Carry on luggage, a few questions, Please need a bit a help.

[mnrose]

I hate to say this, but it honestly depends on the TSA agent you get. Some are tougher than others, and if s/he decides it can't go, it can't go. Period. There is no arguing with them at all. So, be prepared to toss out whatever they decide you need to toss. LOL.

As for the size of your carry on, and what is permitted, read the rules of the airline CAREFULLY. They are not all the same. Some go by overall size, and some have specific dimensions you must meet in each direction (height, width, depth). Not every airline is the same. There is no problem carrying snorkel equipment IF it fits within a bag of the proper dimensions.

Even if your bag meets the requirements, there is ALWAYS the possibility that the airline will require you to check it because of space limitations on the specific plane you board. And, remember, carryon bags are always supposed to be of proper dimension/size to fit under the seat in front of you....airlines consider this space to be your primary storage space. The bag you describe in your OP is not going to fit under the seat in front of you, and would be at substantial risk of being booted into the luggage hold for that reason.

But, read the airlines rules and make sure you follow them.

 

[ariel71]

Thank you so much, I am going to be checking out the international travel program you listed. Do these work everywhere internationally? We have several trips planned in the next few years over seas and this would be a huge help. I am all for anything that gets you through security faster and still safely.
So link it to my Delta frequent flyer? When we are flying an airline we don't normally use, just let them know when checking in so it get printed on the boarding pass? So when booking with say Expedia it would be best to handle it this way. Right?

I'm not familiar enough with the international programs to be confident that I'd be giving you correct information. I decided I don't do enough international travel to make Global Entry worth the money, so I decided to just go with TSA Pre. You can go to the website below to get more info.

http://www.cbp.gov/travel/trusted-traveler-programs/global-entry

I mostly fly United but I imagine Delta and other airlines are similar. I have a profile with United and have saved my "Known Traveler Number" in that profile. When I create a boarding pass, the KTN makes me eligible for TSA Pre and it says "TSA Pre" on the top of the boarding pass (even if it's electronic). If you book directly through an airline website without a profile, there should be a place to add it either to reservation or when checking in. I don't use Expedia but I think they recently started started allowing for KTNs. Not sure about other third party sites. Your best bet is to ask these questions or do a search over on the Transportation board or google it directly since the information is changing all the time.

 

[scrapquitler]

I went on line and reading through the TSA rules my goodness... nothing is defined. There not a defined list.

When I called and spoke to a real person well I thought they were real... I got a vague answer and then he was like really it depends on the TSA employee and how they are feeling? and you need to look it up on line, and did I know the definition of liquid. That the airline doesn't make the rules. So basically a wasted call.

If it doesn't hold its shape outside of the container, it's considered a liquid.

The size of the container is what counts, even if the container is almost empty.

 

[LovesTimone]

Our fins are scubapro split fins, don't have heels on them have straps. I use a good old fashioned sony cybershot, it's about 8 or 9 years old, I have an underwater housing for it from sony. DH also uses a small sony video camera but his rig is custom made. He used to have an Ikolite but it was really heavy and the lights kept breaking. If you want just an easy still camera Sealife makes a decent one that isn't too expensive. It really depends on what you are using it for and how deep you are going.

Thanks for the tips and suggestions on the camera, we have a couple months yet before our 1st trip so I can shop around.

On a side note I tried the fins with no heel, just the top of your foot goes in, that was a huge fail for me. The guy was like you got "skinny heels" and "boney feet" these won't work for you. I did not know whether it was a compliment or a criticism.. I went with compliment

 

[LovesTimone]

I'm not familiar enough with the international programs to be confident that I'd be giving you correct information. I decided I don't do enough international travel to make Global Entry worth the money, so I decided to just go with TSA Pre. You can go to the website below to get more info.

http://www.cbp.gov/travel/trusted-traveler-programs/global-entry

I mostly fly United but I imagine Delta and other airlines are similar. I have a profile with United and have saved my "Known Traveler Number" in that profile. When I create a boarding pass, the KTN makes me eligible for TSA Pre and it says "TSA Pre" on the top of the boarding pass (even if it's electronic). If you book directly through an airline website without a profile, there should be a place to add it either to reservation or when checking in. I don't use Expedia but I think they recently started started allowing for KTNs. Not sure about other third party sites. Your best bet is to ask these questions or do a search over on the Transportation board or google it directly since the information is changing all the time.

We are going to check out all the options. I appreciate the info I was not aware of some of these options. I always get good info on here

 

[mom2rtk]

The oyster shells from Guinness' International Oyster Festival in Ireland (everyone should go, best time ever) were no problem. The shells picked up in Costa Rica, half were confiscated, half were let through.

ETA: I frequent a fish forum and a surprising number of people show up there because they brought home a shell from vacation that turned out to be a hermit crab, so I can't begrudge the no shells rules.

E again TA: The only thing the Costa Rican officials told us when confiscating the shells was "No concha."

I'm surprised by that. It's not that hard to tell when a shell is still inhabited by a live creature. We inspect all of our shells for that very purpose.

We were at the beach this summer and I will say that flat rate boxes from USPS work great for mailing shells home. They told us at the post office on the island it's quite common. Our older son brought home a shopping bag with some of his nicer shells (the ones he wasn't comfortable mailing) as his carry-on in June and had no issues at all.

 

[cedricandsophie]

This is why I Can't go with just a carryon! But I often bring small sunscreen, hand cream and face cream and toothpaste.for long flights ..on the plane, I haven't put anything in a plastic bag for years just stick them in my purse or carryon. Guess I'm just lucky. Going thru ohare precheck line is a breeze. But I have seen people try to get those rolling garment bags on a plane with no luck. Unless you are in first class. Or if you tell the flight attendant you are going to a wedding. Then they might let you hang the bag in the first class closet

 

[TipsyTraveler]

I'm surprised by that. It's not that hard to tell when a shell is still inhabited by a live creature. We inspect all of our shells for that very purpose.

We were at the beach this summer and I will say that flat rate boxes from USPS work great for mailing shells home. They told us at the post office on the island it's quite common. Our older son brought home a shopping bag with some of his nicer shells (the ones he wasn't comfortable mailing) as his carry-on in June and had no issues at all.

I guess some people aren't as careful.

Coming through San Jose they had a wall of agents confiscating shells and every passenger's luggage was being checked. There was no getting around it. Then the agent handed two of them back to us for keeps. I was wondering what they did with all the shells they collected. I'm somehow doubt they're returning them to the beaches.

 

[mom2rtk]

I guess some people aren't as careful.

Coming through San Jose they had a wall of agents confiscating shells and every passenger's luggage was being checked. There was no getting around it. Then the agent handed two of them back to us for keeps. I was wondering what they did with all the shells they collected. I'm somehow doubt they're returning them to the beaches.

Well, I always wondered where they got all those shells they sell in tourist shops. Maybe we have the answer.