TSA 7 inch tool rule

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eljefino

eljefino

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http://www.tsa.gov/traveler-information/prohibited-items#7

Am thinking of flying south on ValuJet or whatever the current airborne equivalent is of a Feng Wah bus.
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Once on the road-salt-free side of the Mason Dixon, I'd buy a junker car and drive home. In theory. Working the numbers.

Since checked luggage on the cheapo carriers incurs a hefty fee, I checked the TSA rules for tools. Simply put, if it won't poke and is less than seven arbitrary inches, they're good to go in carry-on.

I have some husky wrenches that go up to 16mm that'll fit. Some bigger shorter stubby pattern ones.

I have an expanding length HF ratchet that'll probably land me in the brig.
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So I'd pack a mid-length handle and locally procure a pipe or something for leverage.

My question/ musing is, is there a company that makes wrenches that are all 6 3/4 inches long, from smallest to largest, for the flying professional? There's some unwritten rule that smaller wrenches have to be shorter than others in the set, maybe so they can be easily spotted/organized. But I'd like as much leverage as I can legally get.

I'm not buying any just for one trip, as I can hit a store on the far end of things as needed, but there might be some who'd go for this.

Pliers and screwdrivers are also allowed if they follow the < 7 inch rule.

Do they have duty-free Harbor Freights?
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You presume that the TSA will uniformly and fairly apply its own rules. That the TSA employees are familiar with advanced scientific concepts like weight, volume and length.

This isn't my experience.
 
Originally Posted By: Astro14
You presume that the TSA will uniformly and fairly apply its own rules. That the TSA employees are familiar with advanced scientific concepts like weight, volume and length.

This isn't my experience.



Mine either. Some balk at ANY metallic tools.

But then there's Southwest Airlines. Bags fly free, period. Just check the tools through. There's a reason they're bankrupting the competition- and 15 years ago I used to be the biggest Southwest hater out there. These days I don't fly anything else if I can help it.
 
I travel with carry on tools all the time. It is arbitrary but I have found this to be 95% true. When you put them in a plastic bag (doesn't matter the size) and take them out of your carry-on like you do the liquids, they appreciate you aren't hiding them and give you a little bit of slack.
 
When I bought my 300CD for our Route 66 trip, I did check a suitcase of tools. Didn't use any, but that was why I went ahead with the transaction.

That said, a few approaches:

1) since lost tools would be penny wise, pound foolish, go early, have the SO on standby, and if they reject, just drop the tools off.

2) how much exactly is bag check fee? I suspect $25?

3) buy tools you may need down there, then return unused ones up north. Bring the ones you know are legal (like some sockets, etc)

4) stubby bit driver vs screwdrivers, which shouldn't scare TSA as much
 
I work for an airline and fly more than any sane person should. My experience with dealing with the TSA would prompt me to just check whatever tools that I'd need. Pay the fee and don't hassle with the chance of losing your tools AND possibly your plane fare.
 
I also fly with camera equipment, both carry on and checked. You are up the the attitude of the TSA on that day. You are probably flying alone, on a one-way ticket, carry a large amount of tools. Depending on how you dress for a flight, could be some red flags going up. The fee is what $25-35, or another tank of gas to get the car back home?

I think you have to add the bag fee into the cost of doing business. Think about shipping tools through Fed-X ground to a friends or a local Fed-X office. Most airports have one. The cost might not be as much as you think. I've done it but I know that tools are heavier than camera equipment. A checked bag has a weight limit of 50lbs, some airlines are more forgiving than others on that weight. American Airlines will charge extra. Southwest is wonderful for being forgiving. A carry-on bag has a dimension of 8x20x24 max. Although we have all seen that violated often.

The thing about the TSA is one day they are fine, then the day before you travel something happen outside your control and the alert level is elevated and everything is done by the book. I can't see that you can purchase what you need for less than the check bag fee.
 
I flew SW last week. What is nice about the no baggage fees is that less people are trying to cram everything in the overheads and acting as if the 1 bag 1 personal item simply can't apply to them as they, simply, are special.

Security was a bit different too. No shoe or belt or laptop removal, they said to just shove everything into your bag(s), make sure no metal was in your pockets and walk through the detector.

If checking tools, I'd worry about sticky baggage handler fingers. I have not checked a bag in years, so much easier to travel lighter.
 
Originally Posted By: wrcsixeight


If checking tools, I'd worry about sticky baggage handler fingers. I have not checked a bag in years, so much easier to travel lighter.


I flew and checked a toolbox back in 2003. I left a typed inventory of all tools included, and they told me they looked through it. (Might have also had a tag attached.)

Funny thing is, all the stuff on my inventory was there. I had a ball point pen, not listed, that disappeared. I think they dumped it all on a table somewhere then thought it was their pen.
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I'm not flying with high value stuff and could easily go SW. But planning is half the fun.
 
Originally Posted By: wrcsixeight

Security was a bit different too. No shoe or belt or laptop removal, they said to just shove everything into your bag(s), make sure no metal was in your pockets and walk through the detector


That has nothing to do with your choice of airline.

The TSA handles every airline at every airport. What you experienced sounds like TSA Pre Check. TSA controls that. A military ID or frequent flyer status can get you Pre check.
 
Originally Posted By: Astro14
Originally Posted By: wrcsixeight

Security was a bit different too. No shoe or belt or laptop removal, they said to just shove everything into your bag(s), make sure no metal was in your pockets and walk through the detector


That has nothing to do with your choice of airline.



I realize that, I could have been more clear, apologies. I was just surprised by the different procedure. There was not a huge security line, nor huge volume of travelers, but getting through it was fast, well under 5 minutes before I approached and when I grabbed my bag off the rollers.

A guy did run a Swab over my hands and run it through some tester before I showed my ID and boarding pass and heard the instructions to just shove everything into my baggage and push it through.

I did not see him do that to any other traveller, but there was only a handful of people in front of me.

Anyway, off topic, best o luck finding an acceptable vehicle south of the rust belt and getting your tools there.
 
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