Las Vegas here I come

[tigertoy]

It's official; I just wrote the check for the registration and bought the non-refundable airline tickets. I'm going to the FCF Convention in Las Vegas the end of July.

I have 6 weeks to figure out how to get through airport security without getting sent to Gitmo or having my stuff taken away or destroyed. Any advice will be appreciated. I'm traveling with an expensive camera that I'm not letting out of my sight. I also intend to travel with some things a normal human being travels with, like nail clippers, so I'll have to check a bag, which I've never done before.

Comments

[singlemaltsilk.livejournal.com]

You'll be fine. A lot of information is available on the official TSA website. You can now pack some previously banned items like nail clippers in your carry-on. If you do need to check a bag, you'll want to secure it either with plastic zip strips, or pick up one of the new TSA-approved locks. The inspectors can open them without cutting them off, and the lock itself will tell you if it's been opened.

[mrlogic.livejournal.com]

Nail clippers are fine -- even if they have an evil, evil nail file included as part of them. Your camera will be fine; keep it in your carry-on. It will be OK for the moment you are separated from it as it goes through the X-Ray machine -- time it so that you place it on the belt only just before you go through yourself, and make sure there's nothing in your pockets or on your person (shoes, belt, jewelry) that will make you beep, so you aren't delayed in picking it up. Any such things you get to put on the belt in a bin before you go through. Again, your goal is to get through the detector quickly and be reunited with your things coming through the X-Ray machine.

I believe thefts of items being examined are extremely rare; that said, I do know one person who somehow had an item stolen. I've never had a problem myself and I don't think it's something to worry about unduly.

You needn't check a bag unless you're bringing something clearly not allowed, such as any kind of tool or knife or anything that might be construed as a weapon, particularly anything with a sizable metallic shaft or rod.

Note that although most airlines say you can only have "one carry-on and one small personal item such as a computer bag or purse", they're pretty liberal about the interpretation of that second item. I travel very regularly with one suitcase and a pretty full (smallish) backback and I never check anything (unless for some trip I need to pack more than those).

[starstraf.livejournal.com]

Read the TSA web site, give yourself plenty of time, and be polite and patient.