Bad airport experience

[lippy 918]

Yesterday I flew from Santa Cruz Bolivia to southern Argentina with a stop in Buenos Aires to change airports/airlines. When I got to Buenos Aires I got my bag that has my rig and everything looked normal. I checked it for the domestic flight and when I picked it up on this end I noticed that the straps were undone. I didn't think anything of it. I opened the bag this morning to get my work boots and saw my D-bag and lines out of the container.

I had my rig inside my jumpsuit which was inside a big hoodie. I had the hackey stuffed into the BOC and the chest strap routed through the reserve handle. I didn't have time to look at how they opened it, but the D-bag and lines are outside of the main tray! The thing that pisses me off was that this was a domestic flight, and there's nothing in that bag that looks suspicious or has been opened up on international flights in the past! This airline apparently has a bad rep for stealing anything electronic they can get their hands on out of checked baggage. If you're going to be flying Aerolineas Argentinas, take your shit carry-on

I got nuthin

[BillyVance 34]

That sucks. I've never flown a foreign carrier to other countries, but I'll remember to carry anything of value with me.

"Mediocre people don't like high achievers, and high achievers don't like mediocre people." - SIX TIME National Champion coach Nick Saban

[BMFin 0]

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The thing that pisses me off was that this was a domestic flight, and there's nothing in that bag that looks suspicious or has been opened up on international flights in the past!

This may be a stupid question, but what difference does it make wether the flight is domestic or not ?

[Kiki32 1]

Be thankful they didnt open your reserve! That was my biggest fear while travelling. Main chute is whatever but dont mess with my reserve! I cant repack that.

Poetry don't work on whores.

[NWFlyer 2]

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Be thankful they didnt open your reserve! That was my biggest fear while travelling. Main chute is whatever but dont mess with my reserve! I cant repack that.

If my rig were out of my possession and came back with my main that messed up, I'd probably consider springing for a reserve repack, too.

Which is why I try really hard not to check my rig.

"There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

[shropshire 0]

Tis one of the reasons that I never check in my rig. I've seen how bags get treated by the handlers.
I take mineas hand luggage, in a suitable bag and have not had an issue with it (so far )

(.)Y(.)
Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome

[lippy 918]

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The thing that pisses me off was that this was a domestic flight, and there's nothing in that bag that looks suspicious or has been opened up on international flights in the past!

This may be a stupid question, but what difference does it make wether the flight is domestic or not ?

I could understand customs wanting to see what's coming into the country, it's their job. But with domestic I don't think they should be fucking with anything that doesn't look suspicious.

I used to alway do carry-on, but now I've got too much shit with me all the time...I travel a lot in some pretty corrupt countries and I always bring all of my electronic shite with me. And after I got my dumbass award in the form of a metal plate in my leg, I upsized my canopy which makes it hard to stick in the overhead

I got nuthin

[ladydyver 0]

that really sucks.....I only have taken mine as carry on .... security here had us take them out of our carry on bags last time and they ran their tests on it....my only concern was that they may pull the handles. Could you imagine being in the airport and somebody pulling a reserve handle???? Not that they would but sometimes you wonder.

DPH # 2
"I am not sure what you are suppose to do with that, but I don't think it is suppose to flop around like that." ~Skootz~
I have a strong regard for the rules.......doc!

[BMFin 0]

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I could understand customs wanting to see what's coming into the country, it's their job.

Customs will only go thru your gear after the baggage claim in your destination.

[squirrel 0]

i never, ever, ever...check my rig...its like "checking" your life to some monkey...we, my wife and I always carry on jump rigs and/or our scuba regulators and dive computers...too much money in vested, and, again...would you trust your life preserving gear to an un-informed baggage handler?

________________________________
Where is Darwin when you need him?

[drdive 0]

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that really sucks.....I only have taken mine as carry on .... security here had us take them out of our carry on bags last time and they ran their tests on it....my only concern was that they may pull the handles. Could you imagine being in the airport and somebody pulling a reserve handle???? Not that they would but sometimes you wonder.

I have decided that if some TSA asshole wants to pull handles, I will coach him to look directly at the rig above the spring loaded reserve while he or she pulls silver. ""Watch what happens when you pull this one, idiot"

Sorry, can't help myself when it comes to TSA.

Ed

"We saved your gear. Now you can sell it when you get out of the hospital and upsize!!" "K-Dub"

"

[Andrewwhyte 1]

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I have decided that if some TSA asshole wants to pull handles, I will coach him to look directly at the rig above the spring loaded reserve while he or she pulls silver. ""Watch what happens when you pull this one, idiot"

Sorry, can't help myself when it comes to TSA.

Ed

Ya, I don't think you get the privilege of being there in places like Argentina.

[NWFlyer 2]

Nah, I just mention that "If you pull the silver one, I'm going to need to talk to an FAA-certified person to get it fixed. For both our sakes, let's not get the FAA involved, okay?"

(Which of course, wouldn't work in Argentina).

I watch them like a hawk when they're handling my rig, and I always ask "May I pull it out of the bag?" if they don't ask me to, and I always offer to put it back in the bag for them once they're done (it's a tight fit and I'd rather I be the one shoehorning it in there). Polite and patient goes a long way no matter how much you want to throttle the guys.

"There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

[brettski74 0]

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I always ask "May I pull it out of the bag?" if they don't ask me to, and I always offer to put it back in the bag for them once they're done

Have you actually had to pull your canopy out of the bag? Or are you referring to pulling the D-bag out of the container? I'm wondering what kind of puzzled looks you'd get from the average passer-by while repacking a parachute by the security screening area of an airport terminal.

[DSE 5]

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I always ask "May I pull it out of the bag?" if they don't ask me to, and I always offer to put it back in the bag for them once they're done

Have you actually had to pull your canopy out of the bag? Or are you referring to pulling the D-bag out of the container? I'm wondering what kind of puzzled looks you'd get from the average passer-by while repacking a parachute by the security screening area of an airport terminal.

I'm pretty sure she's referring to pulling the rig out of a gear bag, not pulling the Dbag out of the rig.
But you have the repacking concept down. They could ask me all day long to leave the secure area (where I'd be repacking) and I wouldn't go. TSA rules say that the passenger is allowed to stay in the secure area until they've got all their belongings repackaged and personal items about them.
I don't leave the secure area ever, until I've got everything where it was prior to entering the secure area. Having had a very expensive and valued heirloom stolen at McCarran/Vegas airport during a shift change, I'm pretty paranoid now.
Coincidentally, a broadcast community to which I belong, has a nearly identical thread happening right now, regarding TSA damage to a 200,000.00 camera and lens assembly.

[brettski74 0]

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I always ask "May I pull it out of the bag?" if they don't ask me to, and I always offer to put it back in the bag for them once they're done

Have you actually had to pull your canopy out of the bag? Or are you referring to pulling the D-bag out of the container? I'm wondering what kind of puzzled looks you'd get from the average passer-by while repacking a parachute by the security screening area of an airport terminal. [Laugh]

I'm pretty sure she's referring to pulling the rig out of a gear bag, not pulling the Dbag out of the rig.

Ok. That makes a lot more sense. I've always checked my rig in the past, but with my new rig was thinking of carrying it on my next trip.

[ladydyver 0]

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I always ask "May I pull it out of the bag?" if they don't ask me to, and I always offer to put it back in the bag for them once they're done

Have you actually had to pull your canopy out of the bag? Or are you referring to pulling the D-bag out of the container? I'm wondering what kind of puzzled looks you'd get from the average passer-by while repacking a parachute by the security screening area of an airport terminal.

I'm pretty sure she's referring to pulling the rig out of a gear bag, not pulling the Dbag out of the rig.
But you have the repacking concept down. They could ask me all day long to leave the secure area (where I'd be repacking) and I wouldn't go. TSA rules say that the passenger is allowed to stay in the secure area until they've got all their belongings repackaged and personal items about them.
I don't leave the secure area ever, until I've got everything where it was prior to entering the secure area. Having had a very expensive and valued heirloom stolen at McCarran/Vegas airport during a shift change, I'm pretty paranoid now.
Coincidentally, a broadcast community to which I belong, has a nearly identical thread happening right now, regarding TSA damage to a 200,000.00 camera and lens assembly.

This is exactly why we carry on our underwater camera when we are traveling - they are bound to cause some sort of damage if you don't - not that they are necessarily trying to but that stuff does happen.

DPH # 2
"I am not sure what you are suppose to do with that, but I don't think it is suppose to flop around like that." ~Skootz~
I have a strong regard for the rules.......doc!

[DSE 5]

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This is exactly why we carry on our underwater camera when we are traveling - they are bound to cause some sort of damage if you don't - not that they are necessarily trying to but that stuff does happen.

The $200,000.00 camera was being carried on, and was in a very nice Petrol bag. Carry-on only assures that you're able to witness the damage as it's being done, nothing more.

[Ether 0]

FWIW, this bag is great for stashing the rig inside, to keep handles etc from being snagged:

http://www.mec.ca/Products/product_detail.jsp?FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302699795&PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524442617615&bmUID=1195759527564

Looking for newbie rig, all components...

[panic-button 0]

Colored zip ties... We use them all the time when traveling. Per DHS (ie TSA) if they cut the ties they have to put new ties on your bags. The bright yellow and orange seem to deter openings, in the past 2 years they have yet to be cut in 25 international flights except for customs inspections.

[hackish 8]

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FWIW, this bag is great for stashing the rig inside, to keep handles etc from being snagged:

http://www.mec.ca/Products/product_detail.jsp?FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302699795&PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524442617615&bmUID=1195759527564

Yes there is a MEC in Ottawa and I was just there a week ago, saw a bag that looked very much like that and was thinking to myself that would be great for a rig.

The talk of zip-tying your handles in to make sure they're not accidentally pulled is a little scary if you happened to forget them. I was thinking of sticking a temp pin in so you couldn't miss it when you do your equipment check/turn on your AAD.

-Michael

[hukturn 0]

Slightly off subject, but if you wanted a repack in a non-US territory, would it have to be an FAA rigger? I mean, is the certified rigger need tied to the rig, the jumper, the licensure or the geography? I would prefer an FAA rigger, but FAA is not present in many countries where there are skydiving ops. Thoughts?

[lippy 918]

I got a repack at Skydive Venezuela last January and dude was FAA cert.

It looks like these douchebags opened the main flap and pulled the pin out with their grubby little fingers, took out the bag and the first few line stows, then threw everything back inside and left me with a big fucking mess

Hackish, there was some shit on the forums a few years ago about some guy who was getting on the plane at a boogie when somebody noticed his reserve handle was zip-tied to the main lift web. IIRC he'd jumped it in that configuration. The best thing IMO is to route your chest strap through the silver handle a few times then put it through the buckle. If you've got soft handles then a zip-tie would be more secure and a fuckofalot harder to miss.

I got nuthin

[DSE 5]

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[The talk of zip-tying your handles in to make sure they're not accidentally pulled is a little scary if you happened to forget them. I was thinking of sticking a temp pin in so you couldn't miss it when you do your equipment check/turn on your AAD.

-Michael

No one in this thread said anything about zip-tying *handles.* PanicButton specifically mentions using colored zip ties on the *bags.* I do the same thing whether it's skydiving gear or camera gear.
I route my chest strap around my handles, which makes it very difficult to unintentionally pull anything.

[hackish 8]

The talk of zip ties on the handles came out because I've heard and read about it more than once. I suppose even with a zip-tied silver the RSL will probably still work. Probably.

-Michael