At 12:40 PM 8/6/04 -0700, you wrote:
>On Fri, 6 Aug 2004, Vassilis Prevelakis wrote:
>
>> Well last year I travelled (from the US) to Europe with a suitcase full
>> of de-commissioned computers (incl. a Sun Ultra 1 which filled most of
>> the suitcase) and spare parts (about 5-8 year old stuff). Since I
>> couldn't care less about eproms or other media, I just let it go
>> through the normal checked luggage check. The suitcase was not locked
>> (as per guidelines) and I know they opened it (not in my presence, so I
>> don't really know how much time they spent looking though it), but
>> nobody said anything to me about it, and the suitcase went through
>> without any problems.
>
>Sending a computer through checked baggage doesn't even elicit an errant
>brainwave.
>
>> If you are packing clothing with the equipment (as padding or to save
>> carrying a second suitcase) I would advise you to pack them in
>> transparent plastic bags, so that the checkers can go through them
>> without spilling them all over the floor. Also avoid small unpacked
>> items that can fall off the suitcase during the visual inspection
>> process.
>
>You know when your bag was checked because the TSA puts a form in your bag
>saying they did.
I beg to differ. I sat in Kansas City airport two years ago and spent
abut 3 or 4 hours with the security people and watched as they opened
numerous bags and I didn't see them put a sticker on ANY of them. Even when
flying and reclaiming baggage I've never seen one of those stickers.
OK I may as well tell this story too. I was in KC and went scrounging
with Gary Hildebrand and found a black Bell and Howell Apple II. I had
called the airline and changed my departure two days ahead of time. But
they failed to schedule the new departure so when I got to the airport
UNSCHEDULED the red flags went up and I was tagged to be inspected
everywhere that I went. Luckily I arrived at the airport about 6 hours
early. I had to take EVERYTHING and go down to security and let them
inspect it (hence the LONG wait). I/they didn't have a problem with
anything but the Apple II and were going to send me to the maintenance area
and have them disassemble and inspect the Apple. Sheeshh! I said "Hey wait
a minute it opens right up" and showed them how to open the top so they
could look inside it. After that they were happy (until I got to the next
checkpoint!) I asked why they didn't just X=ray the Apple II and he said
that they were afraid that it might conceal plastic knives or something
that wouldn't show up on X-ray. I don't know why it would have mattered
since I was putting the computer in checked baggage but no one ever said
that logic or brains were required at TSA.
Important Lesson: NEVER show up at an airport with a confirmed
reservation! If you do, you're guaranteed to get the full treatment!
Joe
My bags are always checked by the TSA. They always seem
>to put things back in place as I packed them (well, except for my radio).
>
>> Finally remember that the people carrying out the inspection will not
>> use the same care as you in putting everything back in the suitcase, so
>> leave some extra space to accommodate the (less efficient) re-packing.
>> If your suitcase is a jigsaw with everything required to be packed just
>> right for the suitcase to close, then expect to see a mess at your
>> destination.
>
>I haven't had this problem at all.
>
>> I remember that while I was waiting to check in at the Philadelphia
>> International Airport I could see TSA staff trying to close an opened
>> suitcase. Now that was a royal mess, with clothing sticking out from
>> all sides and the suitcase refusing to come anywhere near to closing.
>> Eventually the just closed the two halves as much as they could and
>> used plastic wrap to keep the insides from spilling over. I bet the
>> owners would freak out, especially if they had clean and ironed
>> clothing
>
>Sounds like a case of incompetent morons.
>
>--
>
>Sellam Ismail Vintage Computer
Festival
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Received on Fri Aug 06 2004 - 15:58:35 BST