Droid and lightsaber as carry-ons?

[kwdw]

Not sure if this is a transportation post or SWGE post...

For Southwest airlines - if your lightsaber is sticking out of another backpack - is it a third carry-on? I am going to need to bring home my lightsaber, my droid - and well - my normal Disney backpack containing my purse, iPad, and medications. How big are the droids? I am planning on building an R2 unit - will it fit in a typical size backpack with anything else in the bag?

I will only have one checked bag - but I'm hesitant to check the droid as another piece of checked baggage..... And I definitely don't want to check the lightsaber as not to break the LEDs.

 

[_19disnA]

Does the lightsaver come apart such that you can store it in your checked baggage? TSA can be unpredictable about such things and may consider it a weapon they won't allow you to carry on the airplane. Regardless of whether or not you think it is a toy won't matter if security has an issue with it.

 

[Duck143]

Not sure if this is a transportation post or SWGE post...

For Southwest airlines - if your lightsaber is sticking out of another backpack - is it a third carry-on? I am going to need to bring home my lightsaber, my droid - and well - my normal Disney backpack containing my purse, iPad, and medications. How big are the droids? I am planning on building an R2 unit - will it fit in a typical size backpack with anything else in the bag?

I will only have one checked bag - but I'm hesitant to check the droid as another piece of checked baggage..... And I definitely don't want to check the lightsaber as not to break the LEDs.

Wondering about the sabers as well. My DS is interested in building one and will carry it along with his backpack.

 

[jpakstis]

When we flew home in April of 2018, we brought three lightsabers (our two daughters' and well, one for me!) as carry-ons. They couldn't fit in our checked luggage so my wife had them all sticking out of her backpack like she was in a Lord of the Rings movie. TSA explicitly allows them as carry-ons and our airline (Spirit) did not consider them to be an additional carry-on. Our TSA agent was well-acquainted with dealing with lightsabers and other items from WDW (she even instantly recognized my Star Wars half-marathon medal as it went through the detector).

I don't know about the droids, but I imagine they are TSA-compliant since they allow "toy robots" as carry-ons. I can't find any guidance on dimensions, but they look to be around 12" all around, definitely still in the "personal item" size.

 

[kwdw]

Does the lightsaver come apart such that you can store it in your checked baggage? TSA can be unpredictable about such things and may consider it a weapon they won't allow you to carry on the airplane. Regardless of whether or not you think it is a toy won't matter if security has an issue with it.

TSA specifically says on their website that they recognize lightsabers as toys!

 

[_19disnA]

However, things can change and/or a particular TSA agent may not be familiar with this. My concern is that you might be stuck at security if they don't allow it and haggling with TSA will get you nowhere. Do you want to risk having to toss it in the trash to be allowed to pass security?

 

[jpakstis]

Sure, there's always the risk of encountering an agent who's having a bad day, is not properly trained, etc. But there are supervisors and other agents nearby if the one you're dealing with is being obstinate. Its not like the TSA statement regarding allowing light sabers is ambiguous either. Not to mention that the TSA agents at MCO are probably well-versed in toys and souvenirs from WDW. When we went through security with ours, I saw several other travelers carrying lightsabers. They probably see more of those in a day than every other airport added up together.

 

[clippers6]

MCO is probably used to them, but I have heard of other airports giving people a hard time. I think the GE Coke bottles are the same story. Something to consider if you have a connection.

 

[sam_gordon]

MCO is probably used to them, but I have heard of other airports giving people a hard time. I think the GE Coke bottles are the same story. Something to consider if you have a connection.

Unless your connection is overnight (or you're doing an international connection), there's no reason to go through TSA a second time.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

Star Wars items are being confiscated by TSA...Even the mini-grenade-shaped Coke bottle can not be put in checked luggage.
https://thepointsguy.com/news/star-...Noq4UWvMejjRXpGAVMD-4bEcxdHS_6z7RlK_NGP6yzU1A

 

[sam_gordon]

Star Wars items are being confiscated by TSA...Even the mini-grenade-shaped Coke bottle can not be put in checked luggage.
https://thepointsguy.com/news/star-...Noq4UWvMejjRXpGAVMD-4bEcxdHS_6z7RlK_NGP6yzU1A

The ONLY SW items being confiscated are the Coke bottles.

 

[sethschroeder]

However, things can change and/or a particular TSA agent may not be familiar with this. My concern is that you might be stuck at security if they don't allow it and haggling with TSA will get you nowhere. Do you want to risk having to toss it in the trash to be allowed to pass security?

You show them the TSA website that allows it and ask for a manager if that does not work. There should be no reason it ends up in the trash.

 

[clippers6]

Unless your connection is overnight (or you're doing an international connection), there's no reason to go through TSA a second time.

At some airports the same airline might use different terminals. For example at LAX Delta uses 2 and 3 which are not connected.

 

[sam_gordon]

At some airports the same airline might use different terminals. For example at LAX Delta uses 2 and 3 which are not connected.

Huh. LAX's website says there's a bus you can take after security between those two terminals.

https://www.flylax.com/en/inter-terminal-connections

 

[clippers6]

Huh. LAX's website says there's a bus you can take after security between those two terminals.

https://www.flylax.com/en/inter-terminal-connections

You’re right. Forgot that even existed. I prefer to walk and reclear security with precheck. It’s a temporary solution while Delta builds the bridge between terminals. Seems crazy how long that bridge is going to take. Disney builds attractions in less time. I guess my warning still applies to anyone booking inter airline hacker fares, at least at LAX.

 

[AngiTN]

I brought a Droid home yesterday.
I bought the official backpack, as that's just easier to carry around period. It was my 2nd carry on
I've brought home the Star Wars coke bottles yesterday and following our preview. No problems. These were in my checked bag, not carry on.

 

[daveyvw]

For Southwest airlines - if your lightsaber is sticking out of another backpack - is it a third carry-on?
...
How big are the droids?

As another data point, in Oct 2019 we brought two lightsabers on our Spirit Airlines flight *in addition* to our personal items, without paying for checked bags, and no one asked or cared. We kept the blades in their protective cases which made them only about 32” long, and put the hilts in our personal item bags. As long as overhead space is plentiful and boarding is moving along, they don’t care. We even placed ours in an empty overhead bin.

 

[MusicalAstronaut]

When we flew home in April of 2018, we brought three lightsabers (our two daughters' and well, one for me!) as carry-ons. They couldn't fit in our checked luggage so my wife had them all sticking out of her backpack like she was in a Lord of the Rings movie. TSA explicitly allows them as carry-ons and our airline (Spirit) did not consider them to be an additional carry-on. Our TSA agent was well-acquainted with dealing with lightsabers and other items from WDW (she even instantly recognized my Star Wars half-marathon medal as it went through the detector).

I don't know about the droids, but I imagine they are TSA-compliant since they allow "toy robots" as carry-ons. I can't find any guidance on dimensions, but they look to be around 12" all around, definitely still in the "personal item" size.

Bumping this thread because I'm interested in recent experiences with the new lightsabers from Savi's or high-end ones like Ultrasabers on Spirit & Frontier. I'd like to bring one in a carrying case (or with the case in my personal item & the lightsaber sticking out). They are obviously much longer than the allowed size and while Spirit allows things like umbrellas to be carried outside of your bag, I wasn't sure what they'd do with a 36" lightsaber. Anyone try this since SWGE opened?

 

[daveyvw]

Bumping this thread because I'm interested in recent experiences with the new lightsabers from Savi's or high-end ones like Ultrasabers on Spirit & Frontier. I'd like to bring one in a carrying case (or with the case in my personal item & the lightsaber sticking out). They are obviously much longer than the allowed size and while Spirit allows things like umbrellas to be carried outside of your bag, I wasn't sure what they'd do with a 36" lightsaber. Anyone try this since SWGE opened?

Last Oct (2019) we carried two Savi’s lightsabers on board Spirit (in addition to our carry-on’s) and no one even blinked. We separated the blades from the hilts so they were only 32” long and then we even “snuck” the blades into the overhead. Granted, this was in Orlando - where they are very used to it (and their business depends on Disney passengers), so at another airport the crew might not be as accommodating.

 

[MusicalAstronaut]

Last Oct (2019) we carried two Savi’s lightsabers on board Spirit (in addition to our carry-on’s) and no one even blinked. We separated the blades from the hilts so they were only 32” long and then we even “snuck” the blades into the overhead. Granted, this was in Orlando - where they are very used to it (and their business depends on Disney passengers), so at another airport the crew might not be as accommodating.

Thank you!! Exactly the info I was looking for.