Traveling with ABS over seas

[XtremeBoat]

Anyone out there have any experience traveling with an ABS bag on planes overseas? I'm trying to decide if it will be cheaper and less of a hassle to deploy the bag then bring the empty canister for an exchange or avoid the TSA headache and buy a whole new activation unit over there. I'm headed to Italy if that helps.

Thanks

[COpow]

Try deploying the bag in the plane, mid-flight, then open the door and jump the fuck out.

Or use the search function.

[Buster Highmen]

You could ask Cody Townsend.

[MapleLeafGillies]

I just flew within the US with my mystery ranch blackjack. They said the only way you can take an airbag through TSA screening is by showing them inside the container, with the regulator screwed off the top of the bottle. Not sure about the ABS, but the mystery ranch one comes apart easily. If you cant take the top off they wont let you through.

So yes, you'll have to deploy. Scare the crap out of your girlfriend or something.

[spanky]

IATA rules (which allow ABS) are supposed to apply if you're flying international. In my limited experience, it appears to be up to the airline. Alaska Airlines out of Anchorage wasn't a problem (I had the pack drop-shipped from Canada to Valdez) - I've posted about this experience before, you should be able to find it.

Last year, I flew Air Canada from Newark to Vancouver and since they allow it and it was international, I took the chance to fly with it. I printed out all of the Air Canada web pages showing it was allowed cargo and spoke with the agent about it at check-in (I'm pretty sure I even called ahead of time). The agent walked my bags over to TSA security with the documentation and spoke with them (I had to stay away). She came back after a minute or so and said I was good to go. Sure enough, the pack/canister traveled with no problem. I seem to recall the process is, TSA flags the item as dangerous goods, informs the airline of the problem and then it is up to the airline whether to allow the canister.

The return out of Kelowna was a little easier, but I still showed the documentation.

Definitely check the airline policies and call ahead. You have to be prepared to lose your canister or be forced to test fire the pack at the airport to empty the canister.

[nickinbc]

"While IATA provides many standards and recommended practices it does not regulate its members in any way. That task is left to government and civil aviation authorities. " http://www.iatatravelcentre.com/iata-travellers-faq.htm

N.B. not all airlines are members of IATA (including Europe's two biggest low-cost carriers)

[Hugh Conway]

IATA rules (which allow ABS) are supposed to apply if you're flying international. In my limited experience, it appears to be up to the airline.

airline rules can always be more stringent than the IATA. there's like a dozen threads with the same mix of bitching about the airlines, people lieing to the airlines, and people planning ahead.