While air-traveling last week with my [WONDERFUL] Casey Burns Folk Flute, I was informed by a highly trained supervisor of the Transportation Security Administration that the instrument was a bludgeon, and could not be carried into the cabin of a commercial airliner. Fortunatly the instrument could be checked as baggage, however…
…bore oil (unboiled linseed) sets off explosive detectors in the baggage check machines.
A less than enjoyable trip. Next time I will leave my flute at home in favor of a PVC whistle!
Bah, I flew all over the place the past few weeks with a flute in my carryon bag and nary a problem. Must have been the person you were dealing with. I did once last fall have to explain that it was a flute. After a supervisor or two came over to look at it they let me on board.
Houston ↔ Albany
Houston ↔ Pittsburg
Pittsburg ↔ Clarksburg, W. VA
Pittsburg ↔ Washington D.C.
Is there not a piece of paper somewhere on line from the musicians’ association of America or somesuch that’s supposed to explain these things to jobsworths?
In France the other day, two small children weren’t allowed Peter Pan plastic swords as hand luggage. The world’s going looopy…
Beats dying. Having flown in countries where
there were serious terrorist threats, I continue to
think our airport security is pathetic. I think
you met somebody who was actually
doing the job. Deserves our thanks.
Which way would you prefer them
to err? Best
I carry a copy of the TSA letter to the Musicians union with me when I fly just in case, but I flew to Dallas with my Seery in my backpack and no one stopped me to ask what it was…I know it’s detectable, because new security guards at the Federal Building where I work get this nervous look when it goes through security until I show them what it is (the guards who’ve been there some time seem to like to see how observant the new guards are since they know it’s a flute).
I seem to remember a thread on the Uilleann Pipes list about the Portland OR airport being shut down over a set of threatening bagpipes.
Anyway, seriously, I’m not dissing TSA too badly; they are doing a good job. Improvement in the process is obvious. Some common sense would have been nice, but hey, that’s what happened.
Pool Cues and Baseball bats are not allowed, but umbrellas and canes are.
Is this saying that my Casey Burns folk flute is in the same class as a pool cue?
The bore oil setting off the detectors is probably of more concern.
I really don’t like checking a musical instrument as baggage, as gorillas get at the bags, and party with them. A two piece flute is likely to become a three peice!
Thanks for the music instrument exemption link–it should be useful for future travel.
Forgive me for being a pest. I have a seery.
I could kill somebody with it pretty easily. I had a CB
beginners flute which was a hefty item.
It strikes me that there is a forceful argument
for not allowing items that could easily
be used to kill or disable people as carry
ons.
IMO if eyebrows aren’t going up,
they should be. I appreciate the concerns
of the musician’s union; I’m more concerned
about saving my … Consider what was
done with boxcutters. Best
Same argument could be made about many objects, even objects allowed on the TSA list. You can bang someone over the head with a prosthetic limb. Or use hand-to-hand combat skills.
I’m asking for some discretion and intelligence, – not a hallmark of the current US view of security, which offers little other than a warm fuzzy feeling for some-- If we make the red door secure, won’t the terrorists use the insecure blue door instead?
C’mon, you’d have to go to the time and effort of getting the case out of your carry-on, taking it out of its case, and assembling it. That would draw attention, so I doubt that any element of surprise is relevant here, and, come to that, I would expect the attendants to firmly urge one to put it away or else.
Also, given the socket-and-tenon construction of flutes, even if it were used as a bludgeon smart money says that it’d be good for only one go. It would be too weak to be effective. I remain unconvinced that the “bludgeon” argument is any more than throwing one’s weight around simply for the joy of it.
What was going on that the TSA supervisor didn’t know that musical instruments are allowed?
I try very hard to cooperate and make the security screening go as smooth as possible. My bagpipe is usually my carry-on and before flying I always put any miscellaneous gear (razors, mandrils, etc.) in my checked luggage. I’ve never had a problem.
I think the line needs to be held. Sure we need to be more cautious but a flute as a bludgeon? There’s being cautious and then there’s being silly.
Jim - I’m all for security, especially since I work in a federal building which is a prime target for terrorists, but I’m on the common sense side. I don’t think the care given to items thrown down below on a plane makes me really comfortable about things going in carry-on. Note how the TSA says you may have to play your instrument to prove it’s not being used for less than honorable puposes…seems reasonable.
Have done. Next time I’ll ask them do do me the courtesy of letting me finish a tune. Can you imagine uilleann pipes??? They BETTER darn well let a piper finish after all that setting up and tuning.
This past vacation of ours, we flew to Colorado. Myself, Hubby, and 4 all american sons ages 13, 15, 17 and 21.
Our entire group was stopped, pulled to the side, and searched. Both ways.
Clothing, shoes, selves. Carry-ons and luggage. My SCRUNCHIE was fingered suspiciously (until I snatched it away in disgust) The boys were puzzled, Hubby was trying to keep things lite, and I was SERIOUSLY ANGRY.
On the way home, they made my sons take their geodes out of their carry ons and as well as their dinosaur claws, and someone stuffed them in a piece of luggage. Andy’s dinosaur claw was broken when we got home.
This 5’10" green-eyed blonde mom has been searched/frisked EACH AND EVERY TIME I HAVE EVER FLOWN ANYWHERE IN THE LAST 4 YEARS. WITH ONLY ONE EXCEPTION! I’VE HAD IT!!! THIS LAST TIME WAS ABOUT THE LAST STRAW!!!
NO! I TAKE THAT BACK. THE LAST STRAW WAS WATCHING A FELLOW PASSENGER BOARD THE PLANE WITH A GOLF CLUB, AFTER HAVING BEEN TOLD THAT MY SONS’ DINOSAUR CLAWS WERE POTENTIAL BLUDGEONING WEAPONS AND WERE TAKEN AWAY FROM THEM!!!
