Travel and Vaping TSA experience coming home from Vapercon.

[XDoctor]

I flew home from Vapercon yesterday. When I arrived in Richmond, I had two mods, two bottles of juice, a spare atomizer, a spare battery and a charger. They didn't even slow me down when I went through security to get on the plane.

When I left, I had eight mods, roughly 50 bottles of juice, 30 atomizers, 10 spare batteries and two chargers. This raised some eyebrows.

Going through security, the guy at the scanner asked me what the thing in my bag was, and all I could respond was, "which one?" So they pulled me aside. The guy opening my bag was really cool, I explained that they were all electronic cigarettes and I'd just come from a trade show. He said he'd seen some before and asked me if I was selling them.

He started pulling them out one at a time and putting them in on of big plastic bins they run through the scanner. He pulled out every mod, all the spare atties and cartos and both battery chargers. They ran them through the machine again, brought them back to me, told me to have a good day and sent me on my way.

Its getting easier to get through security with these. I'd be willing to bet it was the 20 Ego Type B Cartos rubber banded together that caught their attention. It did kindof look like a little bundle of black dynamite.

 

[naga77777]

Nice.

Now if they would only repeal the ban on using them while flying....

 

[Placebo Effect]

Nice.

Now if they would only repeal the ban on using them while flying....

No such ban exists (except by individual airliners), and you can submit a comment to STOP the ban from coming: http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...ments-dot-e-cig-ban-needed-november-14-a.html

Glad to see the TSA isn't creating problems for e-cig users. Hopefully that won't change.

 

[sammeedog]

I won the draw of a suitcase search in Cancun Airport. The agent, looked at my chargers and batteries and was not very comfortable looking. I explained what is was as I was trying to dig out one that was put together in my purse to show her. She checked with another agent and they let it through.

 

[Hondo69]

As the Holidays near a lot of us will be doing some traveling. I plan on keeping my ecig goodies in the carry-on so if there is a problem I'll be there to explain things. I'd hate to guess what would happen if they found something in a checked bag.

A few years ago I was going through the DFW airport and a TSA lady found a lighter in the pocket of my jacket. You'd thought she'd struck gold as she danced around and sqealed and waved it in the air like Barney Fife. She ran over to me an stuck the lighter in my face and said, "you're in big trouble now buddy".

I glanced over to some of the othe agents and they just rolled their eyes. Didn't take long for me to get the message that this agent was "special". So I calmly explained to her that the airport we just came from had a large sign indicating which items were allowed, and which were not. And lighters were on the "allowed" side of the sign.

How could it be, I asked, that one airport uses a different set of rules than another? Passengers that have connecting flights will never be able to figure out which set of rules apply. She just snorted at me, "I'm keeping this", and turned and walked away. I got out of there as fast as I could but it's scary to think of the power these ...... have over our everyday lives.

 

[plarkinjr]

Granted I don't fly much post 9/11/01 precisely BECAUSE of the stupid security measures... but I don't believe cigarette lighters are prohibited on your person or carry-on, at all, or anywhere. I had one confiscated from a checked bag once, but every time I've flown in the past 10 years I have had at least 1 disposable lighter in the keys bucket from my pocket, and 3 stashed throughout my carry on; not a word was spoken about them. I usually go in/out of DFW, unless I can find a flight out of Love.

Last time I flew (a few weeks ago) I refused the walk thru nekkid scanner in Vegas. If my 4th amendment rights are going to be violated, I want to look the person who is doing it right in the eye.

 

[36tinybells]

I had no problems with Southwest, despite the fact that I carried on 3 mods and 4 bottles of juice. I was not bothered by anyone. I vaped in the nonsmoking area, no one cared and a cop grinned at me. I grinned back, btw!

 

[denali_41]

lighers were banned for awhile,,but that ban has been lifted,,approx Aug 09 i believe ??

 

[PTJD]

Yep as per TSA lighters have been fine for a few years.

 

[Hondo69]

I avoid flying whenever it's possible, but will be doing the nasty around Christmas time again. If my family wasn't traveling with me I thought it might be a good idea to try a little ruse on our overseers at the TSA.

I'd print up a little business card showing my status as a member of the "Church Of Holy Crap". And on the back would be our rules of behavior. Rule 3 would dictate no touching around the private areas by someome of the same sex. Rule 4 would state such touching is only allowed by an attractive female under the age of 45 (reproducing years).

Every seen an attractive female TSA agent?

Me neither.

 

[Jaguar G]

Just got back from a trip from DFW to LAX and back and had no problem with my bottom feeder box mod. I have the Phidias, which uses a needle tip on a 3ml bottle so I was a little concerned. I put an empty bottle with the needle on it in the phid, closed it all up like it was ready to go, and put my full 3ml bottle in my 3-1-1 baggie. I just kept my PV in my jacket and put it through the x-ray with my shoes.

Not a word was said, not a second glance, nothing. Put the full bottle on it at the gate and stealth vaped away. I was quite happy with that until I got to LAX. They still didn't say a word about the PV, but I did get selected to go through the big x-ray scanner; I opted out.

As the TSA guard was patting me down I asked, "so you guys work around that x-ray machine all day, every day?" His reply was "it's safe." I asked, "do you get a radiation dosimeter to see what you are being exposed to?" His reply was "no, but it's safe." So I continued, "I have had cancer twice in the last five years, it's the reason I opt out, and have had many x-rays and scans. Every time the radiologist stands in a different room, but you guys just stand around it and next to it all day long, how sure are you it is safe?" His reply, "sorry to hear of your illness, but it is safe."

I can not fathom how anyone could believe it is safe, especially when the only evidence of its safety is a study done by the manufacturer. I guess I'm just jaded by big government telling me what is and isn't safe, and them being wrong most of the time. Oh well, I'd still rather get felt up in public than submit to x-rays from an untested device. Those things are scary.

Jag

 

[Running Wolf]

Those who are willing to give up essential liberties in the name of security deserve neither.

Do they still have the ban on bringing drinks through security? I love that one.I'm just sipping on this flammable/explosive liquid. Don't worry about me being a terrorist becuase I'll be dead from drinking it way before the plane is ready to be boarded, let alone be in the air.

The way airport security is now in days I would rather take the time and go by train..... Makes me wonder what Amtrak policy is on vaping. Anyone know?

 

[Raenon]

The way airport security is now in days I would rather take the time and go by train..... Makes me wonder what Amtrak policy is on vaping. Anyone know?

I chose Amtrak when I went to vapestock over the summer, I vaped quietly several times from my roughstack and was never questioned, despite several employees being nearby. It'd be my assumption that it basically falls to turning a blind eye to anything that isn't obviously hurting someone else- a very different experience from air travel.

 

[Running Wolf]

I know last time I took the train, about 12 years ago they still had a smoking section in the cafe cars. Loved being able to get up and walk around while traveling.... Bottle of vodka, deck of cards, and BSing with travel stories with other peeps.

How does it feel being just a bit over from Lancaster (last place I lived in Pa before moving out here to Ohio)?

 

[Jaguar G]

Those who are willing to give up essential liberties in the name of security deserve neither.

Do they still have the ban on bringing drinks through security? I love that one.I'm just sipping on this flammable/explosive liquid. Don't worry about me being a terrorist becuase I'll be dead from drinking it way before the plane is ready to be boarded, let alone be in the air.

Yep, before you get to the security checkpoint there is a table full of half full water and soda bottles people couldn't bring through. I wonder why they didn't blow up right then and there? I was scared walking past all that potential explosive, it could have blown anytime.

Security theater is a hoax. My traveling partner from work was like "I'd rather get x-rayed than blown up." I pointed out how they have never stopped a terrorist, failed 20 of 22 undercover security test missing guns and bombs (by the way, revealing the results of covert tests is against TSA policy, and the agency responded by initiating an internal probe to discover the source of the leak, not to fix the holes), and don't check employees that have access to the tarmac and planes. Couldn't persuade him, so I just made the baaaa sound and went on.

Jag

 

[plarkinjr]

Scarier than the Xrays are the invasion of privacy, subordination of civil rights, and the sheeples willingness to comply.

And yes, drinking water is banned. You have to buy the "government approved and secured" water in the gate area at jacked up prices. You really think they scan all the inventory being delivered to the "secured" area?

I wish they'd focus more on the people and less on the objects. One bad guy can use a good object for harm. But good guys don't cause harm with objects deemed "bad".

 

[Running Wolf]

Exactly about the people. The scarey thing is only a small percentage of terrorism in this country has been committed by foreign nationals. When you look at it the younger white man has been responsible for most of it. OK City bombing, health care clinics, IRS building attacks, State House attacks, shooting politicians. That's on the right wing side and not counting the far left groups like Green Peace, PETA and the like.

If I really wanted to I could go to the Home Depot or Walmart and get what I needed to make a small nuclear bomb or chemical weapon agents. The reason I don't... I'm not a whacked out nut job .

Well back on topic as we seem to have drifted a bit.

With the paranoia (which means the terrorists & big brother both won) I can see some idiot thinking a plastic mod box or a tube mod looks like a bomb or a pipe bomb. "Mr. TSA guy, some guy over there has a bomb in his hand. Looks like a pipe bomb with a remote control antenna on it!"

I stuck the instruction booklet that came with my eGo in the case it came in (the ones that look like a diabetic's kit and holds the batteries and juices and all) just as a precaution of getting stopped by the cops. I was going to say if going through a DUI check point what sort of crack addict would leave a crack pipe out in plain view. But then I remembered some of the idiots I know. Leaving the PV in plain site will have the cop asking about it right off the bat. Some of the local cops around my way are ...... (1 or two idiots who give the rest of the cops of that town a bad name ), I don't think they would bother to listen. Luckily most of the highway patrol and sheriffs around this way would at least listen to you and read the lit before hauling you and saying it was for something illegal.

 

[Nashy08]

I took a plane last week and the only problem I had was putting my batteries in my laptop case lol. Don't do that. They pulled me aside and searched the bag, then swiped them for residue lol. The woman that was doing it asked me if it was an e-cig first, luckily she was understanding. I put my juice and the rest of my stuff in my checked baggage in zip lock bags. Ego batteries look like bombs fyi haha.

 

[FAAmecanic]

And yes, drinking water is banned. You have to buy the "government approved and secured" water in the gate area at jacked up prices.

And Im sure the states LOVE these jacked up prices, just like the state and Fed have no reason to lower Gas prices...higher prices = more sales tax revenue.

Sorry.... just Hi-jacked thread...I will leave now

 

[KimberlyM]

I avoid flying whenever it's possible, but will be doing the nasty around Christmas time again. If my family wasn't traveling with me I thought it might be a good idea to try a little ruse on our overseers at the TSA.

I'd print up a little business card showing my status as a member of the "Church Of Holy Crap". And on the back would be our rules of behavior. Rule 3 would dictate no touching around the private areas by someome of the same sex. Rule 4 would state such touching is only allowed by an attractive female under the age of 45 (reproducing years).

Every seen an attractive female TSA agent?

Me neither.

Now that is funny!!!