CWiggum 0 #26 January 5, 2003 well, I'll be flying spirit airlines from palm beach to detroit, then northwest to kalamazoo tomorrow. hopefully I have as good of luck as some of you guys did. has anyone ever taken their rig on spirit? I've searched and haven't seen anyone comment on it.. "I'll tear up this ticket, but I'm still gonna have to ask you for a bribe." Chief Clancy Wiggum Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mouth 0 #27 January 7, 2003 I must look like a terrorist or something cause PHX gave me a fit. They examined both my rigs in the machine and then in person. My weights were such an alarm to them they called over the security guard with the gun and wouldn't allow me to take my rig out to show them that it was just weights under the rig. Then the old lady had a fit because I had both my rigs as carry-on and then had my purse which is no larger than a checkbook out so I could show them my cypres card. When I put my purse back in my gear bag she chilled until the guy wanted to see my cypres card again for the second rig so she had a fit again. They also examined my protrack and made me turn it on. Terrorist in training -- Hot Mama At least you know where you stand even if it is in a pile of shit. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LouDiamond 1 #28 January 7, 2003 Quote I must look like a terrorist or something cause PHX gave me a fit. They examined both my rigs in the machine and then in person. My weights were such an alarm to them they called over the security guard with the gun and wouldn't allow me to take my rig out to show them that it was just weights under the rig. Then the old lady had a fit because I had both my rigs as carry-on and then had my purse which is no larger than a checkbook out so I could show them my cypres card. When I put my purse back in my gear bag she chilled until the guy wanted to see my cypres card again for the second rig so she had a fit again. They also examined my protrack and made me turn it on. Terrorist in training ROTFLMAO.......that's because I called and told them you were coming babe!!"It's just skydiving..additional drama is not required" Some people dream about flying, I live my dream SKYMONKEY PUBLISHING Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mouth 0 #29 January 8, 2003 Thanks Lou at least now I know whose a$$ to kick for all that crap. Maybe I educated them all so when you guys came through a few days later they weren't freaked out. To make matters worse someone was in my seat going back so I had to move even though I had a boarding pass for that seat and she didn't. Just so you all know I hate people who don't plan their crap out and then expect me who planned over 70 days out to accomodate them....children or not those people suck. I was ready to act like SkyMonkeyONE... WHERE'S THE BEVERAGE CART??????? -- Hot Mama At least you know where you stand even if it is in a pile of shit. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
harryskydives 0 #30 January 8, 2003 i travel monthly with my rig. i never check it. Joey Jones lost two rigs that way. Any way many times my rig goes through with out any notice. a few times they have looked and either knew it was a parachute or asked me and it told, they said OK. But at the same place, different screener they would stop one of my teammates and have a supervisors powwow. Phx, cgo, ont. A few times they have asked about my cypress. The wording is critical: " it is a digital altimeter that open the reserve in case of an emergency" If they ask about canisters, Co2, exploding devices ect. i use the 3 rules; admit nothing. deny everything, make counter accuations. Actually i keep saying "NO it just pulls the pin before i hit the ground." They then let me go. More often they want to look at my wrist altimeter. PS: alway check your weights they will always want to look at them, and do not wear any thing through the medal detector to set it off. Once during a search they asked me if i was a climber, I just said yes, not wanting to engage them. Don't run out of altitude and experience at the same time... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LouDiamond 1 #31 January 8, 2003 Quote Maybe I educated them all so when you guys came through a few days later they weren't freaked out. Nah, you didn't educate them....I used the Jedi mind fuck technique on 'em"It's just skydiving..additional drama is not required" Some people dream about flying, I live my dream SKYMONKEY PUBLISHING Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ernokaikkonen 0 #32 January 8, 2003 >Actually i keep saying "NO it just pulls the pin before i >hit the ground." They then let me go. So basically you just lie to them. I'm not sure that's a good idea in the long run. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
relyon 0 #33 January 8, 2003 Quote>Actually i keep saying "NO it just pulls the pin before i >hit the ground." They then let me go. So basically you just lie to them. I'm not sure that's a good idea in the long run. It is no more lying than saying "... it's an altitude activated pyrotechnic device ..." is telling the truth. Say whatever you feel comfortable saying. Bob Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JamesNahikian 0 #34 January 8, 2003 I've traveled the globe with my rigs and never experienced a serious problem at an airport. Did get stopped in Frankfurt, Germany once while Herr Inspektor queried me about "the coil". Turns out the x-ray equipment had flagged the reserve spring on my Reflex though not the CYPRES. Was allowed to pass unhindered after I explained the function of the reserve spring. Never asked about my CYPRES, interestingly, and I've toted my gear just about everywhere. May I suggest carrying your stuff in an innocuous bag, unlike the woman I observed recently at O'Hare, who was slinging her Jav around outside her gear bag with a "who, me? newbie-skydiver-type look" on her (undeniably silly) face. Usually, I buy skydivers a meal whenever I encounter them; this person was obviously too stupid to deserve a free meal, much less respect, from lowly me. D. James Nahikian CHICAGO Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sarge 0 #35 January 9, 2003 Hlarious!!! I bought a motorhome after 911 (sick of tents/bunkhouses/commuting) but none-the-less love to fly, lots faster in and out, and even before 911 I almost walked from a ride out to PHX because they wouldn't let me carry-on (ORD)... now I carry my AAD card, Uspa card and...well, "it's a sport parachute", "oh that?" well thats just a spring to release the reserve parachute... and that box thingQuote? "oh yeah" thats a, " altititude awareness computer that lets the reserve parachute know when to release itself" no big deal... really... hey whats the in-flight movie by the way???? Don't carry on any wieghts, put your audible in the basket w/your cell phone, keys, switch-blade... etc... and I make my mind up which rig I'm taking before I go, so I don't have to check shit! They'll only cover like $2,000 in a loss anyway? And I sure don't trust my homeowners policy to cover it! Hey, BTW?? where you like to eat? I'm hungry...-- I'm done with the personally meaningful and philosophical sigs!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AndyMan 7 #36 January 9, 2003 I always travel with my rig on my back, and have traveled a most of North America like that, and have never had a problem. I do this because I'd rather be honest and up front with airlines about what I've got then to try to hide it. This practice has never failed me. I guess I'm supid. _Am__ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freefallin14 0 #37 January 9, 2003 Ok so I am back from my Lake Wales trip and had a somewhat small problem traveling with my rig. Me and my girlfriend had no problem going out through Ohare. The xray screener stopped the belt to take a closer look on his screen, but that was it. Didn't even have to open up the bags (we were carrying them on, she has a cypress, I don't) Orlando was a different story all together. TSA guys at xray screening stop both bags. We have to open them up. They want to see the CO2 containers?, and see these cables and boxes so they say (cypress) and say there is no way these thingd are getting on a plane. We explain what the cypress is, batteries and such, show them the card for it. Nothing doing. They are getting worked up now, and theres a small crowd of wannabe tough guys around us. A supervisor finally shows up after I ask to talk to one. We explain to him who is a little more understanding. He says if the airline allows it, he will. but we need it in writting. so we go back to the Spirit ticketing booth. Go through the whole process again. This is getting old. They say it can't go on (carry on) if it can open up or something along those lines, and also are concerned about these containers inside the one rig. so we ask them to call a supervisor who is also clueless. so she finally decides to call the capt of the flight, and whatever he says will be law. they get him on the phone and he says they cannot be carried on, they can be gate checked. Spirit upgrades us to first class at this point since we ask. We tell them we don't wanna have to tell all our skydiver friends about the hassel we got. so we get this in writing and go back to xray. again they stop us and don;t want to let us by. we get the supervisor back again. he looks at the paper the spirit people gave us (which is a piece of paper with the handwritten explaination on it, not even company letterhead) and decides to let us go. We get to the gate (it has now been boarding for a while) and there is another TSA superstar waiting for us. "Are you the ones with the parachutes?!" "yeah" "they need to be gate checked, you need to tell them" "we know" this one is a total bitch. she waits in line with us to board, and as i am about to hand my boarding pass to the guy and tell him about the gate check, she basically pushes me aside and says, "these two have parachutes, these bags need to be taken and gate checked." so finally we get on the plane and come home, after sitting in it for over an hour waiting for a maintenance problem to be fixed. At least spirit upgraded us to first class after all the hassel. Bret Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Slowfaller 0 #38 January 9, 2003 Quote Usually, I buy skydivers a meal whenever I encounter them; this person was obviously too stupid to deserve a free meal, much less respect, from lowly me. This statement would not get a meal much less respect from me. I just traveled to and from Vegas from O'hare w/ my rig slinged over my back and had no trouble. Does that make me a stupid newbie skydiver? If so, so be it. Tell me, what is the problem? You might have passed up on meeting someone really cool that maybe you could've helped all because she didn't have a gear bag.Chris Elgin, IL --"Someday you will die and somehow somethings going to steal your carbon" -MM Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mouth 0 #39 January 9, 2003 You two must be terrorists in training with me. LOL -- Hot Mama At least you know where you stand even if it is in a pile of shit. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AndyMan 7 #40 January 9, 2003 My only point - even if you had the rigs packed in bags, you probably would've had the exact same situation. They would've gone through x-ray, seen the springs, seen the the cypres, and asked whats inside. You would've answered honestly, and the rest of the process would've been identical. My bet is by being honest and up front, I'm in a better position to explain what it is without setting off a newly deputize TAS agent. Because of the stories coming out lately, I've been asking every airline to provide me with their written policy on their letterhead. They've all complied. _Am__ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
relyon 0 #41 January 9, 2003 Quote...I do this because I'd rather be honest and up front with airlines about what I've got then to try to hide it. How does checking your rig in a gear bag constitute hiding it? Bob Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sarge 0 #42 January 9, 2003 hey Andy Man, Schitt!! (i still haven't figued out this 'quote' stuff) but, Quote My bet is by being honest and up front, I'm in a better position to explain what it is without setting off a newly deputize TAS agent. whats up w/us N. Illinoisians anyway...? do we just like pissing people off??? Can we blame the TSA, or are we supposed to know intuitively how to handle these (conscientious) wage-earners? or the airline officials or our fellow jumpers... (geez I wish they'd let me talk to the captain directly...) My point, is that, Dude, we will all do what we think is the right thing at the time,I was still learning the system. This includes bagging your rig or not... I prefer to bag mine, No dis to anybody! It's just that I would prefer to be inconspicuous... whatever? Another thing, I had a chip on my shoulder and it nearly got me arrested/grounded? I wish I coulda asked for a 1st class ticket... (Does Southweast even have 1st class?) I was just glad to schmooze, get the ride and put it behind me... where do you like to drink? I'm thirsty-- I'm done with the personally meaningful and philosophical sigs!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
homer 0 #43 January 10, 2003 A quick question. The cypres has the Xray card to show if needed and then everybody has to explain how the AAD works. Has anybody ever tried showing the owners manual to the TSA? I know on the cutter diagram it says pelit and propellant which it a big X in our favor. But it also says that nothing is released that everything is self contained when activated and that the piston only travels 5mm. There is a note stating as well that the unit is nonhazardous and safe. CSA #699 Muff #3804 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sarge 0 #44 January 10, 2003 Yup!!! No problem, I didn't have a aad card/manual at that time... I do now! LOL!! It's just my 'rap, I'm not saying its a panacea and I would also like to comment that after all that I would like to remark that the "letter head" approach is very appropriate. are you feeling funky...? I wanna go wake a snow-angel.-- I'm done with the personally meaningful and philosophical sigs!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jasmin 0 #45 January 10, 2003 I travelled a few weeks after sept 11 ona one-way ticket back home. SF travelling one-way.....they wanted to see the 3-rings (I had my rig in a bag) they had no idea about the cypress until I gave them the cypress card after going through the metal detectors. Then when they heard I had a parachute in the bag.....well As for security on 4th July last year: I got a knife, nail file, scissors and nail clippers aboard. the funniest thing is that they put my bag throught thrice.... xj "I wouldn't recommend picking a fight with the earth...but then I wouldn't recommend picking a fight with a car either, and that's having tried both." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AndyMan 7 #46 January 10, 2003 No disrespect intended to anyone, except perhaps employees of TSA, "airport security", and the airlines who don't know their company policies. In my experience, those are few and far between. I was only trying to state my personal opinion, and certainly don't mean to imply that any other one is wrong - just wanted to thoroughly explain my opinion. I certainly didn't mean to imply that going by any other technique was wrong. BTW - Canadian. I just happen to be in chicago now. ;) _Am__ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sandi 0 #47 January 10, 2003 I've traveled extensively in the past year and have never been stopped or questioned at all. I like to put my rig in a standard wheeled carry-on so if I were ever required to check it at least it would be in a relatively hard case. (I've seen the way they throw luggage around, don't want my fabulous Odyssey to get battered). I'll be flying from O'Hare to Orlando in a couple weeks on Spirit so I'll see how it goes then. I've never flown Spirit before. Since I'll be bringing two rigs this trip I'll have to check one. I contacted my renter's insurance (Allstate) to see if they cover lost luggage. They said that they treat lost luggage as a theft and it's covered as any other theft would be. They also recommended making a video or taking pictures of all my gear. This documentation significantly speeds up the claim process. I'm little less nervous about checking it now. At least if my luggage does disappear I won't be out 4000 bucks. Good to know. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fudd 0 #48 January 10, 2003 Be sure to check the upper limit you're luggage is insured for. I think my travelers insurance has an upper limit at $2000 dollars for luggage. There are only 10 types of people in the world. Those who understand binary, and those who don't. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sandi 0 #49 January 10, 2003 Since they consider it a theft it's treated the same as if it were a theft from my home, or the dz, or wherever. I'm covered for the full value of whatever is stolen. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freakyrat 1 #50 January 10, 2003 Brett Take the letter from the SSK website showing Dot's approval for Cypres along with the USPA"s recent letter explaining USPA's contacts with the TSA reference this. also at your next reserve repack take the Cypres out and take pictures of the various parts. The Card is practically useless. Sound's like the TSA people at Orlando were overly ambitious. The Spirit people really were clueless also. Also call Ed Scott at the USPA so the USPA can handle this with officials of Spirit Airlines just as they got this resolved with JetBlue. Chris Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
