Tips for flying to an event

[Jeremy Bevard]

For those that have flown to an event I was hoping to get some advice from you. I will be doing this for the first time next month. I do not need to worry about weapons since those I need will be borrowed when I get there. No powder, ect is needed for this either. I was thinking of putting my uniform (frock, trousers, shirt, socks, cap, under drawers, shoes) in my carry on so if my bags are lost at least I am not completely dead in the water at the event. Not sure if it will a will all fit yet though. Has anyone put brogans in a carryon? I am not sure how the heel plates will look to TSA. Any other tips for packing, ect please let me know.

Thanks,

[toptimlrd]

Re: Tips for flying to an event

I haven't flown with my kit before but I would imagine they will want to take a look at them. You may want to have them easily accessible.

[Mcguire]

Re: Tips for flying to an event

I flew to BGR a few years ago. I packed a suitcase because it's just not the uniform but your traps, canteen, blanket, etc.. I also packed a change of clothes and toiletries to clean up after the event and before boarding the flight home. I don't know how you could fit everything in a carry on.

[roundshot]

Re: Tips for flying to an event

I've done it any number of times with uniform and accouterments in suitcase (including shoes), weapon in hard shell gun case (as checked baggage), and knapsack on back as carry-on. No problems. Do not carry cartridges in your luggage, however.

[D.W. Scalf]

Re: Tips for flying to an event

Jeremy,

Back in 2002, not long after 9/11, I traveled with basically my whole kit(minus muskets) in 2 huge rubbermaid boxes. Keep in mind this was an international flight to Australia. I taped a message to the inside top of the boxes explaining just what the heck all that sweaty wool and leather stuff was. I figured there would be powder residue somewhere that might set off alarms, but I had no problems at all. Just an air travel story...Not that it applies that much to your situation.

On another note....last year I got a good deal on a Jarnigan cartridge box off ebay. When it arrived here in Australia, to my horror, if was full of cartridges! Now this package would have likely come in on a commercial airliner. US customs didn't pick it up....Australian Customs didn't pick it up. Now how safe does that make you feel about air travel?? Shouldn't that have showed up on their x-ray machine looking like a home made b*mb? It's all hit and miss at best in my opinion....

[Spinster]

Re: Tips for flying to an event

I've long made a practice of flying to events wearing period dress--complete with steel shanks in my period shoes and steel boning in the corset. Its all a matter of planning enough time to get through security, and maintaining a nice, unhurried, calm, attitude.

Size your bag to the restrictions, pack it, and see what fits. Should you be short on room, consider wearing the clothing, but placing the uniform coat in your carry on, as that might be a little too weird. If you were traveling in period civilian clothing, I can't see that causing a problem at all. The steel plated brogans will be difficult to walk in on airport surfaces, so carry them as well. Still, if space is a problem, I've certainly seen men wear them on flights.

I've not flown since the newest machinery came in use. The corset and steel shanks in the shoes meant that a secondary search occured. I make it a policy to check in two hours before flight time.

[J.H.Berger]

Re: Tips for flying to an event

Don't have percussion caps with you either.

[wavey1us]

Re: Tips for flying to an event

Flying with gear is always a iffy situation. If I can, and I have enough time, I try to mail my gear to a pard prior to the event. Then I can get by with flying with just a carry on. You will find that mailing your stuff is a little cheaper then having to pay the airlines for over weight or excess baggage charges.

[Travelin Cornfed]

Re: Tips for flying to an event

I'm with Bill on this one.

The few times I've had to fly to an event I just sent my gear a week in advance with UPS and then had a pard ship it back to me when the event was over. Flying is a big enough pain in the rear without having to deal with excessive scrutiny by the TSA.

[Dale Beasley]

Re: Tips for flying to an event

Gentlemen and those of you from Texas,
I am directing this question to those of you who have actually flown to an event within the last 18 months. Currently several of us are making plans to attend the Virginia Manassas Event in July. Mailing gear is totally out of the question. Anything dealing with rifle, caps, powder, to include the ammo pouch is being driven by two members of our unit. My question and concern is this, ... your uniform may have gunpowder residue on or in it. If packed in "check in"...have any of you ever experienced complications with this?

I fly on an average of three times a month, I have not had any problems with TSA, but I also have never traveled with a Civil War Kit.

Any actual first hand experience?

[Silas]

Re: Tips for flying to an event

I've not had problems with bringing my gear through airports. I've watched TSA go through my bags friends looking for contraband and taking occasional swabs from my stuff. Generally, they go for the liquid items. I saw them hit on a jar of sorghum and a bottle of local blackberry wine. They looked at some small containers which had liquids - olive oil bottle and vinegar bottle - but passed them over as being not likely to be trouble. They didn't touch my cartridge box, uniform, brogans or other possible items which may have had residue.

So, liquid bad.

Also, if you pack a pistol in a small case and put it inside your bag, they will go through the entire bag. I use a duffle and have placed my disassembled pistol in locked case at the top of the bag. After tagging it, locking it and placing it at the top of the duffle, the airline allowed it. When they took it to TSA, the inspectors pulled out everything from the duffle. Even to the point of unrolling the blanket and canvas from my sword. I watched them as they did it so I have first hand knowledge. The bag was rather full when it arrived at TSA. They had a hard time shoving it all back in. The rule they told me was that if there's a gun in a bag, they search the entire bag.

Dale, I don't know why you cannot send stuff ahead. Send it by UPS Ground to a customer center somewhere along the route you intend to travel. Ship it from you to you. They will hold it for five business days. "Hold for pickup" is the phrase which needs to be on your invoice and on your box. You can also ship your rounds. I have done this many times. The most recent time was February of last year when I shipped a musket, rounds and caps. If you ship a weapon or rounds, you need to ship it from a customer center, not one of the outlets found in strip malls. You can find customer centers, which are UPS hubs, online. They are generally open Monday through Friday. Some have restricted hours. Plan ahead.

Keep the rounds well separated from the caps. Double or triple wrap the rounds. Throw in a roll of tape into your box so you can repackage your stuff for the trip home. Easier to do that now than procrastinate it until it's too late.

[Dale Beasley]

Re: Tips for flying to an event

-Our Commander is taking our Arms and Gear ahead via auto. He will be in that area on business, and that will workout beautifully.
-UPS, just scares me..just tooo much history with them not getting things where they are suppose to be.
-Its just the residue that may or not be on clothing, that concerns me. I intend to blow my uniform with a weed blower and vacuum with the shop vacuum, that may be an over-kill.
Wearing the gear, I agree will draw attention.
- I like the idea of a duffle bag and that is a sound idea.

[Silas]

Re: Tips for flying to an event

My duffle is an extra twelve inches or so inches longer than the standard duffle. It's just long enough to fit my sword. I sewed a strap handle to the lower portion so I can control the bag better.

I don't think you need to go to the extreme of blowing and/or vacuuming. If it helps you sleep better at night, go for it. Consider a do it your self car wash and one of their vacuums.

[Gallo de Cielo]

Re: Tips for flying to an event

I think fear of UPS is unfounded. USPS maybe but not UPS.

As has been said- ship your stuff ahead of time. Shipping a musket with insurance is at most $40, likely less. A checked bag fee on most airlines is more than that.

[Dale Beasley]

Re: Tips for flying to an event

My question and I think it has been missed, Residue on Uniforms, has anyone every found this to be a problem with airlines? I do not nor intend to fly in uniform, the uniform / bag would be checked.