Pins on the airlines

[Luv2Roam]

Okay -- Now you guys are really confusing me! Should I or shouldn't I pack my pins in carry-on?
I usually have them in carry on. Then finally decided, since we were flying ME non-stop that I would be okay to pack in checked luggage.
I was going to put my FULL pin bag in my canvas laundry bag and pack that in the middle of my clothes. (And lock it.)
But I wondered too if someone would scan and see a lot of metal and pull it aside. But I thought the airlines had to page you and have you be there when it was opened. (Just so if it was suspicious material they could nab the person right there.)
I guess my thoughts on carry-on is that all it would take would be one power hungry jerk, and no more pins.

 

[daber]

Tomorrow is the first time for me on a plane since 9/11 and the increased security. I refuse to allow the baggage handlers access to my pin bag. And if the security force TRIES to confiscate them, I will probably wind up in jail. Stay tuned.

 

[n2mm]

I carried 3 full pin bags on late Oct. Out of Dulles Airport with absolutley no problem whatsoever. They openned each pin bag and inspected every page. No problem home out of MCO either. The screeners where wonderful both sides and the MCO screeners complimented me on my collection. I will not put my pins in my checked on baggage because I would have to buy insurance to cover them and Delta quoted me $30 per $1,000. Since I had several $1,000 worth of pins, that would have been expensive, and that was each way you had to buy extra insurance. I know several others who carried them on with no problem. I use a rolling backpack which counts as my 1 carry on.

 

[snowgooseltd]

We flew two weeks after 9/11 and twice since with no problems whatsoever. Twice the bags were opened and searched but the other four times through the scanners.....nothing, not even a question as to what are they? Go figure. I agree...I would not pack my pins in checked luggage. I have the same fears that the scanner would pick up the metal and my bag would end up in Texas, going off at auction for some ridiculous amount like $50.00.

 

[ladyandtramp]

Besides a lot of surprised looks from screeners & inspectors (and quotes like 'what in the world do you do with them all?'), no problems with my pins in my carry-on -- I flew in December.

I would be amazed if they confiscated the pins -- if they did, then they would have to confiscate every piece of pin jewelry worn.

They will likely want to inspect them, because they can't see into the bag with all that metal, but that only takes a few minutes.

My new motto is "better safe than sorry", so they are more than welcome to inspect away.

Jan

 

[Dom13]

I would reccomend you carry them in a pin bag all neatly arranged. IMHO piles of pins just stuffed in a bag would arouse more suspicion to me. A neat and orderly pin bag says to me this person cares about these and would make me far less suspicious of the person.

 

[Luv2Roam]

Very true. It would look more suspicious.
I will just breathe a sigh of relief as I go through -- which will probably look suspicious too!

 

[daber]

Well, I'm standing in line to go thru security for the first time since 9/11 with my pin bag. I have my WDW pin trading vest on with a few pins. Next thing I know one of the National Guard with rifle at his side starts walking toward me. He stands in front of me and says, "You going to DisneyWorld?" I told him "No Disneyland". He then tells me his father trades pins and maybe I know of him. He goes by the name Wolfer(sp?)......Everyone start singing ....."It's a Small World After All". I told him I was a little worried about carring my pins thru security. He told me if there were any problems, call him over and I'd get thru.

 

[DaisyCrazy]

Daber.....what airport?!?! That was hilarious!! *Still* ROFLOL (especially in light of your earlier post on this thread)!!

Christy

 

[daber]

Philadelphia. Flew to Dallas, then LAX, then Santa Barbara.

 

[Pin Wizard]

Daber,
Your experience at the airport is just too funny!! ROFL!
This was my first stop on these boards. What a treat! I can tell this is going to be a LOT of fun.

Sandy

 

[Mainepinpal]

I flew in early November from Maine to Orlando. I took my pins in my carry on. When I put the bag on the x-ray, I told the security guy there that I had Disney pins inside. He turned out to be a collector,too, and was friendly. However, the guy actually reading the scanner monitor, was not a collector, and scowled at his screen view of my bag for a while, until he called me over. "Is that your bag?, he asked. "Yes," I said. "What's in this corner? I can't see through it." he said. "Disney pins", I replied happily.( I always smile when I say "pins", don't you?) So he opened the bag and took a look. No problem, and I went on my way.
On the return trip, the security guys in Orlando were very interested in my carry on bag full of pins ( more pins than I came down with...LOL), but they did not open the bag. One guy did the chemical wipe thing, running a small swab held with long tongs along the handles of the bag, then placing the swab in a big box-like machine. I was fascinated ( not having encountered this before), and asked him what he was looking for ( is it Ok to chat with these guys? I usually do). He said chemical traces. He didn't find anything inappropriate, and told me I could go, without even opening the bag, even though I offered to open the bag and show him my pins.( I guess he wasn't a fellow collector).
My advice - Take your pins along with you, and be appreciative of the people doing the security inspection. I'm very glad they are there!
Penny

 

[Luv2Roam]

DH & I must not look suspicious. We flew Midwest Express. They did spot checks on traveler's luggage. No one looked at ours.
No one ever even asked us to open the pin bag.
I had a FULL large pin bag (carry on) and pins in the cheked suitcases. Nothing unusual happened at all.
One time we were walking up to a security area and the guy even just looked the other way and we walked on through. People behind us were spot checked.
We must just look so darn honest!

 

[Cheshire Figment]

JudySue and I have had two round trips between Dulles and Orlando (4-8 Oct & 29 Nov-10 Dec). Both times at Dulles they did a close inspection of the pins. Both times, at our request, we were taken into the Security break room, out of the public view. We did not have any problems. Coming home one time the case was opened and a fairly cursory examination given, and the other time it was not even opened. The case is a hard-side Samsonite roll-on and with about 500 pins in it weighs about 35 pounds. Our only worry was not confiscation, but having to put the case in as checked luggage.

We have seen one report where a person's pins were damaged by the examiner. One thing we do is politely, but stongly, request a supervisor. In the two close examinations, one they were done checking they allowed us to repack the bag to prevent damage.