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Techniques for CollectorsTransporting micromounts on airplanes?

12th Oct 2008 17:08 UTCHenry Barwood

I'm seriously considering attending some European micromount symposia this next year, but haven't a clue how to get trade/give-away material to the meetings via airline/train travel. Can any experienced travelers offer me some advice? Thanks.

Henry Barwood

12th Oct 2008 18:41 UTCEverett Harrington Expert

Hi Henry,

A couple of thoughts came to mind, checked baggage can have just about anything in them including rocks. Also with the new flat rate international boxes, you can get quite a bit of rock into one for one price of 23.95 shipped to anywhere in the world...

Hope this helps!

KOR

E

12th Oct 2008 19:39 UTCAlfredo Petrov Manager

Henry, I always carry the mounted material in my hand luggage, since the checked-in luggage can get so badly shook up that micros come off their mounts and rattle around inside the box. Unmounted material can go into the checked baggage. There used to be a problem with careless TSA employees unwrapping specimens and throwing them back into the suitcase unwrapped, or with labels mixed up; happens much less frequently nowadays, since they got more sophisticated x-ray equipment and so don't actually open many suitcases anymore.

12th Oct 2008 20:47 UTCHenry Barwood

Hi Everett,

Who handles the flat rate boxes and what is the weight limit on them?

Henry

12th Oct 2008 20:53 UTCHenry Barwood

Hi Alfredo,

Normally, I would take them as carry-on, but my son works for Delta Airlines, and we fly space-available (we have a priority slightly higher than luggage!). So when we fly, we take only carry on bags with everything, and I mean everything, we will need for a week or so at out destination. Doesn't really leave much room for rocks.

Homeland Security are a bunch of jerks. I had to repair an ultraviolet light where they literally ripped the wires out of the power supply. My CPAP machine has been sniffed for explosives more times than a dog's butt!

When we arrived in Rome last week, it took us about 5 minutes to clear customs. When we flew back to Atlanta, it took us over an hour to get back into the US. Something is seriously wrong with that!

Henry

12th Oct 2008 21:12 UTCRay Hill Expert

Hi Henry .

I carried a prepacked box of micros and miniatures and tn's when I went to Australia last year. It was in a Back Pack/luggage piece that I purchased many years ago. These are much better designed these days, and you can get a whole lot of micros in a one cubic foot box. It is just a case of prioritizing your clothing and getting the better half to carry your CPap machine for you in her luggage...Just a thought. I agree with Alfredo.

13th Oct 2008 13:09 UTCSteve Sorrell Expert

Henry Barwood Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> My CPAP machine has been sniffed for explosives more times than a dog's butt!

Hmmm...

Wondering why they would be looking for explosives in the dog?

::o

13th Oct 2008 13:13 UTCDavid Von Bargen Manager

Flat rate boxes are US postal service. No weight limit on them. 12x12x5 inches

http://shop.usps.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductCategoryDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10001&catalogId=10152&categoryId=13359

13th Oct 2008 14:12 UTCA. M.

I don't know about transporting out, but I have brought specimens into the US from Europe and I have not experienced any great difficulties. Usually the euro security officers figure out what it is from the x-ray images, occasionally they ask me to open. Rocks? OK, no problem. I put the shake&search resistant ones in checked luggage, the delicate and precious in carry-on which I hide under the seat in front of me rather than up in the compartment, where it can get crushed or fall out (that has happened, so never again).

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