Flashlight+airport+TSA=

[Cataract]

Here what I know and have experienced on the subject:

Carrot mentioned something about 7 inch + tools being prohibited, but the fact is that any tools are prohibited on airplanes; I know someone who had to leave 3 inch long Allen keys behind. Luckily, flashlights are not considered a tool. I believe I had read something about 6 inch + metal objects being prohibited, but I also read about some CPFers saying they got on a plane with bigger lights.

To answer the original concern about crenealed bezels; there is crenealed and then there is Crenealed... a few raised dull crown points might not be a problem, but the pronounced sharp edges might definitely get a second look. If you absolutely want to bring a flashlight that you think is borderline, get there early and ask. I don't believe they would arrest you for asking if you can carry an object or not (unless it IS a bomb), especially if you intend on leaving it in the car or check your bag if it was refused. I once forgot a screwdriver in my bag and the guys at security let me go back and check my bag in.

I inquired a year ago about crenealed bezels because I was considering buying an E2DL (talk about a real sharp bezel) to go camping and I was told that if I crossed the border by car it was absolutely not a problem.

My take on this is that if you like your light and don't want to risk having to leave it, put it in checked baggage (and risk it disappearing) or carry smaller lights. I just came back from LA, which is an international flight for me, with 3 lights (Quark123, Zebra SC51c and LD15) that I either put in the tray of left in my carry-on and no one ever bothered. Actually, my wallet was much more of a concern at LAX since they now systematically scan everyone (D'OH!)

[asdalton]

Carrot mentioned something about 7 inch + tools being prohibited, but the fact is that any tools are prohibited on airplanes; I know someone who had to leave 3 inch long Allen keys behind.

The 7-inch rule is from the TSA. It might be different in Canada.

[Cataract]

The 7-inch rule is from the TSA. It might be different in Canada.

Just to be clear, the person who had to leave 3 inch allen keys behind was travelling within the U.S. and is a U.S. citizen.

[asdalton]

Great. So in reality, there's no policy, just whatever the agents at the gate happen to feel like that day?

[Flyflash]

I've jumped on an airline a couple of times a week for the past 5 years with a 6P or Z2. No problems. Your mileage may vary.

[Quiksilver]

Everyone has their fetishes. Yes, I'm using that word because it truly is, and I'm afflicted by it as well. I travel with 4 flashlights and a sleeve of batteries for the longest time and it wasn't until I read this thread that I saw I had company.

Illumination becomes a part of you. I myself have thoughts of -- what if something happens and I need my light? A la "Lost" TV series. Of course it's a very remote chance but what can I say. You're right in saying it's a "security blankey" but it's certainly no reason to be condescending about it. This thread is starting to get off track so let's all play nice? I'm just the new guy here.

Thank you.

Apologies for the condescension.

We all share a like or love of illumination tools here. It just shocked me to read about someone liking their tool so much as to risk it like this. Odds of losing baggage are fairly low, yes it happens but still fairly low. Odds of losing a light labelled "Defender" and complete with aggressive strike bezel, to a TSA-goon is probably 25-50%.

I've lost some very sentimental things to the TSA and it sucks bigtime. Worst was losing my grandfathers multi-tool that he used while fighting in WW2. Forgot it was in carry-on bag and I guess the non-locking marlin spike scared them.

I suppose the question that matters is:

Is the Defender designed as a weapon? If so, then attempting to take it on board (let alone doing it) is against the law everywhere, and trying to smuggle it past the TSA brings an even harsher penalty.

If it's not designed as a weapon, then its still at the discretion of the TSA and the question then becomes: Does it look like a useful weapon?

I would say yes, but thats subjective.

[kaichu dento]

Great. So in reality, there's no policy, just whatever the agents at the gate happen to feel like that day?

There's policy, but the agents by and large get to interpret if fairly broadly, which leaves you in the care of some mostly decent folk, but other times it can try the patience of the best.
I had to deal with two of them just recently and in the first case, every single TSA agent I dealt with was polite and decent, except for the supervisor who probably could use some more training.

We all share a like or love of illumination tools here. It just shocked me to read about someone liking their tool so much as to risk it like this. Odds of losing baggage are fairly low, yes it happens but still fairly low. Odds of losing a light labelled "Defender" and complete with aggressive strike bezel, to a TSA-goon is probably 25-50%.

I've lost some very sentimental things to the TSA and it sucks bigtime. Worst was losing my grandfathers multi-tool that he used while fighting in WW2. Forgot it was in carry-on bag and I guess the non-locking marlin spike scared them.

There's quite a few nightmare stories out there and I'm sorry you had to lose something so singularly special as your treasure from your grandfather.
The way they operate is so hard to understand sometimes, and has a couple times in the last two years fallen in my favor when it came to knives I forgot to put in my checked bag. Two times now I've watched them pull knives out of my carry on and just set them aside. Then they allowed me to go into the gift shop and get a prepaid mailer and send them to myself!

I guess the bottom line is that we're taking risks when we allow this type of thing to start in the first place, but it's always a personal decision when we decide what items to take chances with, or not. Fortunately I've never received any negative scrutiny for my single cell lights, although I've had a few of them laugh when they saw how many I had.

[Robin24k]

Didn't have much trouble with my flashlights going through LAX, but they did search my carry-on (contained a bunch of sales samples and batteries) because they thought there were bullets in there.

I had over 20 L91 and L92's, and apparently, Ultimate Lithium AAA's will appear suspicious in the X-ray, especially if they are in retail packaging and all lined up. They advised me that it may be best to check large amounts of batteries so they don't have to swab for explosives or go through re-screening.

[karlthev]

Just returned from Albuquerque with two lights, one a 123-powered one a AAA. Two boxes of batteries. Not a blink. Not thousand dollar lights but $300+ worth----too precious to lose and too useful not to take.



Karl

[firelord777]

Losing a flashlight financially wise probaly wont reach $260,000, but the flashlight for us is just priceless.

[Rusty Joe]

In about 10 hours here, I'll be hopping on a flight to Santa Fe, NM for vacation. We're getting packed and going over all the headache-y considerations when packing for air travel in this day and time. Well, I carry a SAIK SA-9, which has pretty much become my EDC. I needed to know if this will be on a problem for airport security.

*** Yes, I know there are plenty of threads on this and flashlights are not listed as prohibited. I am posting this to get info on the specific question because of the light's design (and if it might be considered a weapon).

[Bullzeyebill]

Rusty Joe, I have not seen the 9, but if it looks like the 8 you will have no problems.

Bill

[bobbagum]

It's useful to have light on board too, when you need to rummage around in your bag looking for things when it's dark on the plane, providing the light doesn't blast out 200 lumens of course. And for those with fear of flying, it would be quite comforting that should anything bad happens on the plane, there'll be powerful lights on the life raft

[varmint]

I wonder if you could email TSA about certain lights and or include a picture?

[flashlight chronic]

I had my Surefire 6PD, Nitecore Extreme Infinity, 4sevens MiniX, Fenix E11 and Solarforce L2T in my carry on backpack going through LAX airport security. No problems.

[bruintennis]

Great thread. I'm a newbie here and am thinking about bringing my new Fenix LD20 on board with some eneloop batteries, so it looks like that should not be a problem. Thanks!

[kaichu dento]

I had probably 20 lights in my carry-on and another dozen in my pockets going through TSA four times in the last month with no problems.

[duro]

I went through TSA a few months ago and a buzzer went off. The TSA employee informed me that it was their random screening and that I have been selected. I had a nitecore d11 and a 14500 lithium ion in my carry on bag. They didn't bother with that. They did however tell me my face wash was too big, even though it was the same size as my toothpaste. So, I was forced to throw that away. They did a thorough search on my person and carry on items. They even swabbed my back pack and took it to some room? Bottom line; it's really up to their discretion, but you should be ok. If you decide to check in your bags with your flashlight/batteries included you're even more in the clear.

[Duraflametree]

Last February I flew from San Francisco to Halifax with a Fenix P2D, PD30, and Ld20 in my carry on. I also had a sealed pack of 4 CR123A batteries in there, and was never questioned in 4 bag screenings. Guess I was lucky.

[buds224]

Last October, I flew from San Diego, to San Francisco to connect to my flight to Japan with no issues. Had a 12 pack of CR123s and x16 AA batteries along with my LD20, TA21, and TK41. I read that as long as the batteries are in original packaging, there is no problem. I had my loose batteries shrink wrapped in pairs to prevent incidental contact that could complete a circuit, which TSA's website recommends packing batteries in a manner that would prevent such an event.

[Monocrom]

I'm going to give the same advice I've given for years . . . Don't take anything you can't afford to lose. Flashlights, watches, (any item that is expensive, has sentimental value, or is discontinued and thus very hard to replace).

It's just not worth it. Having worked security for 5 years, I can honestly say that the TSA procedures are little more than window-dressing to make the masses feel safer.

[LGT]

I've never heard of any, but I guess that they couldn't pop up at any time without any way of knowing about any new restrictions unless one reads TSA travel restrictions before you travel, as I do. Twice a year I'll pass through Logan airport with multiple flashlights, primary and rcr batteries witout a problem. But I always sweat it out.

[DisrupTer911]

Flew to Florida back in November for a cruise, and I took the following.
I got stopped for all the camera kit going and comeing home by security at the airport and all of it screened for chemical residues. the lighting was never given a second glance.

Spark Sl6-800CW
Fenix LD20
Spark ST6-500CW
Fenix HP11
Fenix LD40
Fenix TK41
All in my roller carry on.

I also carry the following camera kit
Domke J2
Domke J3 inside roller carryon filled with lighting pieces.
Canon 1Ds2 & 1D2
Canon 70-200/2.8L
35/2
100/2
50/1.4
Tamron 28-75/2.8
580ex2
Induro tripod + head inside roller carryon
+ all the photo accessories i keep in the bag.

5 NPE3 1D batteries
NPE3 charger
laptop & charger
and enough spare Lithium L91 and CR123As, and AA Eneloops to supply a small army.

[bullinchinashop]

Everyone realizes this thread was six months dead, right? The OP probably hasn't looked at it, and had travelled, in February.

Anyhow, for what it's worth, never travel with expensive lights unless you have an obvious reason to do so and can afford to replace them of they get seized - a rescue team on its way to a quake zone would have an easier time explaining their 20 HIDs and MiniBeast than a person going on vacation would the same or a similarly excessive load.

It always amazes me when someone points out how old a thread is. The point on a forum is discussion right? As long as people are still posting useful information/observations what does it matter how old the thread is.
I've seen threads on this and other forums that were two years old and older that were resurrected because someone had something new to add.

[nbp]

I just flew from Milwaukee to Phoenix with two McGizmos, an HDS Clicky, a T1A, and a tube with 4xCR123s in it in my carry-on. No questions no problems.

[LGT]

I just flew from Milwaukee to Phoenix with two McGizmos, an HDS Clicky, a T1A, and a tube with 4xCR123s in it in my carry-on. No questions no problems.

Just imagine the dark day it would be if our flashlights we carry all of the time suddenly made some list of things not to let on board of a flight.

[rkJr]

I fly all the time with multiple flashlights and cr123's and have always been fine in the US. Batteries are in a case so they aren't loose. Last year flying back from India they wouldn't let me take all my cr123's. They weren't loose but they questioned why I carried so many. Even though I said I could replace them all once I was past security they confiscated my batteries(Well actually I threw them individually in the trash in front of them) Thought they were gonna detain me but made it through. Kinda pissed me off that I had to lose them.

[victory]

I fly all the time with multiple flashlights and cr123's and have always been fine in the US. Batteries are in a case so they aren't loose. Last year flying back from India they wouldn't let me take all my cr123's. They weren't loose but they questioned why I carried so many. Even though I said I could replace them all once I was past security they confiscated my batteries(Well actually I threw them individually in the trash in front of them) Thought they were gonna detain me but made it through. Kinda pissed me off that I had to lose them.

I always find stuff like that funny. I travel with a rusty 7" screwdriver.

[rkJr]

I always find stuff like that funny. I travel with a rusty 7" screwdriver.

I'm sure that's made you popular with TSA!

[victory]

I'm sure that's made you popular with TSA!

Tools under 7" are completely fine with them. Has been that way since about 2005. I had to dump my Diet Pepsi though.