air travel strategies

Flying this month for my first time for a clmbing trip. We will be flying to and renting a car out of slc to car camp in the "city".

Do you cary on cams? We could buy a new rope if airline loses it but no way we would buy a new rack of doubles and triples. What does security act like with climbing gear. Anything I can't or shouldn't carry on? Any help is appreciated.

They don't like nut tools. Make sure you carry on shoes, harness, and if theres enough room at least one rope. I have had issues with temporarily lost luggage rather than theft. That sucks unless you rack/shoes/rope are with you.

I typically load a 45L bag up. Size wize, this is what they will let you get on with. I always crame my double rack, shoes, harness, helmet and rope in it. that way you have everything if they lose your checked bags. but the previous post is right, sometimes they will go after your nut tool, so I usually throw that in my checked bag.

D.Buffum wrote:This is the kind of thing that depends entirely on the discretion of the agents working that day. There are catch-all provisions in the regulations that could be relied upon to allow or disallow climbing gear. All they have to do is decide that these are "implements that present a threat," or something like that, and they can prevent them from being carried on. Even if you protested and appealed the decision, what could you do? By the time someone came to overrule the decision, your flight would be gone. That said, I've carried it all on before and had no problems. I've also checked it all and had no problems. Choose your risk.

This.

I have had a full rack allowed as carryon, and been told to check it. Know others that have had both experiences. Although I do not travel that much any more, I used to do over 100,000 flight miles per year. There is a HUGE difference in the security at different airports. Some are strict / conservative, and some are not.

There are risks with both carryon and checking luggage. I hate flying with a trad rack and will do whatever I can to avoid it. Good luck with your travels!

I carry on everything, but leave the nut tools and chalk bags checked. I've started to pack all my gear in a carry-on in separate little stuff sacks (3 or 4 of them) inside my main pack, rope at the bottom. When i get there, rather than dumping my giant pack-full-o-metal on the conveyor and waiting for the confusion that 50% of the time follows, i hold up the line for a bit by emptying the pack down to the smaller bags which they can see thru easier. In my experience, this makes it both way less likely they will need to search your bag and much easier if they have a question on anything.

The times i've flown without doing so and had my bag searched, I had an awefull time trying to explain to them how to open my completely-full-nothing-else-fits bag, which they then can't get their hands into without removing half the contents. "Open the clips holding the "brain" of the bag on, slide this string-lock thing open, slide the second string-lock thing open, release the compression straps. Ok, not find the red sling, everything on the top is clipped attached to that, you can pull it out...."

Just call a local gear shop down there and see if you can mail your rack. I've sent everything i'm worried about carrying on home in 2 flat rate boxes for about 15 bucks, then its insured if it gets lost, and generally most shops seem ok with holding it for you. When you get to the shop it's common courtesy to drop off beers or at least pick up some stuff from the shop for their troubles.

If you carry on your gear, throw a copy of the Climbing Gear Guide or some sort of catalog in your bag also, so if any TSA agents have questions, you can show them what the gear is for.

I usually only carry on my small cams, though.

Call IME located in SLC. Scott or Andy would probably hold your gear. I have flown out of SLC a few times with gear as carry-on without any issues but you never know with TSA.

+1 regarding beer comment.

Rack is fine. I usually throw a climbing mag on top just in case.

D.Buffum wrote: This is a great idea. The large, flat rate boxes cost about $16.00 each to ship and most racks I've seen could fit into two of them, including draws and biners. No weight limit on flat rate boxes, and they usually get to their destination in 3-4 days..

I shipped my rack to Alaska that way.

Some good ideas. If we choose to check I will certainly have a magazine. Flat rate boxes are also a good idea but I'd feel best having it on me at all times. Even if its insured doesn't mean ill get the Insurance money in time to repurchase before the trip and who wants to deal with insurance agencies anyway?

I always carry on my rack. The last time I traveled, a TSA worker recommended taking the rack out of the bag (similar to a laptop) while going through security. This results in them not having to re-run the entire bag after pulling the rack out to inspect it.

My wife and I flew from New England to SLC this past June for City of Rocks.

My personal experience on domestic flights or overseas flights in the past is: No problem with carry-on climbing gear.

Since I packed at the last minute this time, I carried-on two harnesses (with chalk bags full of chalk), container of liquid chalk by the way, nuts, cams up to Number 5, biners, slings, four pairs of stinking shoes, including two nut tools.

In the past I didn't include the nut tools or liquid chalk.

Didn't carry-on the rope and didn't bother with climbing magazines.

Check the TSA website...it does mention that ice climbing equipment is prohibited as carry-on items, but there is no mention of rocking equipment. However, it does mention something to the effect of: "to the discretion of the TSA agent on the spot.

The only question I received was on the way out was: "What's the highest mountain you ever climbed"? I didn't even have to removed or show any items.

On all of our climbing trips, including over-seas, we have never had a problem.

I personally do not want to risk the airlines losing our climbing gear or damaging the climbing gear in the flight.

The mailing of gear seems to me to be more logistics to deal with on a precious climbing trip short on time.