Multimeter as a carry on item (international flight)  - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: ytech15
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: December 24, 2016, 09:17:00 pm
content: Hey,I am flying to the US this week and I need to take my Fluke 87V with me , I am not willing to put it in my checked bags , Therefore I want to take in my carry on bag. Should I have problems doing so? Does anyone has some sort of experience with doing such a thing?Thanks in advance

author: KhronX
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 24, 2016, 09:42:14 pm
content: I've never attempted that (never needed to / considered it), but i wouldn't be at all surprised if theydidn'tallow at least the probes on board - sharp metal objects, y'know?They shouldn't object to the meter itself, though. A few years ago i had a whole bunch of small circuit boards and components in ziploc bags (part of moving to Finland), and the security dolts "had to" take'em out of my bag, looked at'em, i explained what they were (or tried to), but i got through no problem.The whole 'Murricah thing may well be a whole different ball-game, though

author: Someone
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 24, 2016, 09:43:16 pm
content: Put it in checked luggage, they're indestructible and you just need insurance (which you should always have for work). The meter probably isn't a problem but the probes will be for the Australian security farce.

author: LHelge
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: December 24, 2016, 09:56:59 pm
content: I've brought a Keysight MSOX3024T as carry on without problems. They just wanted me to open the bag at the security check.Skickat från min Nexus 6P via Tapatalk

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: December 24, 2016, 09:58:22 pm
content: Put some sort of attachment on the probes to be safe (cover exposed needle), or put leads into checked baggage. Otherwise should be fine. I was carrying much stranger things than that.

author: trophosphere
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 24, 2016, 10:18:43 pm
content: I took my Fluke 87V through airport security last year and they just took it out of the bag, looked at it, and then put it back in. They did not give me any trouble. The probes that I had in my case were the Fluke TwistGuard types.

author: steve30
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 24, 2016, 10:52:07 pm
content: I've no experience of taking multimeters on aeroplanes, but I tend to take other expensive/fragile (ish) equipment with me on planes, and prefer to put it in the hold luggage, that way, no one can complain/mess me around.As a Fluke meter is very robust, I wouldn't be worried about putting it in the hold luggage.

author: Someone
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 24, 2016, 11:13:37 pm
content: For all of you in other countries, you've not experience the insanity of Australian restrictions which are tighter than those in the US:http://travelsecure.infrastructure.gov.au/onboard/what-i-cannot-take-onboard.aspxDon't forget, if they don't like the item for any reason its confiscated immediately without recourse or compensation.

author: ez24
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 24, 2016, 11:21:04 pm
content: Quote from: Someone on December 24, 2016, 11:13:37 pmI think people need to get over nudity and be required to fly in the nude with no carry on.

author: ytech15
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: December 24, 2016, 11:34:54 pm
content: Thanks for all of your help!I should've mentioned that I am planning to put my probes in my checked luggage. Regarding the meter itself , I am not willing to take the risk of landing and finding out my meter is gone...I may call the airport to look out for some info...

author: rrinker
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 25, 2016, 01:44:00 am
content: Quote from: ez24 on December 24, 2016, 11:21:04 pmAs this would cause no one to sit near my ugly fast ass, giving me a better flying experience, I fully support this.I recently took some components and Arduino stuff along to work on during my down time, but I just put the whole kit in my checked bag. I buried the box in my clothing to provide some protective padding. It was where I left it when I arrived, no issues.

author: GreyWoolfe
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: December 25, 2016, 03:30:00 am
content: Quote from: ytech15 on December 24, 2016, 11:34:54 pmI wouldn't necessarily trust the baggage handlers and the TSA agents. About 5 years ago I was traveling for company business and had my favorite Gerber multitool stolen out of my checked luggage. My boss did replace it for me, but still

author: Kohanbash
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 25, 2016, 04:23:56 am
content: I have taken multimeters on many domestic (USA) flights and several international (Chile, China) as carry on and have never had a problem with them.

author: ytech15
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: December 25, 2016, 10:22:46 am
content: Quote from: GreyWoolfe on December 25, 2016, 03:30:00 amThat's the reason why there is no way I am going to put my fluke in my checked luggage.

author: KhronX
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 25, 2016, 10:32:03 am
content: Mailing it ahead could be an option, then? Insured and everything

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: December 25, 2016, 11:08:07 am
content: Quote from: mrpackethead on December 25, 2016, 04:56:22 amLink name is rather suspicious. Contains: send, me, money and scams. And contains nothing but ads.

author: joseph nicholas
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 25, 2016, 11:30:13 am
content: Quote from: GreyWoolfe on December 25, 2016, 03:30:00 amOver the years with much travel I've had all kinds of things stolen from my luggage pre 911 and pre bag scanners. I assume when I don't get a package from China the same type of behavior is at work.

author: David Hess
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 25, 2016, 01:25:57 pm
content: Quote from: ytech15 on December 25, 2016, 10:22:46 amThe solution for this at least for flights within the US is to pack a firearm in the checked baggage with whatever you want not stolen. Then the checked baggage is inspected with your present, locked with a real lock with the firearm inside, and nobody else inspects it outside of your sight.

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 25, 2016, 06:12:14 pm
content: Quote from: David Hess on December 25, 2016, 01:25:57 pmOr pack an ornamental knife larger than 16cm long as a "promotional gift" inside the bag. Same thing applies, and it will also be locked in a special box, be delivered to the plane by a security guard and will be taken off by another.You have an extra half hour at the destination to get it back, but if it goes missing you can raise merry hell with all involved, and the press, about the lax security that allows theft.

author: David Hess
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 25, 2016, 07:32:00 pm
content: Quote from: SeanB on December 25, 2016, 06:12:14 pmThat would not work in the US since the regulations for traveling with firearms on a plane do not apply to edged weapons. It would have to be put into checked baggage but it would be treated the same as any other baggage (same with air guns but see below) and I think you would actually be more likely to get into trouble with some state laws.Some people find a cheap junked shotgun or bolt action rifle receiver which will be relatively small, counts as a "firearm" under federal law, and present little or no legal difficulties under adverse interpretations of most state's law. Some states like New Jersey though require resident permits to possess a firearm and will arrest you if they find out as people who get diverted to Newark because of bad weather occasionally find out. Illinois used to do this also but I do not know if that is the case now.Federal law is suppose to coverit but New Jersey (and Illinois last time I checked) does not care.Apparently a starter pistol or maybe airgun works also so that might be a possibility for traveling into or out of the US. Airguns are not listed as firearms under federal law however so I am dubious about them; they would have to be in checked baggage but TSA does not include them as firearms so I suspect it would be handled on a case by case basis. Incidentally, New Jersey considers airguns to be firearms so do not land there with one.https://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2006/09/expensive_camer.html

author: ytech15
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: December 25, 2016, 07:40:24 pm
content: Pretty sure I am going to take the meter in my backpack and the leads will go in to my checked bag. UPS minimum rate for the service I need is around 100-110 USD which is ridiculous.

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 25, 2016, 07:49:25 pm
content: I used to travel by air regularly in the military, and one afternoon, went direct from shooting range training. Only found out later that night I had around a dozen cartridge casings in my pockets, in my boots and floating around my luggage, just from the people next to me on the rifle range.I knew when the one dropped down my neck though, still burning hot. just was thankful I was to the left of the 20mm cannon, those casings travelled pretty far, plus the recoil was such that one smaller guy moved back 5m after firing 5 rounds with that one.

author: Delta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 25, 2016, 07:49:45 pm
content: It will be fine. I have flown loads of times with all sorts of weird looking PLC programming tools, test equipment and a rat's nest of cables stuffed in my laptop backpack (as hand luggage). A few times i've caught sight of the scanner screen as it's gone through, and I thought "shit, that looks well dodgy!", but i've not once even been asked to open the bag and explain it.

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 25, 2016, 07:56:02 pm
content: If you are travelling with a high viz vest, some steel toecap boots, battered luggage and rugged jeans they will not blink, assuming you are an industrial worker. Having a hard hat as part of checked luggage as well also helps pigeon hole you into the " industrial plant support" role as well.Doing that dressed in Armani suit and you will be singled out for "extra scrutiny" almost certainly.

author: georges80
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 25, 2016, 07:57:47 pm
content: Its luck of the draw and totally up to the person looking at the xray scan. I had to move some stuff from my main bag to my carry on once (dumb PER bag weight limits - the total weight of course remains the same!). Local US flight to LA then on to Oz and to Perth.Without thinking I grabbed some boxes from my main bag. One had drill bits - ooh no way did that pass the xray scan... Had to mail them back to myself. Arrive in Perth some 24 hours or so later and I'm unpacking and in my carry on (which passed xray fine...) was a butane (no gas in it) soldering iron complete with sharp pointy tip (in one of the boxes I had to re-organise). That soldering iron would have made a significantly dangerous weapon given the whole soldering iron handle - much more than few drill bits...But then a fruit can be a deadly weapon toocheers,george.

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 25, 2016, 08:11:00 pm
content: Here they make you pull any tablet or laptop out of your carry on for individual X-ray, cellphones included.Once recently I was pulled aside to check my carry on backpack that had 2 chargers, a bluetooth headset, headphones and a few other cables, bits and bobs in it. Must have looked dodgy on the X-ray screen but it's the same kit I've traveled with before and always previously gone straight through.Same kit on the return journey went straight though.For the OP, just carry it on and put it in a separate tray for close inspection and you'll be fine, leads in check in or course.

author: ytech15
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: December 27, 2016, 09:43:20 pm
content: So, I left it in my backpack going through the X-ray machine, they rerun it and after the second time they took it out of my backpack and put it into the machine by it self, they asked what is this , I told them that it's a multimeter obviously the guy had no idea what is it (:/) after a few seconds he said "OK" and let me pass.

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 27, 2016, 10:08:44 pm
content: Quote from: ytech15 on December 27, 2016, 09:43:20 pmOn your return trip place it in a separate tray like you're not trying to conceal it and I think it will go through better.

author: rrinker
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 28, 2016, 04:55:07 am
content: The rule here is anything electronic larger than a cell phone must go separate. That means 3 bins just for my laptop bag - the bag, my laptop, and I usually have my iPad in there so that has to some out as well. Granted some of these "phablet" phones are as bug as an 87V, but yeah, take it out and there will probably be no issues.

author: David Hess
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 28, 2016, 05:28:36 am
content: Quote from: tautech on December 27, 2016, 10:08:44 pmUnless one of the TSA agents knows what a multimeter is and is looking to acquire one. Then it will become a questionable item.

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 28, 2016, 10:50:20 pm
content: Quote from: ytech15 on December 24, 2016, 09:17:00 pmLeave it at home and buy another 87V there at the lower US price? You can never have too many, right?

author: ivaylo
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 29, 2016, 07:27:34 am
content: I carried a Tektronix TDS2014 in my backpack once. On the US side (post 911) they didn't say a peep. In Vienna this idiot woman started asking what is this, told her it's a computer. All went OK.

author: VK5RC
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: December 29, 2016, 08:44:16 am
content: Carried Multiband Tranceiver (Yaesu ft-817) aboard, batteries had to be out (and double insulated bagged - acc to airline ) and antenna disconnected. The scanning guys didn't even blink!

author: TiN
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 29, 2016, 03:59:26 pm
content: Had pair of Keithley bench meters in checked in luggage on round trip internationally (travel with them out for calibration).All went well, however it added me few gray hairs, I'm sure

author: TheAmmoniacal
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 05, 2017, 07:25:55 pm
content: I had DHL deliver a U1282A to my door just as I was heading for the airport, had no space in my luggage so I carried it onboard. Was only a Norwegian domestic flight though, had no problems. I hope it's still in spec after being x-rayed