Can I carry-on lab equipments on plane? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: Shaun_G
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: November 04, 2021, 02:51:29 pm
content: This may not be your general question...I will be visiting Oregon, where there is no sales tax.So naturally, I was thinking of purchasing few lab equipments to upgrade what I have now and save on the tax.(I was thinking of purchasing a linier power supply, AWG, and a bench multimeter... it will be a large mass of metal.)However I did not think it will be smart to carry this out without a second thought.Does anyone have any experience with this?

author: Kjelt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 04, 2021, 02:58:15 pm
content: No experience, but common sense:the average airport security guard will slap you when you carry a bottle with more than 100ml liquid because it could be...... right.Now you are going to carry one or more metal boxes with displays, electronic components and wires in them.....counter question: what would the average airport security guard who is definitely not an TME aficionado think ?

author: NorthernWing
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: November 04, 2021, 03:07:42 pm
content: No experience flying with test equipment, but I'd say the only way you're getting away with it is if A) you're buying something in retail packaging, or B) security isn't feeling it that day and just wants to go home. I personally wouldn't try it, but that's me... maybe you'd get through after they hassled you about it for a while.Looking at my old Teledyne/LeCroy scope from the first generation of DSOs... I suspect someone would get upset if I tried to carry on a large box of ambiguous electronics with "TRIGGER" and "ARMED" buttons all over the front.

author: ejeffrey
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 04, 2021, 03:15:58 pm
content: I've carried weird equipment and tools with me through security. I generally get hassled about it, but it's usually OK as long as it doesn't have any sharp or stabby bits. But I'd guess the more, larger, and weirder equipment the more likely you are to run into trouble.

author: jmelson
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 04, 2021, 03:18:36 pm
content: I have traveled by plane, even in the TSA era, with electronic gear, cables, electronic boxes, etc. and not had any issue. One time I got some questions, I had a glass scintillator in a housing, and they wanted to know what it was. No issue after I explained it. I think maybe, one time in the distant past, I had a whole bunch of cables in a suitcase, and they wanted to look at it. As soon as they saw the cables were not CONNECTED to anything, there was no concern.Jon

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 04, 2021, 03:25:14 pm
content: What's not prohibited is allowed. And test equipment is not even prohibited to be taken in carry-on luggage. If some stupid security guard complains, ask them to show a rule which prohibits it. They eventually give up after arguing for <10 minutes, and let you pass in my experience. Taking it as checked-in luggage unlikely to even cause any questions. The only issue might be if equipment contains batteries. If there are some sharp probes or similar things, better place them into checked-in luggage.

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 04, 2021, 03:28:21 pm
content: Quote from: NorthernWing on November 04, 2021, 03:07:42 pmYou won't get it passed only if you have no backbone whatsoever or security guards are dumb beyond salvation. If latter is the case, ask for supervisor. They work according to certain rules, not what they personally deem (in)appropriate.https://www.tsa.gov/blog/2021/04/13/prohibited-items-week-2021Quote

author: Gribo
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 04, 2021, 03:29:46 pm
content: Just don't tell them it's avionics..

author: DrG
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 04, 2021, 03:40:52 pm
content: You are flying within CONUS?Carry-on? Odds are, you will undergo additional scrutiny. What happens then depends on a lot of factors. If you can be calm AND you have the bill of sale you can explain what you have and why you have it in your carry on. Explain honestly. If they don't like your explanation, I would expect that, at best, it will be checked for you.I once got scrutinized because I had a large decorative rock (an amethyst) and it confused the X-ray guy. I explained what it was and offered to show it to him (he didn't need my offer). I went through without further delay.Consider checking it as a package (well packed of course). Airlines are used to this and, of course, they have size and weight restrictions.

author: themadhippy
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 04, 2021, 03:44:30 pm
content: pack some instant coffee sachets in amongst the gear,it confuses security why someone is carrying coffee and they ignore the other dubious looking,but totally legal equipment

author: jfiresto
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 04, 2021, 03:50:25 pm
content: I carry electronic components and lab equipment between Germany and the U.S. which probably has tighter security. If they can not recognize something on x-ray, they may ask you about it, find and pull it from your bag(s), and x-ray the item(s) again. Sometimes they will first swab for explosives. I do not think this has ever delayed me more than 15–20 minutes, even when they have locked down the area – which they did on me once over a large, analog panel meter!

author: fourfathom
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 04, 2021, 03:55:14 pm
content: I've flown international, post-TSA, and carried a bunch of electronics gear, both nice brand-name stuff, and random bits of cable, circuit boards, etc. I usually get asked about it on the other side of the X-ray, but it's never been a problem. I've also carried sailboat radio gear, such as VHF hand-helds, EPIRBs and PLBs (emergency beacons) and the inspectors had never seen anything like it. One time we ended up having a quite friendly chat about sailboats and within a few minutes I was through the line.

author: rstofer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 04, 2021, 04:00:58 pm
content: Take your new toys to the local UPS/Fedex store and ship them home. You might want to wrap the boxes with packaging paper. Have the clerk mark them "Fragile" so the driver will know to use them as a step-stool. I would expect the factory packaging to provide adequate protection.Still, I don't see going to all this effort just to evade sales tax. We're pretty high around here at 10% but I still wouldn't spend any time trying to evade the tax.I see no reason to cause any interaction with TSA.

author: DrG
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 04, 2021, 04:08:14 pm
content: Quote from: themadhippy on November 04, 2021, 03:44:30 pmYeah, maybewherewear a Tee-shirt like this one:

author: fourfathom
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 04, 2021, 04:13:20 pm
content: And yes, the sales tax. I doubt that anyone here is going to rat you out to the Franchise Tax Board (or the equivalent in whichever state you come from), and it is a time-honored tradition for California and Washington State residents to buy stuff in Oregon to evade sales tax, but is the 7% - 10% savings worth the hassle and the moral peril?

author: bdunham7
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 04, 2021, 04:20:24 pm
content: Just pack them and check them and you'll have no trouble. Even if you carry them on, you will probably only be asked and then you just explain what they are. OEM packaging is nice if you have it. I've travelled with equipment, bulk food, a handgun, cash, fairly large quantities of pharmaceuticals and so on and never had to do more than explain. However I have been unable to transport any quantity of yogurt, apparently that is really bad stuff.

author: CatalinaWOW
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 04, 2021, 04:33:28 pm
content: I can't see how you could carry on enough test gear that the tax savings would cover the cost of the airplane ticket. Even if you were already planning a trip for other purposes the physical difficulty of adding a significant amount of gear to the luggage you would already need for the trip would stop me. From personal experience TSA will give you special attention, but will have no grounds for stopping you. The TSA issue is the smallest problem you will have with a large mass of carry on electronics.As other posters have said, most states law says that you must pay the tax even if you purchase it out of state. Your conscience may allow you to ignore this, but be careful about asking others to support your plan by such schemes as asking an Oregon resident to purchase and ship for you, or asking a snowbird driving a recreational vehicle to transport it for you.The most convenient and practical method for accomplishing your goal is to pack them and ship them to yourself. Properly packaged they will arrive intact.

author: fordem
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 04, 2021, 04:36:32 pm
content: I just flew (late October) from Miami to Guyana with a tablet oscilloscope in my carry on, I took it out and placed it in the same bin as my android tablet, with my laptop in a separate bin and ran the entire lot through the security scanner, no questions asked. All of my electronic purchases travel this way, and I've never been questioned as to what it is or why I have it.I've had my checked baggage opened and searched numerous times (TSA leaves a note when every they do it), it's usually triggered by objects showing up when they luggage is scanned, a power drill or similar gun shaped object will trigger a search.

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 04, 2021, 04:41:57 pm
content: It’s absolutely fine to carry it on, both in theory (law) and in practice. Even easier if you have the receipts/invoices, since that’ll make it clear to any idiot TSA person (most of which are actually not idiots in my experience) that it’s a commercially available product.DO NOT check it as checked luggage. That’s asking for trouble.Shipping it to yourself would likely cost more than the tax savings.As I see it, the bigger issue would be size and weight. Airlines no longer let you carry gigantic carry-ons unless you’re a first class passenger. Three bits of bench gear is a lot. I’d choose one and pick up the rest on future trips.

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 04, 2021, 05:05:02 pm
content: I took several HID lamp ballast chokes back from England in my carry on luggage. The baggage inspector at the Heathrow gave me a funny look and asked me what they were but after a quick explanation sent me on my way. I don't think test equipment will be an issue, as long as it doesn't have any accessories that look like some kind of weapon. If in doubt, pack it up and put it in your checked baggage.

author: David Hess
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 04, 2021, 05:16:36 pm
content: Except for things getting destroyed or going missing if I check luggage in, I have never had a problem carrying or checking test equipment on a plane.To prevent the former, I suggest checking a firearm in with your luggage so it actually gets locked. In theory this means that the lugged is checked while you are present, and at no other time, but in practice TSA breaks federal law and inspects/steals it later anyway. Still, sometimes it works.

author: IanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 04, 2021, 05:24:14 pm
content: Quote from: bdunham7 on November 04, 2021, 04:20:24 pmI'd be rather careful with cash, however. Civil asset forfeiture laws mean that various government agencies are allowed to confiscate money without any legal process, and you stand very little chance of getting it back. Never travel with cash in the USA.

author: David Hess
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 04, 2021, 05:26:28 pm
content: Quote from: IanB on November 04, 2021, 05:24:14 pmI agree, although I have never carried more cash than would fit in my money belt and they have never searched it.

author: bdunham7
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 04, 2021, 05:36:25 pm
content: Quote from: IanB on November 04, 2021, 05:24:14 pmSadly, it depends on who you are. There is a legal process and they're unlikely to succeed in keeping my cash.

author: Shaun_G
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: November 04, 2021, 05:37:07 pm
content: Thank you very much for all the replies.It’s cool to be able to hear all of the "fun" stories from you all...And it seems that the general consensus is that I wouldn't be in much trouble as long as I am straightforward with it.I don't know if saving $200 is worth it or not, but I will figure it out later on...

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 04, 2021, 05:59:36 pm
content: Quote from: bdunham7 on November 04, 2021, 05:36:25 pmThe problem is it will be a lot of trouble and getting it back may cost more than was confiscated. And no presumption of innocence as property is not a person. You have to prove it's legally obtained, government agency doesn't need to prove anything.

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 04, 2021, 06:12:28 pm
content: Quote from: bdunham7 on November 04, 2021, 05:36:25 pmSure. But try doing it. Remember that the accused is notyou, butyour cash, and your cash is not entitled to the constitutional protections that you are. (Hence case names like “United States vs $2934 in US currency”.)As wraper explains, the burden of proof is flipped on its head.CAF makes a farce of the justice system, so until we get rid of it once and for all, you have to treat it like the kangaroo court it is.

author: andy3055
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 04, 2021, 06:23:57 pm
content: Years back, I hand carried a Carousal type DVD player for a friend-international flight. Just had a minor delay as the checker verified with his superior if it is allowed. One other time I carried a DELL desktop (one of the slim case versions), again minor delay.If you are planning on taking these in the cabin, make sure you arrive at the airport well in advance and have a bag that could be checked in with a TSA approved lock. Just in case they say that you have to go back and check them in, you have time to do all that and get back to the gate in time.TSA does not care if you miss the flight.Once I was stopped at San Diego because the boarding pass did not have my family name in comparison to the DL! I showed them a credit card, my Kaiser card etc., but I had to wait for a supervisor to come and talk to me in person. The guy went through my carry on piece by piece even though the issue was the missing part of the name on the boarding pass. I do not have this issue in San Francisco. Now I carry my US passport with me all the time. It all depends on the guy checking you in at the security check point.I also used to carry Cold/heat packs with me for my back pain. That is not allowed on the carry on and again in San Diego, I had to throw away them as I could not go back just to check in cold packs! If they are in the check-in bag, it is guaranteed to be opened for checking. All because it has liquid. I was once told that if it was frozen solid, they would allow me to take it in the carry-on. TSA screeners are just going by the book, not that they care about it or knowledgeable about stuff that are in the bags. Now I have cold packs in both locations. Problem solved.

author: rsjsouza
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 04, 2021, 06:39:21 pm
content: In my last international travel I carried my grandfather's large radio and no questions were asked. Sure, a radio (even if an older one) is much more recognizable by the common man than a piece of test equipment, but when asked I simply said "my family's old radio".I had traveled before also with a bench power supply, a pair of multimeters, loads of old electronic parts and computer equipment (including an Apple ][ clone) but in these cases I checked the bags and left several notes explaining what each part/component/equipment it was.

author: gek
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: November 04, 2021, 07:24:12 pm
content: I flew back from a Ham Radio Convention with lots of vacuum tubes and nixie tubes. The x-ray line stopped cold and I was called over to explain to the youthful inspector what they were. After unwrapping a large triode and a few Nixie's all was fine. They even were nice enough to show me how they looked on x-ray.

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 04, 2021, 08:47:02 pm
content: Quote from: tooki on November 04, 2021, 06:12:28 pmI'm honestly surprised it has survived this long. Asset forfeiture seems like something that both liberals and conservatives would be fully on board with abolishing, if for different reasons. In my opinion it is nothing more than government sanctioned theft. I don't care what a person is or may be guilty of, the government should never be allowed to confiscate lawfully obtained possessions for any reason.

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 04, 2021, 09:44:49 pm
content: Quote from: james_s on November 04, 2021, 08:47:02 pmIIRC there is overwhelming, bipartisan condemnation of CAF. (I’m not even sure they disagree on why it’s bad, since it’s so patently unjust.) The thing is, nobody is opposed to what it was introduced for: to deprive big-time crooks of the proceeds of their criminal activity. But it was never intended to turn citizens into free ATMs for the government. It’s absolutely insane how some small towns have turned their sheriffs into bands of pirates that shake down motorists just passing through, in some cases providing the majority of the town’s funding via CAF! :My guess is that the $, together with the coziness with police departments and fear of the police unions, are what are preventing CAF from being swiftly banned. Even so some states have done so.

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 04, 2021, 10:11:15 pm
content: If the intent is to deprive criminals of the proceeds of their crimes, then there should be fines imposed as part of a conviction. Nobody should ever be punished without being convicted of a crime.

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 04, 2021, 10:15:45 pm
content: Quote from: james_s on November 04, 2021, 10:11:15 pmYep, I completely agree, as does practically everyone else except for greedy police departments.

author: HobGoblyn
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 04, 2021, 11:14:20 pm
content: Last time I went to the USA from UK, I had a DSLR camera, Gatwick security insisted on seeing it powered up and showing them a picture on the LCD. I was with my wife and two teenage children on our way to Orlando. They searched the children too, found a sachet of Marmite my daughter had taken from Virgins lounge and took that off her.I didn’t mind, rather too many checks than not enough, was just one of the families to be randomly selected, was a little surprised that a Cannon Camera in a bag with a couple of lenses, needed to be powered up.

author: Old Printer
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 05, 2021, 12:04:51 am
content: I travel with a pretty complete electronics package a few times a year. Usually a fair amount of components and breadboards and my Analog discovery and laptop. Once I did carryon my Siglent scope as well. It always gets TSA attention, but I politely answer their questions and am always allowed to go through. EVERY time I put this kit in my checked bags instead of carryon my bags get searched and they leave a card in my bag telling me they we in there. I like the knowledge they are looking that close, trying to keep us safe. Don’t lock your bag or they will cut it off. I once packed a newly acquired Tek 475 in my checked bag, that really got a look, but they let it on.

author: fourfathom
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 05, 2021, 12:09:09 am
content: Way back at the beginning of the modern (USA) TSA era they used to require that our laptops and PDAs be powered up and show a screen image. Haven't needed to do that for a long time though. My main practical complaint (as opposed to my philosophical complaints) is that I can no longer carry a decent pocket knife. Well, I'm carrying one again, now that I'm not flying (covid).I try not to but expensive stuff in my checked baggage -- it's been stolen or lost too many times. I don't know where in the route it gets nicked, but for a while it seemed to happen more often when I had a Heathrow connection.

author: David Hess
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 05, 2021, 04:46:02 am
content: Quote from: gek on November 04, 2021, 07:24:12 pmSoldering guns look interesting on an x-ray with their large coil of wire for the primary.Quote from: tooki on November 04, 2021, 09:44:49 pmThat is what politicians from both of our political parties SAY, but it is not how they vote. Ignore what they say; they are lying.QuoteThe states that have banned it have not banned it. It just continues through the federal government, and balance is maintained.

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 05, 2021, 05:30:01 am
content: Quote from: fourfathom on November 05, 2021, 12:09:09 amThat annoys me. I cannot carry my dinky little keychain Leatherman which is an incredibly useful tool because it has a tiny little knife blade, but I could carry a pair of sharp metal scissors which I could disassemble into two sharp and sturdy knives, or I could carry sharp metal knitting needles, or any number of other dangerous objects. TSA is almost purely theater.

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 05, 2021, 05:33:09 am
content: Quote from: tooki on November 04, 2021, 10:15:45 pmThe problem isn't the police departments, it's the politicians that allow it. I fully support our police departments and want them well funded and well trained, but I don't want the funding to come from confiscating property from people who have not been convicted of any crime.

author: IconicPCB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 05, 2021, 05:37:11 am
content: A vulture walks onto the plane carrying two dead bunnies.The stewardess greets him and advises him that he can not get on.Somewhat perplexed he asks why not?She responds:"... sorry sir, only one carry-on allowed per passenger..."CLARIFICATION carrion...sigh..

author: Berni
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 05, 2021, 06:59:19 am
content: Quote from: IanB on November 04, 2021, 05:24:14 pmHere in Europe i always followed the opposite, always bring cash in the correct currency for the country you are going to.That way you make sure you always have a means to pay while not having to worry about if they take your foreign bank card(or not taking cards at all), or what ridiculous currency conversion fees they might charge. Tho with a widespread currency like EUR i find that people in other countries will offten still take it when you don't have the local currency(especially the more touristy areas).

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 05, 2021, 07:50:02 am
content: Quote from: David Hess on November 05, 2021, 04:46:02 amBy “bipartisan condemnation”, I didn’t restrict it to politicians. Citizens across the political spectrum disapprove of the practice overwhelmingly.Quote from: David Hess on November 05, 2021, 04:46:02 amIncorrect, from what I’ve read. You’re thinking of the 36 states thatrestrictit at the state level. But a few states (Maine, Nebraska, New Mexico, and North Carolina)bannedit by replacing it with a criminal process that precludes the federal equitable sharing scheme.

author: themadhippy
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 05, 2021, 10:28:02 am
content: QuoteAnd a nice earner for shops airside,for example the liquid limit,you can buy a several cans of butane once you've passed security it even contains a nice fragrance ,duty free sells molotov cocktails.need a cigarette lighter after security has removed yours ?no problem ,how many do you want at double the price of what you'd pay land side.Anyone want a bushiness plan?just send me 10% when you get going.vending machines with envelopes , padded postal bags,stamps and a post box just before the security check in.

author: Stray Electron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 05, 2021, 01:20:26 pm
content: True story, I spent about 4 hours in the office of the head of security at the Kansas City airport one time explaining why I was handcarrying a black Apple II with me. My advice is to get to the airport early.

author: RandallMcRee
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 05, 2021, 03:33:48 pm
content: This forfeiture thing is alive and well in the US as this horror tale explains:https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/31/us/federal-agents-money-forfeiture.htmlThis poor man eventually got his money back, but the reason its a national news story is because it is so rare that the outcome is a "just" one.

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 05, 2021, 07:00:49 pm
content: Quote from: themadhippy on November 05, 2021, 10:28:02 amAround 10 years ago I flew back to Seattle from Bend Oregon. The Bend airport is one of those tiny little ones where you walk out of the terminal right onto the tarmac, walk over to the plane and get on. At the time anyway they had one old fashioned metal detector and none of the fancy security theater. After landing in Seattle it occurred to me that I was in the secure area of a major international airport, having completely bypassed all of the body scanners, pat downs and other nonsense and that any nefarious organization need only pay for a flight out of one of these podunk airports into a major one in order to bypass the security theater and from there they are free to board any other flight to anywhere.

author: Renate
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 05, 2021, 07:16:47 pm
content: Ah, fond memories.I was once flying with a big ol' spectrum analyzer as carry-on and no checked luggage.They swabbed it (and me) down with wipes and stuck them in their Analyze-o-meter.A couple of beeps later and they wished me well on my way.Good times.

author: tggzzz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 05, 2021, 08:54:39 pm
content: Quote from: Old Printer on November 05, 2021, 12:04:51 amI took a 465 as hand baggage to/from a war zone (as I later found it was classified by insurance companies!). In both cases that wasn't allowed, and it had to be stowed underneath.But that was 40 years ago.

author: radar_macgyver
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 05, 2021, 09:10:33 pm
content: I carried a Fieldfox back from an international trip. Airport security didn't have an issue - I treated it like a laptop. Customs on the other hand were much more curious. I guess they saw the Keysight logo on the bag and went ka-ching! Carry documentation proving you're not importing it.

author: IanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 05, 2021, 10:57:09 pm
content: Quote from: james_s on November 05, 2021, 07:00:49 pmSadly, the opposite can also be true. I landed on an international arrival into DFW, went through immigration and customs, and was all ready to go to the gate for my domestic departure. No such luckI left the baggage claim area and was dumped out into the zoo that was the security screening entrance next to the street with a line about a mile long. Not what I needed after a long flight and still hours to reach home. (Also, you can forget about duty free alcohol if you have a connecting flight, as your bottle of precious liquid is going to end up on the wrong side of security.)

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 05, 2021, 11:16:15 pm
content: To the best of my knowledge, no US airport has immigration that keeps you on the “sterile” side of the airport for immigration and customs inspection, for a simple reason: they require you to have your checked bags with you at customs, but customs is outside the sterile area. The US hasn’t figured out the concept of the transit passenger, and it actually costs US airlines a lot of money, since foreign passengers actively avoid transiting in USA en route to foreign countries.It’d be so simple to fix this, but since the government doesn’t even acknowledge it’s a problem, it’s not gonna change any time soon.

author: bdunham7
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 06, 2021, 01:29:24 am
content: Quote from: tooki on November 05, 2021, 11:16:15 pmHow? I've never transited a US airport, let alone as a foreigner, but everywhere I can recall travelling I either stayed in the airport without access to my bags or I went out through customs with my bags, then checked them and went back in through security--typically after staying outside the airport. Many others mandate another trip through security on connecting flights despite not having access to your bags. IIRC, this has been the procedure at both Heathrow and Zurich---although the airports are set up so that they can change the routing at any time.

author: IanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 06, 2021, 01:44:14 am
content: Heathrow is slightly annoying. If your connecting flight is from the same terminal, I think you might be able to stay airside without having to go through security again (I'm not sure, I've never done this). However, if you have to take the airside transit bus to a different terminal, I do remember having to go through a second security check.When long ago I transited through Schiphol, I was able to walk directly from the arrival gate to the departure gate without having to leave the airside sterile area. I think this is because many European airports isolate the domestic parts from the international parts of the airport. If you are airside in the international part, the only way out is through immigration. But you can arrive and depart as a transit passenger without passing through an immigration check, as long as you stay in the gate area.

author: wizard69
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 06, 2021, 02:00:28 am
content: The question of it being worth it has me wondering. I suppose you could get lucky at a west coast surplus shop for used equipment. I'm not sure I'd bother for full price new equipment.As for travel, back in the day I gave up on carry on tool boxes (travel between plants) and had them checked. The average tool box is basically a case of of weapons and with the security clamp down it didn't make sense to even try.In the case of small instruments I don't think you will have a problem if they can go through X-Ray. What you may have trouble with is larger equipment and that might not be from security. Depending upon the airplane and how packed it might be; you might have to have the equipment put into one of the holds, due to size restrictions. The problem then becomes how well packed is that instrument?? Honestly if you want it to arrive, working, a Pelican case with 4" of foam is a good idea. It is rather surprising how beat up shipping cases and brief case style tool boxes can get.As some one else mention your best bet for your new treasures is to go to the local FEdEX office and pack stuff up to ship to yourself. I once did this on a vacation, with clothing that acted a packing material for something (forgot what it was). I just didn't want the hassle and the risk of flying it via a passenger airliner. In any event a little planing can make your trips through an airport far less frustrating, if you can reduce your load to one carry on and one checked it make travel via flying far more enjoyable.Quote from: Shaun_G on November 04, 2021, 05:37:07 pm

author: fourfathom
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 06, 2021, 02:01:02 am
content: Quote from: IanB on November 06, 2021, 01:44:14 amIt's been a few years now, but last time I transferred in Schiphol (Helsinki -> Schiphol -> San Francisco) we had to go through passport check and hand-luggage inspection, and then a secondary security check at the departure gate.

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 06, 2021, 02:26:53 am
content: Quote from: wizard69 on November 06, 2021, 02:00:28 amAbout 10 years ago I sent a couple of old instruments I had been given home with my friend to England. What I did was wrap them in bubble wrap and build a case for them out of several layers of cardboard, complete with a carry handle all held together with lots of packing tape. He checked it in like any other bag and it arrived completely intact. It's surprising how sturdy cardboard can be if you engineer it properly, when I was a kid I used to build a lot of stuff out of it.

author: fordem
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 06, 2021, 10:43:15 pm
content: Quote from: IanB on November 04, 2021, 05:24:14 pmThere's a limit to how much cash you can & should carry, anything over USD$10,000 needs to be declared, if you are caught with more than this, and it has NOT been declared it can be confiscated - if you declare it, you'll be questioned as to the reason you are carrying that much cash, and I know of no one who has declared as they say "cash or cash equivalent" and had it confiscated.I routinely fly into the US carrying what would be considered large sums of US currency, always below the USD$10,000 limit, I expect to be asked by immigration, I answer truthfully and have never had an issue, I have also gone in with "cash or cash equivalent" in excess of the USD$10,000 limit, declared it, again answered the questions truthfully and been on my way after a ten~fifteen minute delay. I use plastic to pay for accommodation and car rental, but many smaller businesses have difficulty processing credit card transactions when the card issuer is not a US bank. AML/CFT regulations have made travel challenging.Quote from: tooki on November 05, 2021, 11:16:15 pmI've transited the US (and many other countries) enroute to other destinations, and not touched my bags between checking them in at the start of my journey and grabbing them off the carousel at my final destination - whether or not you'll need to collect your bags & clear customs at an intransit stop is a function of how your flight has been booked - you might want to have a discussion with your travel agent.Quote from: IanB on November 05, 2021, 10:57:09 pmNext time, let the person packing your duty free alcohol know you have a connecting flight, they have bags they can seal the alcohol in and security will allow you to take it with you.

author: IanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 07, 2021, 01:04:09 am
content: Quote from: fordem on November 06, 2021, 10:43:15 pmThat's not what Civil Asset Forfeiture is all about.Bear in mind that when you are inside the USA, after passing through immigration, civil law enforcement agencies can confiscate any cash they find on your person or in your car, or in your hotel room, without needing a court order or any justification other than "we think it is suspicious". You do not have to be under arrest, and you do not have to be suspected of any crime. Police departments simply use the confiscation of valuables as a source of revenue.Here is a primer:https://youtu.be/1mt_AFWL_PUQuoteI understand this may be true in theory, but I would not wish to trust it in practice. As I noted above, when you transfer from an international arrival to a domestic departure, you are essentially discharged from the airport out into the street and you have to enter through security again as if you are commencing a new journey. The security screeners do not know you are a transfer passenger, and all they see is "liquid" in your hand baggage.

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 07, 2021, 10:51:06 am
content: Quote from: bdunham7 on November 06, 2021, 01:29:24 amLiterally the point: the US does not give the option for transit passengers (i.e. ones for whom USA is not their final destination) to stay in the airport sans bags. You are required to enter the country via immigration and customs, exiting the sterile area of the airport.Zurich is my home base, so I know it well. If you’re coming from a non-Schengen country and headed to a Schengen country, then you’ll need to clear immigration (but not customs, AFAIK). If you’re coming from non-Schengen in transit to non-Schengen, you stay airside (“sterile transit”) in the non-Schengen side of the airport. And if you’re going from Schengen to Schengen, you stay airside in the Schengen side of the terminal. (Note that terminal D is virtual: terminal B has two floors, one Schengen and one non-Schengen, and each physical gate has both a B and D gate number, depending on whether it’s being used for a Schengen or non-Schengen flight.)LHR doesn’t offer sterile transit at the moment.Quote from: fordem on November 06, 2021, 10:43:15 pm”travel agent”? What is this, 1990? :pAnyhow, no, it’s not that simple. You’re thinking that if your baggage isn’t “checked through” to the destination, then you have to fetch it (correct), but that if it is checked through, then you don’t have to fetch it (incorrect: it depends on the airport). I did a bit more checking, and the USA expressly eliminated sterile transit after 9/11, even in the few airports that are capable of it. But most airports in USA aren’t capable of it even if they were allowed.The main issue with USA is thatallpassengers arriving from abroad are required to formally enter the country. That in turn means having to go through customs. And since they don’t have airside customs clearance, you have to go through security again.The only way to avoid it is to fly via the handful of international departure airports where US immigration and customs clearance are performedbeforedeparture, such that the flight is, legally speaking, a domestic flight. (There are 6 countries with US CBP preclearance facilities: Aruba, the Bahamas, Bermuda, Canada, Ireland, and the UAE.)Ultimately, it’s an issue with many layers of complexity, but one which many international transit hubs figured out long ago.

author: bdunham7
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 07, 2021, 07:54:53 pm
content: Quote from: tooki on November 07, 2021, 10:51:06 amThis I didn't know. Does that mean that you cannot transit a US airport if you are not eligible to enter the country? As would be the case of someone coming from say India and transiting on to Canada where they do have a visa?

author: Bicurico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 07, 2021, 08:11:41 pm
content: A few years ago I travelled with a high end TV field meter/analyser, which includes a full spectrum analyser among many other functions.Its value was around 4000-6000 Euro and I was going to do a test report using some really big dishes.Due to the value of the instrument, I carried it inside the plane.All that happens was the usual x-ray. Other than that I got no questions asked.My opinion is that the security staff is well trained and looking for traces of explosives, certain materials, drugs, etc.Computers, batteries, electronics, SDR or est equipment does not interest them.

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 07, 2021, 08:21:17 pm
content: Quote from: bdunham7 on November 07, 2021, 07:54:53 pmCorrect and correct. There is such a thing as a transit visa, so it’s not as though you have to qualify for a green card, but a visa must still be obtained. (Or the ESTA waiver from visa-free countries.)

author: andy3055
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 07, 2021, 08:41:41 pm
content: Here is a laugh!Just two weeks back I traveled to San Diego and in my carry-on I had a bag of prunes. Yes, I get bad constipations all the time due to some medical condition. At SFO, they had to open my bag and sniff the bag of prunes. All good.On my return yesterday, in San Diego, I went through the same thing. Since I knew the issue and could see the monitor, I joked and said that it must be the prunes. The checker laughed and said that they work great! He must have a similar problem like me!

author: Renate
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 07, 2021, 08:42:14 pm
content: Quote from: Bicurico on November 07, 2021, 08:11:41 pmI pity them!

author: Renate
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 07, 2021, 08:48:56 pm
content: Quote from: andy3055 on November 07, 2021, 08:41:41 pmOh, starting on the fruit smuggling anecdotes?Years ago I was on a bus going between Pakistan and India when the border was only open three times a month. We got off the bus and got the whole nine yards. They even put a chalk mark on my guitar (not a case). When we finally crossed the border we noticed that there was one person missing. It was someone that the officials had taken an unfair dislike to. The bus driver said that he had been refused crossing for "smuggling apricots". He had had a snack bag of dried apricots. Upon hearing that everyon in the bus pulled out their bag of dried apricots. We had all just come from a place where they were grown and cheap.

author: andy3055
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 07, 2021, 09:09:48 pm
content: That sounds very much like the way the customs guys in those countries used to work many moons back!

author: Ground_Loop
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 07, 2021, 11:34:46 pm
content: I design baggage screening and transport systems for airports. This means I visit a lot of airports. I carry electronics all the time and have never been scrutinized, not even with sharp test probes or stuffed tool bags. If they ask just explain what it is. You'll be fine.

author: basinstreetdesign
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 08, 2021, 03:29:12 am
content: Last time I tried to travel by air with carry-on tools was sometime in the 2000s. I tried to take a portable soldering iron on board and it was confiscated. I would get it back when I returned, they said. [I never did] They had no idea what it was and didn't care but it was sharp and looked like something a hijacker could use so it was grounded. That was when the hijack scare was very strong - not even liquids in a bottle was allowed.BTW: I read the title of this thread as "Can I carry-on  labexperimentson plane?"I immediately thought: Sure, go for it and let us know how that goes!

author: t1d
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 08, 2021, 07:16:45 am
content: Quote from: basinstreetdesign on November 08, 2021, 03:29:12 amI did understand what was intended by the title, but I read the thread, because I wondered if I might be allowed to take a breadboard, battery power supply, cheap (throw-away-able, if not allowed) multimeter, MCU programmer and a couple of handfuls of components on the plane to entertain myself on a long flight. For clarification, I have several expendable multimeters that came free-with-purchase from Harbor Freight... Although, I realize offing any usable multimeter is sacrilege.

author: Bicurico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 08, 2021, 07:24:32 am
content: I don't think it would be very smart to be handling breadboard, wires, DMM, etc. on the small table. It could bother the person next to you and it could look suspicious: are you assembling the detonator of a bomb?It's not what you bring along, it's how weird you behave.Why not use a laptop and circuit simulator?

author: t1d
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 08, 2021, 08:26:11 am
content: Quote from: Bicurico on November 08, 2021, 07:24:32 amOh, gosh, that is a great point! Just hadn't thought of it that way. Sure, I have used my laptop, as you suggest. Hands on is just more fun, IMO. But, the laptop certainly can scratch the itch.

author: SilverSolder
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 08, 2021, 12:01:05 pm
content: Laptop with LTSpice will make any flight go faster!

author: fordem
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 08, 2021, 12:44:06 pm
content: Quote from: IanB on November 07, 2021, 01:04:09 amSecurity screeners, at least those in the international airports, Miami International, Fort Lauderdale, Piarco (Trinidad) and Grantley Adams (Barbados) are the ones that I have repeatedly passed through with duty free alcohol, will recognize the duty free bag, and allow it through, provided the seal has not been broken.

author: tkamiya
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 26, 2021, 03:38:13 am
content: I don't think it's really worth the trouble. If it were me, I'll ship it home. How TSA agents react highly depends on their mood. You can assume safe and not dangerous stuff will be allowed, but you'll never know.I once had a contractor who told me he was questioned at length about his ethernet cable crimper.

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 26, 2021, 07:40:42 am
content: I don’t think we should be avoiding traveling with 100% legitimate, legal-for-air-travel items just to appease ignorant screeners. If anything we should do it more, to desensitize them to these items.It’s not as though we have to “assume” anything: they have lists of prohibited and permitted items.

author: David Hess
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 26, 2021, 02:15:38 pm
content: Quote from: tooki on November 26, 2021, 07:40:42 amI do not either, but the screeners have authority without responsibility so have no reason not to be ignorant or malicious.QuoteThe lists are more of a suggestion than a rule. There is no recourse if they ignore the lists.

author: rsjsouza
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 26, 2021, 06:58:34 pm
content: Quote from: David Hess on November 26, 2021, 02:15:38 pmAnd that is why I keep seeing more and more the current thesis of abolishing the TSA in the US - twenty years of corruption, incompetence and money spent with more gaps than a sieve.https://reason.com/2021/11/19/tsa-20th-birthday-abolish-airport-security-terror/https://youtu.be/G8kMnS8GEhg

author: SilverSolder
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 29, 2021, 03:05:04 pm
content: Quote from: tooki on November 26, 2021, 07:40:42 amI agree with that, but it also makes sense to take real world biases and misunderstandings into account... you will be happier that way!