First time flying with coins
2windy2fish
Posts: 836 ✭✭✭✭✭
I have previously only attended shows within driving distance, i will fly out of state before long to attend a show. I have questions! 70 pound limit for a carry on correct? Is it safe to assume the carry on has to meet the size requirement? What kind of questions will be asked about my inventory? Hard to imagine they will not hand search, is it ok to ask for a private area if they do so? I would greatly appreciate any tips/tricks you all might have!
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Comments
Weight and size limits depend upon the airline.
Send your stuff through x-ray without saying anything. If they want to open it, then you ask for a room.
I always carry a business card in my pocket that has written on the back "I am carrying valuable merchandise and request a private screening." That way, if the TSA screener asks what I have, I just pull out the card and I don't have to say a word.
Member ANA, SPMC, SCNA, FUN, CONECA
If I have a lot of material or it’s busy I’ll get a private screening. If not, I’ll let them look without the room so as not to draw any attention to the fact that I had a private screening. Whatever your airline’s limits are, don’t exceed them. Gate checking because there is no more room can be avoided by getting an early boarding position. Gate checking because your bag is too big isn’t going to be winnable unless you can really convince someone, but I wouldn’t count on it.
The last time I flew with coins, private screening be damned! Went through the private, went to board...3rd person getting on the plane and they random searched me in front of everyone getting on the plane.
The only coins I fly with are in my pocket.... Well, not quite true. I have a small, over the shoulder carry on with stuff in it.... somehow it accumulated a lot of change as well... TSA guy asked me to take them out, it was interfering with the x-ray screening.
I did, they did, all was well. Cheers, RickO
I remember having my coins looked at in a room with two agents. They wiped 2x2s for explosives residue.
I asked if they were going to help me put everything back and they just laughed.
This.
I ended up in the little room once in Chicago. The agents were infinitely curious about the two PCGS boxes insisted on going through them. Despite my best efforts it turned into a miniature show-and-tell session. Of course, I gave them no indication of value or rarity. I felt it was a tad inappropriate, but in the end it was cordial enough and I was soon on my way. They were all gaga about the generic gold stuff and didn't even look at the rarities I was carrying.
If you want extra fun, try flying internationally with rifles. It's nothing but headaches from start to finish. The biggest problem is that TSA often doesn't know their own rules.
70 pounds for a carry-on???
Not sure when you last flew, but you can’t even check 70 pounds anymore unless you fly business/first or pay a hefty fee.
Carry-on is usually limited to 15 pounds, but if you aren’t struggling with it (and not flying Air Canada), they usually will not weigh it. But they WILL usually inspect the size.
I travel to Mexico often with coins, and the inspection rate for me is about 50% at US airports.