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Hey everyone,
I decided to play it safe, so I called the airline and then TSA - the Transportation Security Administration - and I was told that anything that has come in contact with combustibles will be removed from luggage if found.
I've traveled with fire poi in the past, and had no problems, but I feel like security is tighter lately. I'd really rather not give my fire poi to a bunch of security people.
Thoughts, experiences, suggestions? My one thought now is to either borrow some, or buy a pair at Firedrums, then pass them on to someone before I leave. I know that most of the time I'll be using practice poi anyway, so maybe borrowing them won't be such a big deal? I've never gone before, so I have no way of knowing!
Thanks!
David
I decided to play it safe, so I called the airline and then TSA - the Transportation Security Administration - and I was told that anything that has come in contact with combustibles will be removed from luggage if found.
I've traveled with fire poi in the past, and had no problems, but I feel like security is tighter lately. I'd really rather not give my fire poi to a bunch of security people.
Thoughts, experiences, suggestions? My one thought now is to either borrow some, or buy a pair at Firedrums, then pass them on to someone before I leave. I know that most of the time I'll be using practice poi anyway, so maybe borrowing them won't be such a big deal? I've never gone before, so I have no way of knowing!
Thanks!
David
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Canada
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Re: Fire Poi on Planes - technically not allowed, so.....now what?
Wed, April 22, 2009 - 3:43 PMSo yes and no. If it has combustables on it, then they should pull it, if you air it out, put it in a ziplock bag, hopefully with a performance buisness card, or write Juggling Props on the side, you'll probably be OK. Checked luggage is generally preferable, but I flew to hawaii with poi and a rope dart in my carry on, and they opened up my bag, reached past those and found a lighter I had forgotten about. Your mileage may vary.
The safest way is to express mail/UPS it to a friend out here, but I've never bothered.
Oh, and when you are going through security, do not, seriously do not ask if they are OK, because if you have to ask, the answer is probably going to be no.
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Re: Fire Poi on Planes - technically not allowed, so.....now what?
Wed, April 22, 2009 - 3:45 PMI have personally never had any sort of trouble with putting used fire gear in baggage claim before. I have actually put an army bag full of burned fire props in luggage before and I could tell that they obviously searched through it, but everything was there, both ways. I have even sent my stuff to Mexico and it got through customs.
Honestly, the people who are searching it will have absolutely no idea what your fire props are and if you use white gas, it shouldn't have the smell of fuel on it.
I don't think you will have any problems if you send it with you on the airplane, but this is because of my experience in the past. -
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Re: Fire Poi on Planes - technically not allowed, so.....now what?
Wed, April 22, 2009 - 4:44 PMThe most important points made here, and in numerous similar threads for years are;
Be sure you burn all the fuel out of the wicks.
If you use something more oily, try a dip and burn of white gas to get out the residue smell.
Let them air out for a few days.
Wrap them tightly in baggies (double if you're really worried)
Label them as what they are; "Juggling Equipment".
It's rare that you'll have any trouble as a length of chain with a roll or ball of Kevlar isn't on any airlines "no no" list. -
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Re: Fire Poi on Planes - technically not allowed, so.....now what?
Wed, April 22, 2009 - 5:03 PMAs a follow-up thought, disassembling the tools into their component parts (wicks, chains) may be a good idea as well, in case of a closer inspection. I take my nunchuku apart just for car transport. I would be interested to find out if, par example, unclasping the connector which holds the wick to the poi chain would help mitigate any adverse reaction from security personnel. Any thoughts? -
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Re: Fire Poi on Planes - technically not allowed, so.....now what?
Wed, April 22, 2009 - 5:06 PMMaltese has a point about the nunchaku. Mine were confiscated when crossing the border back from Mexico, but not my fire poi. -
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Re: Fire Poi on Planes - technically not allowed, so.....now what?
Thu, April 23, 2009 - 2:06 AMCalifornia's 2008 Dangerous Weapons Control law
ARTICLE 2. UNLAWFUL CARRYING AND POSSESSION OF WEAPONS
* 12020. (a) Any person in this state who does any of the following is punishable by imprisonment in a county jail not exceeding one year or in the state prison:(1) Manufactures or causes to be manufactured, imports into the state, keeps for sale, or offers or exposes for sale, or who gives, lends, or possesses any cane gun or wallet gun, any undetectable firearm, any firearm which is not immediately recognizable as a firearm, any camouflaging firearm container, any ammunition which contains or consists of any flechette dart, any bullet containing or carrying an explosive agent, any ballistic knife, any multiburst trigger activator, any nunchaku, any short-barreled shotgun, any short-barreled rifle, any metal knuckles, any belt buckle knife, any leaded cane, any zip gun, any shuriken, any unconventional pistol, any lipstick case knife, any cane sword, any shobi-zue, any air gauge knife, any writing pen knife, any metal military practice handgrenade or metal replica handgrenade, or any instrument or weapon of the kind commonly known as a blackjack, slungshot, billy, sandclub, sap, or sandbag.
Anyone else think it is odd that full auto pistols and sawed off shotguns are in the same category as nunchaku and blackjacks? Short answer: in Cali and NY, chucks are weapons, don't have 'em (connected together and just laying about). -
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Re: Fire Poi on Planes - technically not allowed, so.....now what?
Thu, April 23, 2009 - 2:46 AMFortunately;y, the definition of nunchaku are pretty tightly defined. Generally, if it's obvious that they're practice (re foam) versions, or for fire, their primary intent isn't for weapon use. A technicality, but it's gotten a few of us out of trouble with mellow cops. Still, yes, not a good idea to keep them around.
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Re: Fire Poi on Planes - technically not allowed, so.....now what?
Wed, April 22, 2009 - 5:14 PMDude, seriously, UPS. No stress, ship anything used or new, guaranteed delivery dates. it's beautiful.
As for poi, specifically, the regular types are usually okey, but the long ones are out. Nobody likes Snakes on a Plane! :oP -
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Re: Fire Poi on Planes - technically not allowed, so.....now what?
Wed, April 22, 2009 - 5:57 PMI was thinking about making that joke, but changed my mind. :) -
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Re: Fire Poi on Planes - technically not allowed, so.....now what?
Fri, April 24, 2009 - 1:34 AMThe TSA sniffers don't react to wicks. Don't ask don't tell. I also put colored tape around sooty wicks, makes 'em look all wholesome and non threatening.. -
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Re: Fire Poi on Planes - technically not allowed, so.....now what?
Fri, April 24, 2009 - 10:22 AMTaping it up is fairly brilliant, def will do. I've checked wicks and flown in and out of europe and the states before with no issues, but usually just a set of poi. This time around Im planning on traveling with about 18 wicks so my fingers are crossed that its not too many. Anyone ever have an issue with traveling with so much? -
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Re: Fire Poi on Planes - technically not allowed, so.....now what?
Fri, April 24, 2009 - 10:43 AMi have flown internationally with my fire staves wrapped in nothing but a sarong and duct taped to keep it closed. a couple times i have been asked to unwrap and show them, but I just say I am a circus performer who dances with fire, and they usually just get excited and ask a couple questions about performing, make me wrap it in a plastic bag, and let me go. I've flown to and from the us to hawaii, japan, and domestically in this fashion, and it's never been a problem. -
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Re: Fire Poi on Planes - technically not allowed, so.....now what?
Fri, April 24, 2009 - 12:16 PMI suppose someone has to point out, LILY, that DAVID is probably not an attractive female. Of the thousands of people on terrorist watch lists only something like 20 are female. It's not fair but it's true, Men, statistically, get checked more frequently and more thoroughly at every checkpoint looking for general nefariousness. [does not include things like sobriety checks on specific dates or places where pat-downs are mandatory by policy] -
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Re: Fire Poi on Planes - technically not allowed, so.....now what?
Fri, April 24, 2009 - 1:15 PMBeen accosted once at an airport by an undercover FBI agent in a case of mistaken identity - BEFORE 9/11. Do NOT want to go through that AGAIN.
I suppose someone has to point out, Tedward, that it's foolish to say that an attractive female isn't going to have to worry about being checked as much as men. It still happens. It's just for different reasons, usually, and they have little to do with national security.
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Re: Fire Poi on Planes - technically not allowed, so.....now what?
Fri, April 24, 2009 - 3:21 PMNoted. But in those cases coincidental issues often get overlooked (drug trafficking, weapons, etc) based on the distraction of the offending officer. That's why I was careful to rule out mandatory inspections. Women often take the brunt of the problems at things like rock concerts. Admitted; also not fair, but also true. The issue is WHAT is getting scanned or searched.
Clinton knew back in 99 that racial and sexual profiling was happening and wrote passed legislation to [theoretically] stop it. After 9/11, the bush administration made profiling any dark haired MAN that looked even vaguely persian completely acceptable.
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Re: Fire Poi on Planes - technically not allowed, so.....now what?
Fri, April 24, 2009 - 1:39 PMjeebus christ on a pogo stick.
If I have to hear the excuse of "you would have more issues if you weren't an attractive female" one more time I'm going to buy the person a boob job. It's an obnoxious and degrading way to dismiss a woman's opinion so just stop it. Many times one can avoid harassment by just not being a dick. Other times you can't avoid harassment no matter what you do or don't do.
I've flown with my tools and this is what I do:
I put poi and torches into my checked luggage. They are burnt out, disassembled as much as possible, marked as "Juggling toys", with a business card.
They have been picked over and left in my luggage. I highly doubt these people knew how attractive or not I was, nor would they care since they are unlikely to meet me in person.
Shipping items is a good idea, if you have an address on the other side to ship to.
Good luck David, I think you are the one bringing a mutual friend to the event. Jon and I have performed together before so hopefully we'll run into each other. I'll likely be with the Trick Concepts folk often throughout the event. -
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Re: Fire Poi on Planes - technically not allowed, so.....now what?
Fri, April 24, 2009 - 3:23 PMyeah, what they said...and my bf at the time did the same, and also experienced no problem. my bags were often checked while in cargo, and as mentioned above, were left alone, EVEN THOUGH i dont put pictures of my breasts on the outside of my luggage. fancy that. -
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This is the maximum depth. Additional responses will not be threaded.
Re: Fire Poi on Planes - technically not allowed, so.....now what?
Fri, April 24, 2009 - 3:26 PMoh, and i should mention that being an attractive woman...who is white and covered in many large and visible tattoos...doesnt exactly help me while trying to negotiate my way through the airport in Japan, especially being that the people at the counter were women. oh, and ive never gotten out of a speeding ticket, either.
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Re: Fire Poi on Planes - technically not allowed, so.....now what?
Fri, April 24, 2009 - 3:32 PMNot dismissing anything. I go through security checkpoints about 50 times a year, sometimes alone, sometimes in groups. In groups, I watch to see who gets checked and who doesn't. I also listen to reports of issues from other folks who made it through. And based on that, I gotta say, david needs to take more precautions as a male.
The recommended stuff is all in the TSA travel suggestions in the Fire Arts FAQ
tribes.tribe.net/firefaq/t...5a4a8ba592
(note that Iris seems to have the right idea)
In addition to this, I generally tell people to drop a few snapshots of fire performance in with their tools (sometimes the business card is a little vague), particularly if their card doesn't sport an action shot. -
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This is the maximum depth. Additional responses will not be threaded.
Re: Fire Poi on Planes - technically not allowed, so.....now what?
Sat, April 25, 2009 - 11:37 AMi JUST returned from Costa Rica and had poi triple ziplocked in my checked luggage both going there and returning. it was not bothered with despite the fact that in Costa Rica the only fuel you can find is (eek!) gasoline, and i thought the reek would definitely draw attention. after airing our poi out for a few days, triple bagging and removing the grips (my faves), we had no problems at all. A week ago. On US Airways.
my .02.
but if you are super conservative and still have time, ship. I would be more worried about loss in the mail or whatnot. [I used to work at UPS, and packages that smell of fuel draw big attention...] seal well, my friends! see y'all in a week!
A_delle -
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Re: Fire Poi on Planes - technically not allowed, so.....now what?
Wed, April 29, 2009 - 9:28 PMWhen I flew to Turkey last summer, I had no problem checking my poi in my suitcase since they had only been burned with white gas and didn't smell. They arrived safely.
However, when I performed in Turkey, they only had kerosene, which was really sad. I aired them out for a few days after I performed and nothing helped. They were really smelly. I did not label them juggling props - I just didn't think about it. They were all wrapped up in bags, but you could still smell them. On may way back to SF, I transferred on several planes, and when I arrived back to SF, they had been taken out of my luggage with a little note saying something like "suspicious, dangerous and removed by security" The airlines confiscated them - my favorite poi. I don't know which airlines it was.
I would recommend ONLY traveling with tools that have been burned with white gas and maybe disassembling them too, to be on the safe side. You should have no problems.
Hope that helps.
Happy traveling. -
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Re: Fire Poi on Planes - technically not allowed, so.....now what?
Wed, April 29, 2009 - 9:45 PMI have never had a problem traveling with my poi. NEVER! They really dont care. just dont tell them that they are for fire. it doesn't take a genius to figure this one out.
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Re: Fire Poi on Planes - technically not allowed, so.....now what?
Wed, April 29, 2009 - 11:38 PMI just spent 16 months traveling through 10 countries (Japan, Thailand, India, Turkey, Georgia, Germany, Portugal, Spain, France, Morocco), took countless plane rides, and always flew with two sets of poi (and a fire wand) wrapped in plastic bags inside my checked backpack. The wicks had been dipped repeatedly in nasty, dirty kerosene and smelled pretty bad. I never had a problem with security or customs at any point during the journey.
I wouldn't worry about it. Just for good measure, put a note next to your poi with your name and an explanation that these are "professional juggling toys." That may help if someone finds them during a bag search.
