even if it was carry on, it may not flag.</p>
<p>TSA opened every checked bag we had last week coming back from vacation. They did it with everyone, wanded the inside. They did not open a clear plastic long bag holding a beach umbrella though.</p>
<p>^They don’t do that b/c they always reccomend things in plain clear sight so it makes there job easier…</p>
<p>Just a reminder – assume everything in checked luggage that plugs into the wall and costs more than $50 will be stolen by a TSA employee, who will then route your bag onto a foreign flight to cover it up. It’s happened to me on two flights in the last two years, on two different airlines.</p>
<p>WashDad- You story makes me think again about what my husband is doing next week; maybe someone can give me an idea.</p>
<p>Husband and daughter are driving her car to school for move in day. The drive is over 18 hours and this is her first year with a car. My husband is quite handy and is taking his tools to help the girls put things together and maybe hang some shelfs and other things. He would like to take his drill as well as smaller tools-hammer, screwdrives, etc. The problem is that my husband will be flying home on Airtran. We figured he would just pack the tools in his checked bag.</p>
<p>First question-can you check a drill as well as the other tools in a regular suitcase or should he take a small toolbox and check that? What are the chances the drill makes it to his final destination? I am going to call Airtran but I know what I am told may not be the case.</p>
<p>Snowball- Honestly, it depends on the quality level of the tools involved. </p>
<p>For a dorm move in scenario, I recommend a slip joint pliers,a needlenose, a 6" adjustable wrench, a four in one screwdriver, (or a high quality multibit one with torx and allen bits or a Chesco or Irwin type folding set of allen wrenches), a small hammer, (nothing heavier than a 16oz. head, although a 12 oz. is fine for what he’ll need it for), a small (8 or 12 foot) tape measure.</p>
<p>Unless you plan on assembling a loft bed arrangement or lots of kd furniture, it’s probably unnecessary to carry the cordless drill/driver. Additionally, rather than risk a pro quality high end drill/driver being pilfered from luggage, an ok low cost cordless can be bought new for $30 at Lowes or Home Depot enroute.</p>
<p>Shelves mounted in dorm room? Highly doubtful, damage charges… read your housing contract; most forbid permanent mount fixtures.</p>
<p>If you’re moving d into an apartment, ok, and quite probably more tools might make sense, but what I’ve listed will suffice in almost any dorm scenario.</p>
<p>Consider leaving the tools with d. They’ll come in handy, and then I’d add a good set of mini screwdrivers, a pair of dikes, and a pocket sized maglite. Trust me, the tools left with the student come in handy.</p>
<p>OP:</p>
<p>TSA randomly checks bags, so assume that it may be opened. If so, they’l have to tape it back up. Thus, suggest you get to the airport real early, so if TSA will have time to tape it up and get it loaded on your plane.</p>
<p>snowball, yes, you can check a drill in a suitcase or whatever. But, since it’s likely large and metal with wires, expect that the TSA screen machine will flag it for manual inspection.</p>
<p>WashDad: you need to find a new travel agent. :)</p>
<p>In the airport at Maui I have seen contractors waiting for flights back to Oahu at the end of the day with their tool boxes. Can’t you carry on a cordless drill?</p>
<p>S’s bag coming back from a summer program was opened by TSA. Only thing that was obviously missing was the overpriced TSA luggage lock! It is a combination lock but can be opened with a universal key that TSA staff have. We bought it from Brookstone when they first came out. Cost like $20. Not a majorly expensive item to lose, but I wish they’d out it back on the luggage where they found it!</p>
<p>Snowball-
You might want to consider letting H buy an inexpensive tool kit when they arrive in your dau’s college town (electric screwdrivers are handy at college) and just leave the tools with your dau. We did that with our s, and the tools came in particularly handy when he moved off campus and had to put together a ton of IKEA furniture. He stored stuff on campus over the summer. I think the tools have survived-- and we are approaching sr year in a week or so. Good luck!</p>
<p>As an aside, I have found airtran to be much more accomodating than Delta! What cities are you dealing with??</p>
<p>jym:</p>
<p>son’s lock (~$15) was also missing when he arrived home last week. But, his flight originated in Helsinki so there was no way to tell who opened the bags. (There was no TSA insert stating that they opened it.)</p>
<p>Washdad-
That’s awful! How’d you figure out the part about the reerouting to an international flight? Was the problem wit theft and rerouting the bags fromteh same airport? That is relly sleazy.</p>
<p>We had an experience with Delta when our s went to his summer program. they charges us a $100 “oversized luggage” fee because the duffel was pretty stuffed. They then had us “prepay” and additional $100 because it “might be” oversixed on the way back as well, and s wouldn’t have $100 on him to pay for it. Turns out they didn’t charge him the $100 coming back, and we did manage to get the $100 credited back to our credit card, but it took a a bit of work at the airport to do so. I read an article recently that said the airlines were making a killing fromall these extra fees. I have to wonder of the staff get a bonus for generating these fees.</p>
<p>Sorry for all the typos above. Hope the post was legible.</p>
<p>Bluebayou-
I wonder what they do with all our locks? Think we’ll see them on ebay or something??</p>
<p>As far as locks - it is clearly stated at all airports - NOT to lock your luggage - they will be cut off - hence don’t use locks on luggage of any kind.</p>
<p>Oversized stuff - is also scanned - and unless you are one of the unlucky ones that is chosen for a bag search - most stuff gets thru without any hassel. Some oversized stuff will require an extra charge - some doesn’t - will depend on several factors. I recently flew with a bag of kites - was oversized and odd - and full of metal too LOL - was scanned on arrival to the airport - was also opened - there was that nice tag inside - but no other problems at all. It was my #2 piece of allowed luggage - so no extra charge - was not over the weight limits - so no extra charge as well.</p>
<p>If one is concerned about putting taking stuff to an airport that may not go thru (or you don’t want to worry about theft as well) - I would suggest - if in the continental US - consider shipping it - like UPS - to the destination - and then not worry about the hassles.</p>
<p>I do not believe that is correct, Jeepmom. These locks are specifically approved by the TSA. This allows the traveller to lock their bags, but allows the TSA to open them with a standard, universal key. I always feel bad for people whose bags are unzipped and stuff is spilling out all over the carousel at baggage claim. Much prefer to have these TSA approved locks. Haven’t had a problem 'til this recent trip our s took.</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/assistant/locks.shtm[/url]”>http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/assistant/locks.shtm</a> This is the info from the TSA website on their approved locks. Ours was bigger and sturdier looking, but was also bought shortly after they were approved, several years ago. Oh well, moot point, since it is a goner.</p>
<p>As for the oversize luggage, each airline posts on their webste what the baggage demension limits are. We’ve never had a problem with this particular bag before (and have used it for summer programs and ski trips-- it is pretty darned huge). But, it is unfortunately within the right of the airline to deem it “oversized” and charge us. We just never had it happe to us. I suspect it is entirely at the discretion of whoever is at the counter when we check in, and I did think about offering the guy $20 to let it through, but then I didn’t know what would happen on the return trip, and didn’t want S to carry and extra $100 (I wrote a ck out to Delta for him to take, but ended up doing the prepay thing anyway). Certain bags that are automatically oversized (like skis, golfclubs, etc) seem to be exempt from this “oversize” fee. However, boxes for things like bicycles can be hit with the fee. Since Delta has been in such financial ruin for a while, I suspect their employees are encouraged to find as many opportunities to slap on extra fees as possible. Grrrrr.</p>
<p>JYM626 we have been traveling alot lately and have seen - on several occassions - people told - before their luggage is even screened - to remove all locks - or they will be cut off - or after it is screened - it seems to trigger lock removal/search - no matter what kind of lock/approved or not.</p>
<p>It seems that a few weeks ago the criteria for luggage/screening/searches changed - got more strict - maybe this could be the reason for the locks being gone. Who knows.</p>
<p>(I do understand about the TSA locks and ones ability to know if a bag has been unlocked - which I think is a great idea - at least to be able to lock luggage - but it seems that system doesn’t always work :(</p>
<p>Hmmm… not sure whats with the change in policy. I’ve actually seen <em>fewer</em> signs lately about locked luggage. We have travelled in the last few weeks and did the dropoff-pickup with our s as well, and there was nothing posted that we saw about the locks. Perhaps different airports have different policies, perhaps they think that not having to unlock/lock with a key will save them a few milliseconds, or perhaps they are just getting lazy!</p>
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<p>Absolutely true, and that goes for overweight bags as well. BueSon had two bags on his return flight from college, both approximately the same size. One bag was 52 pounds, and the other was 30. Even tho there was a long line at the airport, the agent required son to move some stuff from one bag to the other. :rolleyes:</p>
<p>We’ve had the same thing happen to us, bluebayou! Nothing like having to move dirty, smelly mens ski clothes from one duffel to another in front of a long line of impatient people! :o</p>