Considering the number of people so far that have assumed it's an electric screwdriver, I'd just say it's an electric screwdriver.
Getting the Prodigy through airport security
- Thread starter LuckyCharm
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Lying about it and/or attempting to disguise it can only cause you more problems. Pretty sure that screwdrivers are not allowed anyway, they are the second-most dangerous improvised weapon next to nailclippers. gasp! Actually, you can do a lot of damage with a SD.
I flew from Seattle to San Francisco and also from Sacramento to Seattle, earlier this month. The first flight I grouped my e-liquid in 15ml bottles in a ziplock bag and placed it in my carry-on. I kept the Prodigy in my carry-on. No said a thing.
On the second flight, I actually placed the Prodigy in the bin to see what the TSA folks would do. They did pull it out of the bin and visually inspect it. I said to them, "Oh that's just my nicotine inhaler- like one of those electronic cigarettes used to help me quit smoking". They guy smiled in apparent understanding and placed the Prodigy back in the bin, letting it through.
I also vaped on both flights, discretely. I simply held in the vapor for 8-10 seconds on each inhale. There was of course no vapor production and no one was the wiser.
On the second flight, I actually placed the Prodigy in the bin to see what the TSA folks would do. They did pull it out of the bin and visually inspect it. I said to them, "Oh that's just my nicotine inhaler- like one of those electronic cigarettes used to help me quit smoking". They guy smiled in apparent understanding and placed the Prodigy back in the bin, letting it through.
I also vaped on both flights, discretely. I simply held in the vapor for 8-10 seconds on each inhale. There was of course no vapor production and no one was the wiser.
Thank you, Cheryl, for your advice and good wishes! I don't think I'll "argue" with them, but I will bring that printed information and self-addressed, postage-paid envelope. [Actually, I may just bring some stamps instead of the postage-page part. Hopefully, I won't need to use that envelope ... and I hate to waste money.]
When I previewed my post, some of those words jumped out at me and I imagined how it all would look out of context. That's why I stuck in that paragraph. But that "Thank you" at the end was intended to give it all a tongue in cheek twist.
Rinkusu, was your Prodigy fully assembled with betteries and atomizer and all? There was advice on a different thread to keep it disassembled when going through security.
I'm not disagreeing.
However, they have a very high sense of (in some cases false) authority because they can very nearly do no wrong to get themselves fired. That was my original point.
It probably depends on the airline. I posted this in a different thread, but it is probably more relevant here:
Air Canada is now officially banning electronic cigarettes as carry-on item. The ecigs have to be in your check in luggage:
http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/canadian-members/28853-flying-ecig-air-canada.html
From Air Canada site (scroll down to "Prohibited Items"):
aircanada.com - Travel Info - Carry On Baggage
I don't think it will take long for other airlines to follow.
"Captain, I am holding a personal veporizer in my hands. If you don't change the course from Toronto to Montreal, I'll vape!"
I have carried the Prodigy on two domestic flights so far, both times in my carry-on, and disassembled. The atomizer and battery components went into my laptop bag with my pens and laser pointer, the liquid went into the plastic bag containing my other liquids (aftershave, toothpaste, etc.). Neither time did I get any response from the TSA people. Airports were located in NC, NY (LaGuardia), and Boston (Logan).
I think the TSA are not examining the contents of carry-ons with the specificity that one might assume. A lot of people (including me) carry devices in their carry-ons that look "unusual" on an x-ray (e.g., medical stuff), and they don't seem to bother at all. With respect to the liquid, consider the number of cosmetics and medically prescribed liquids that people carry-on. To flag and separately screen anything that looks "abnormal" would be a huge waste of time, and they're not really equipped to deal with or informed about everything out there. I think they're looking for specific things based on input from the DHS.
Of course, that's not to say that you won't have some problems at a particular airport with a particular TSA agent, but my experience is that e-cigs in general, including the Prodigy, don't get a second look when they are disassembled. If you are questioned, simply tell the truth: it's a nicotine inhaler. They are (currently) legal devices in the states, so there's no need to hide or obscure its intended purpose. The TSA have much bigger fish to fry than atomizers, batteries, and e-liquid.
I think the TSA are not examining the contents of carry-ons with the specificity that one might assume. A lot of people (including me) carry devices in their carry-ons that look "unusual" on an x-ray (e.g., medical stuff), and they don't seem to bother at all. With respect to the liquid, consider the number of cosmetics and medically prescribed liquids that people carry-on. To flag and separately screen anything that looks "abnormal" would be a huge waste of time, and they're not really equipped to deal with or informed about everything out there. I think they're looking for specific things based on input from the DHS.
Of course, that's not to say that you won't have some problems at a particular airport with a particular TSA agent, but my experience is that e-cigs in general, including the Prodigy, don't get a second look when they are disassembled. If you are questioned, simply tell the truth: it's a nicotine inhaler. They are (currently) legal devices in the states, so there's no need to hide or obscure its intended purpose. The TSA have much bigger fish to fry than atomizers, batteries, and e-liquid.
Good to know. It would probably be prudent to disassemble the Prodigy / place it in luggage going forward, at least until there is some kind of official regulation for ecigs / vaporizers. If not, one should at least check and see if their airline already has some kind of regulation in play, as with the above.
I flew out of Atlanta a few weeks ago with EVERYTHING in my carry on. Yes, it went thru, went back, went thru again and back again until I got a puzzled look from the TSA guy and he said...What is this? I just said "electronic cigs"! He asked me if I knew what they looked like and passed it on. They did open my bag and look but everything was fine. To my knowledge, it isn't an item on any list that is not allowed on the plane.
I also did vape on the plane, sorta secretely! I blew it into my shirt or kept the vape in until it was gone. Could have gone to the restroom but decided to try it in my seat.
The trip home I packed most of my stuff in my checked luggage. Although I did pack a few item in my carry on, nobody even batted an eye this time.
I also did vape on the plane, sorta secretely! I blew it into my shirt or kept the vape in until it was gone. Could have gone to the restroom but decided to try it in my seat.
The trip home I packed most of my stuff in my checked luggage. Although I did pack a few item in my carry on, nobody even batted an eye this time.
I plan to fly cross-country in a couple weeks, and would love to bring my Prodigy along. However, it is bound to arouse much more suspicion than my traditional pen-styles or minis would. Any suggestions on what to tell the TSA people? I would be willing to say it's a "personal pleasure device" and leave it to their imaginations, if that's what it'd take.
~~Cheryl
Haha, you know I just flew literally across the whole country. I will tell you my first encounter with TSA and the prodigy.
Bag 1 comes through x-ray followed by the bin with all my stuff in it...wallet, phone, computer, prodigy, etc etc...
The guy stops on the bin, and looks at the x-ray again.
He runs the bin all the way through, and i think, "oh good i am in the clear.
Little did i know he just ran it the rest of the way through so he could look at it with his eyes.
He picked it up, and literally mouthed the words "What the Fu#$", i then jumped in and said "its an electronic cigarette. He asked how it worked, i explained, he tested it on his machine, handed it to me, and i went on my marry way.
So, it was funny, but it got through.
Gibby
They are just banning the use of them on that airlines planes, since they are technically covered under their current smoking policies.
What smoking policies? This is a vapor, not smoke. Are inhalers also banned on these airlines?
~~Cheyl
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