Flying With Helmet Given Latest Security Measures

[marcopolo]

A friend and I are planning to ride out to California in July for the UnRally. Our wives plan to fly out to meet us. My wife has done this half a dozen times over the last few years and has always flown in her riding gear and taken her helmet onboard as carry-on luggage (she has never checked any baggage). Thus far she has never had a problem, even with her Autocom headset wire dangling out of her helmet. Given the very latest restrictions on carry-on luggage, we're assuming that they will not be allowed to take their helmets onboard and would have to check them.

 

My question: has anyone ever checked a helmet for a flight and how did that work out? How did you pack it (I don't trust just throwing it in a helmet bag)? If we packed it in a box we obviously couldn't cart that around with us for two weeks. Needless to say, it seems -- at first glance -- to be a major PITA. Also, when having the helmet as carry-on, there's never any worry about whether it will get there with you. Flying from Ottawa to Reno is a minimum of three legs (Ottawa-Toronto/Toronto-San Francisco/San Fran-Reno). Maybe we should forget having our wives fly to Reno for the UnRally and just meet them in San Fran afterward; that would at least reduce the chances of the helmet getting lost in transit as the first two legs are both Air Canada. San Fran to Reno would be some Star Alliance airline, perhaps increasing the odds of the helmet going missing (what a screw-up that would be).

 

Any thoughts, or suggestions?

[NonComp]

I would just check it in, in a soft-sided luggage bag that zips shut of the appropriate size and shape. Think bowling ball bag.

[T__]

Mark, flying restrictions are getting tougher & more restrictive every day so what worked last week might cause a problem tomorrow..

 

About a year ago I was flying out west & had a laser temperature transducer in my carry on luggage & had one dickens of a time when it showed up on the scanner.. (almost missed my flight)..

 

A couple of suggestions:

 

First; call the air lines she plans to travel on & ask their suggestions & any complications it will cause..

 

Next; no matter what go to the web site of the helmet she is taking & print out some literature showing the communication system & what it is & looks like.. What FINIALLY helped me was I had the literature of the transducer I was carrying in my briefcase so that helped me show security what it was & what it did.. They thought it was some sort of sighting device for a missile or something..

 

 

Twisty

 

[marcopolo]

I have to believe (but will confirm, of course) that there's no way in hell they'll allow a helmet onboard. For any flights to the U.S., no carry-on of any sort is allowed (newest U.S. rules) unless it's on the short list of exceptions (motorcycle helmets are not on the list of exceptions, as you might expect). I'm also not counting on the rules being relaxed any time soon, so we're trying to get ahead of the curve on this one.

[UberXY]

We, as a family of five, flew international last week and didn't notice any changes in security. I saw no reason to assume that you cannot take a helmet as carry on. We weren't even asked to remove our many small electronic devices (phones, cameras, netbooks, shortwaves, chargers) from our carry on to show the inspectors, as has happened to us routinely in the past.

 

As for checking it in, find out if your airline is charging for checkins. We were surprised to find that USAir now wants $25/bag, no free bags at all. That meant for us an extra $125 for one suitcase for each person on each leg.

[upflying]

Good question, I would surmise the TSA would think a MC helmet could be used as defensive head protection or a weapon when an aircraft is hijacked. The helmet might also protect the wearer in an explosion. The prevailing thought I have would be to check it as baggage.

Getting answers from TSA or the airline would result in long waits, placed on hold and endless phone trees. When you finally get a real person, he/she could give an opinion that would not be honored at the security check point.

For piece of mind, check it in.

[russell_bynum]

I have to believe (but will confirm, of course) that there's no way in hell they'll allow a helmet onboard. For any flights to the U.S., no carry-on of any sort is allowed (newest U.S. rules) unless it's on the short list of exceptions (motorcycle helmets are not on the list of exceptions, as you might expect). I'm also not counting on the rules being relaxed any time soon, so we're trying to get ahead of the curve on this one.

 

Huh?? Where are you getting that information?

 

My brother flew from Texas to California and back over the holidays (all of this after the underwear bomber singed his privates in an attempt to get his 72 virgins). He had a regular carry-on bag for himself and his daughter (plus a car seat for her).

[lvnvbiker]

I carried mine to Seattle a few times. No issues at all with the helmet as carry on...

[Woodie]

Southwest didn't charge for my bag. Delta did. BOOOO!

[swfraley]

If you're that concerned, FedEx it.

[Nice n Easy Rider]

For any flights to the U.S., no carry-on of any sort is allowed (newest U.S. rules) unless it's on the short list of exceptions

Huh?? Where are you getting that information?

 

My brother flew from Texas to California and back over the holidays (all of this after the underwear bomber singed his privates in an attempt to get his 72 virgins). He had a regular carry-on bag for himself and his daughter (plus a car seat for her).

OK Russell, which state finally seceded from the Union - California or Texas?

[russell_bynum]

For any flights to the U.S., no carry-on of any sort is allowed (newest U.S. rules) unless it's on the short list of exceptions

Huh?? Where are you getting that information?

 

My brother flew from Texas to California and back over the holidays (all of this after the underwear bomber singed his privates in an attempt to get his 72 virgins). He had a regular carry-on bag for himself and his daughter (plus a car seat for her).

OK Russell, which state finally seceded from the Union - California or Texas?

 

I thought CA was kicked out of the union years ago.

[russell_bynum]

LOL. Well, it turns out you're right. The Canadian govt is restricting carry-on bags for flights from Canada to the US. This makes perfect sense given that most of the attacks on commercial airliners in the last 20 years have come from Canada.

 

Here's the story from American Airline's website:

Carry-On Baggage Policy To The U.S.

From Canada To The U.S.

U.S. bound passengers are permitted zero carry-on bags effective immediately and lasting for several days. Items that are excluded from this restriction include:

 

* small purses (not exceeding 12 x 10 x 5.5 in. or 30 x 25 x 14 cm)

* cameras

* coats

* items for care of infants

* laptop computers

* crutches

* canes

* walkers

* medications and medical devices

* musical instruments

 

 

It's good to know the US govt isn't the only one capable of unmeasurable stupidity.

[David]

I'm wearing a bone growth stimulator and TENS machine at the moment, so I have all these wires running down and around my chest. I look like I'm conducting a veritable suicide bomber clinic, so I've got bigger problems to worry about than a helmet.

[russell_bynum]

I'm wearing a bone growth stimulator and TENS machine at the moment, so I have all these wires running down and around my chest. I look like I'm conducting a veritable suicide bomber clinic, so I've got bigger problems to worry about than a helmet.

 

I'll give you $10 if you wear an "Allahu Akbar" T-shirt. $20 if you also have a copy of Anarchist Cookbook in your carry-on bag.

 

[upflying]

Musical instruments are ok on an aircraft? Couldn't a flute be used as a club like weapon?

Canes and crutches are big time weapons. Could one feign a disability and bring them on? I realize the ADA means they will be brought on board but how does security of an aircraft co-exist with lawful objects that could be used as weapons?

 

[Deadboy]

I would never check in my helmet.....a few years ago I was amazed when a friends helmet came out on the luggage claim belt after a flight (in a nice hard sided case), to which he said he always checked his in and never had an issue. He was even more amazed when he took it out the next morning at the trail head and the jaw was broken nearly in half. Interestingly the paint was perfect so it clearly got squeezed so hard it just cracked....I say bring it with you on the bike or ship it. You could always carry it across the border and ship it if the cost issue is a concern.

[russell_bynum]

Musical instruments are ok on an aircraft? Couldn't a flute be used as a club like weapon?

 

Stop assuming that these rules make sense or are intended to, in any way, increase the safety and security of the airline employees, crew, passengers, or the general public.

 

One of my favorite idiotic rules is that you can't carry extra lithium batteries in your checked luggage....unless they're installed in a device at the time. You can carry extra lithium batteries in your carry-on, though...that's just fine.

 

I am 100% convinced that some day the truth will come to light and we will discover that this whole airline security thing is just a sociology experiment administered by one of the major Ivy League Universities to see how far they can push people before anyone pushes back. I see no other logical explanation for what's going on.

[outpost22]

Musical instruments are ok on an aircraft? Couldn't a flute be used as a club like weapon?

 

Stop assuming that these rules make sense or are intended to, in any way, increase the safety and security of the airline employees, crew, passengers, or the general public.

 

One of my favorite idiotic rules is that you can't carry extra lithium batteries in your checked luggage....unless they're installed in a device at the time. You can carry extra lithium batteries in your carry-on, though...that's just fine.

 

I am 100% convinced that some day the truth will come to light and we will discover that this whole airline security thing is just a sociology experiment administered by one of the major Ivy League Universities to see how far they can push people before anyone pushes back. I see no other logical explanation for what's going on.

 

No worries mate. These same good folks will soon be running your health care.

 

Now, just follow the white line, no deviations, look straight ahead. Nothing to see here, just move along.

[Paul Mihalka]

"I see no other logical explanation for what's going on."

 

Your mistake is to look for a logical explanation.

 

[JonathanE]

"I see no other logical explanation for what's going on."

 

Your mistake is to look for a logical explanation.

 

You're right Paul! In fact, just a little more meaningless commentary and this thread could qualify as an "oil level/type/change frequency" thread!

 

[Ken H.]

Stop assuming that these rules make sense or are intended to, in any way, increase the safety and security of the airline employees, crew, passengers, or the general public.

OMG Russell and I FINALLY agree on something. One of my favorite of the new catch phrases of late is, "Security Theater."

[upflying]

The meaning is becoming clear to me now.

"Logical politics is the Holy Grail of oxymorons".

 

I think I will use that on my signature line.

 

 

[mbelectric]

I'm with Deadboy here.

 

Ship 'em Mark.

 

In fact ship them here, I'm smack in the middle of most Airports here in the Bay Area...SFO OAK SJC SAC. You can swing by on your way to pick up the wife.

 

Besides lightening your load for carry-on, it'll ease your luggage burden...this way more room for stuff on the way back..things like shopping items...

 

Ping me if you want more info.

 

MB>

[Lets_Play_Two]

Musical instruments are ok on an aircraft? Couldn't a flute be used as a club like weapon?

Canes and crutches are big time weapons. Could one feign a disability and bring them on? I realize the ADA means they will be brought on board but how does security of an aircraft co-exist with lawful objects that could be used as weapons?

 

Geezzzz, a pen or a pencil can be used as a weapon. How about an ordinary belt buckle? I use a cane (artificial hip), the cane has a titanium head! They neuter everyone except the bad guys.

[EffBee]

Musical instruments are ok on an aircraft? Couldn't a flute be used as a club like weapon?

No one who plays a flute could hit you hard enough that you'd even notice.

[marcopolo]

LOL. Well, it turns out you're right. The Canadian govt is restricting carry-on bags for flights from Canada to the US. This makes perfect sense given that most of the attacks on commercial airliners in the last 20 years have come from Canada.

 

Here's the story from American Airline's website:

Carry-On Baggage Policy To The U.S.

From Canada To The U.S.

U.S. bound passengers are permitted zero carry-on bags effective immediately and lasting for several days. Items that are excluded from this restriction include:

 

* small purses (not exceeding 12 x 10 x 5.5 in. or 30 x 25 x 14 cm)

* cameras

* coats

* items for care of infants

* laptop computers

* crutches

* canes

* walkers

* medications and medical devices

* musical instruments

 

 

It's good to know the US govt isn't the only one capable of unmeasurable stupidity.

 

Close, but no cigar. These rules are being imposed by U.S. authorities on any flight into the United States. Canadian authorities in our airports are enforcing these rules, otherwise aircraft from Canada would not be allowed into the United States. So in that sense, rules for domestic flights within the U.S., which some posters have mentioned, are completely irrelevant in our situation.

[russell_bynum]

Close, but no cigar. These rules are being imposed by U.S. authorities on any flight into the United States. Canadian authorities in our airports are enforcing these rules, otherwise aircraft from Canada would not be allowed into the United States. So in that sense, rules for domestic flights within the U.S., which some posters have mentioned, are completely irrelevant in our situation.

 

Well...like I said...if you go back through the last 20 or so years, all attacks on commercial airlines have been perpetrated by Canadians. So really, this rule makes perfect sense.

[marcopolo]

Close, but no cigar. These rules are being imposed by U.S. authorities on any flight into the United States. Canadian authorities in our airports are enforcing these rules, otherwise aircraft from Canada would not be allowed into the United States. So in that sense, rules for domestic flights within the U.S., which some posters have mentioned, are completely irrelevant in our situation.

 

Well...like I said...if you go back through the last 20 or so years, all attacks on commercial airlines have been perpetrated by Canadians. So really, this rule makes perfect sense.

 

Right; I forgot that.

[nldaniel]

Close, but no cigar. These rules are being imposed by U.S. authorities on any flight into the United States. Canadian authorities in our airports are enforcing these rules, otherwise aircraft from Canada would not be allowed into the United States. So in that sense, rules for domestic flights within the U.S., which some posters have mentioned, are completely irrelevant in our situation.

 

Well...like I said...if you go back through the last 20 or so years, all attacks on commercial airlines have been perpetrated by Canadians. So really, this rule makes perfect sense.

 

Right; I forgot that.

 

hums: blame canada, blame canada..

[tallman]

Ship it or, carry it on the bike.

If you're packed right, you want to have room to stash the helmet anyways.

I did that when Beth flew to Halifax.

Rode up there, picked her up, she gets her helmet from the topcase, off we go.

She flew in her riding gear.

Simple enough.

[marcopolo]

I'll be on the road for about five weeks, and I've always needed all the room on the bike (I pack all my stuff and all my wife's stuff on the bike, minus the helmets). Her stuff doesn't take up a complete side bag, so putting her helmet in the side case would mean something had to give. I don't know what; I do laundry every three days as it is. Putting it in the topcase is even more of a compromise.

[AviP]

You guys are worrying about helmets. Just imagine how a heated vest would look on a body scanner. Everytime I wear one and stuff that switch in my left pocket, I feel like I'm being watched. It's weird. And to a clueless TSA agent, I don't think any explanation will suffice. I'm done flying unless there's no other way.

[marcopolo]

Close, but no cigar. These rules are being imposed by U.S. authorities on any flight into the United States. Canadian authorities in our airports are enforcing these rules, otherwise aircraft from Canada would not be allowed into the United States. So in that sense, rules for domestic flights within the U.S., which some posters have mentioned, are completely irrelevant in our situation.

 

Well...like I said...if you go back through the last 20 or so years, all attacks on commercial airlines have been perpetrated by Canadians. So really, this rule makes perfect sense.

 

Right; I forgot that.

 

hums: blame canada, blame canada..

 

I may have been a little hasty in saying it was U.S. authorities who imposed these restrictions on flights from Canada. I've done a little more research. It would appear that Canadian authorities imposed the no carry-on baggage rule for U.S.-bound flights after the Christmas underwear bomber fiasco. It would seem that they were imposed to speed up the incredibly long security lines that resulted after authorities decided that all carry-on bags had to be inspected etc. No carry-on = no time spent inspecting them. That said, it's never that simple. Major airports in Canada have U.S. customs pre-clearance, i.e., U.S. customs and immigration officers are stationed in Canada and work at Canadian airports. We clear U.S. customs in Canada, so the plane can land at any airport in the U.S., with no customs/immigration clearance required on landing. There were reports of U.S. customs officers sending U.S.-bound passengers back have them to check some carry-on bags that Canadian airport security had allowed as carry-on. Needless to say, nobody knew which end was up for a while. All that said, the carry-on prohibition is still being enforced with some notable exceptions, helmets not being one of them. Whew....

[Paul Mihalka]

But the Christmas bomber would have been able to do the same without a carry-on...

[russell_bynum]

But the Christmas bomber would have been able to do the same without a carry-on...

 

Yes, but don't you feel so much safer now knowing that all those Canadian bastards can't bring their carry-on bags onboard?

 

Mark my words: It's all a sociology experiment.

 

[NonComp]

The Canadian govt is restricting carry-on bags for flights from Canada to the US. This makes perfect sense given that most of the attacks on commercial airliners in the last 20 years have come from Canada.

Gosh, I hope you are kidding about this. By my count, that was one terrorist from Canada, and that was at a border crossing near Vancouver (not a flight) 10 years ago.

 

As of today, new full-body scanners are being installed in all the major airports in Canada. Passengers departing for US destinations must submit to a full-body scan (AKA let someone who is making $12 per hour see you 'virtually' naked on a monitor) or submit to a 'pat-down' by a gender-appropriate border guard.

[russell_bynum]

Glen: That was said with my tongue firmly planted in my cheek.

 

This is just more idiotic feel-good Security Theater.

[Ewell D.]

I feel like I have woken up in a Monty Python skit!

 

"I've cut off your arm, no you av't, yes I av, no you avn't. . . well then, no going to the bathroom for one hour before landing!"

 

You can't make this stuff up!

[dhanson]

Oh, and you WILL put your seat belt on OVER your blanket.

[NonComp]

No blankets. I'm not making this up. Since the underwear thing, you were not even allowed to have a book in your lap during the flight.

 

Again, I would just check the helmet as baggage.

[swilson]

I brought mine as a carry on. Didn't want baggage handlers anywhere near my helmet.

[Lets_Play_Two]

My wife flew last week and said there where no blankets or pillows on the flight. Had no carryon restrictions other than what was already in place. Didn't say anything about no book in her lap. I wonder if you can have your hands in your lap? My son came home from Granada on 1/4 with carry on without problems. They did confiscate the rum he tried to bring back home!!! ICE supply must have run low!!

[Ken H.]

The Canadian govt is restricting carry-on bags for flights from Canada to the US. This makes perfect sense given that most of the attacks on commercial airliners in the last 20 years have come from Canada.

Gosh, I hope you are kidding about this. By my count, that was one terrorist from Canada, and that was at a border crossing near Vancouver (not a flight) 10 years ago.

I think Russell is just trying to bait me/us, but (for once) I wasn’t biting!

 

A Canadian terrorist – The guy on the plane that talks on and on about Curling so much that it decides to crash itself just to get him to stop.

[NonComp]

A Canadian terrorist – The guy on the plane that talks on and on about Curling so much that it decides to crash itself just to get him to stop.

Death by bordom! No full-body scan can ever catch that!

[russell_bynum]

The Canadian govt is restricting carry-on bags for flights from Canada to the US. This makes perfect sense given that most of the attacks on commercial airliners in the last 20 years have come from Canada.

Gosh, I hope you are kidding about this. By my count, that was one terrorist from Canada, and that was at a border crossing near Vancouver (not a flight) 10 years ago.

I think Russell is just trying to bait me/us, but (for once) I wasn’t biting!

 

A Canadian terrorist – The guy on the plane that talks on and on about Curling so much that it decides to crash itself just to get him to stop.

 

LOL!!!!!

 

No baiting, actually. Just some good 'ol government-bashing.

[bakerzdosen]

No baiting, actually. Just some good 'ol government-bashing.

Where did that BAN button go...?

[LuckyLeif]

I never quite trusted having my helmet in checked luggage (either damage or being lost) so for two trips to Europe (08 & 09) I put the helmet and riding suit in an Ortleib bag and stowed overhead. A little hint, your riding gear will pack smaller if you remove the armor and nest them together "spoon-fashion". My biggest worry was what concern the electric vest & controller might elicit. I opted to put it in the checked baggage with non-essential (i.e. non riding clothing). All of this might change with elevated security levels. Recommend that anyone experiencing difficulty post their experiences.

 

A thought - if you are worried about this, you might box your gear and UPS / FedEx to your destination hotel, etc.

[marcopolo]

A thought - if you are worried about this, you might box your gear and UPS / FedEx to your destination hotel, etc.

 

I guess we have a few options:

 

1) cancel plans to have my wife join me (that's not going to happen);

2) have our wives drive into the U.S. and fly from there to Reno, say from Burlington, VT, or Syracuse, NY (it seems only Canada introduced a ban on carry-on luggage. We're only an hour north of the border);

3) hope that the Canadian ban is lifted before July, or that helmets are added to the list of exceptions (hope is never much of a strategy);

4) check the helmets and hope they actually arrive with our wives and arrive without damage (doesn't fill me with a warm fuzzy feeling);

5) carry my wife's helmet on the bike (I'm on the road for five weeks and I don't consider this realistic. I need the space).

6) ship the helmets in advance.

[mbelectric]

Check the flight cost's Mark, I'll be it's a lot cheaper to fly to/from major airports than smaller ones.

 

Call Airline and ask about helmets before ya make a hasty decision.

 

Still think ya outta ship them out here. Plenty of folks here online to help ya out.

 

MB>