Fursuit etc.: What can I bring without upsetting the TSA?
Hi everyone,
I am an EU citizen and will be coming to the US for tourism and AC this summer (I'm entering the states on a flight from Canada after attending a conference there).
I have some fun/furry stuff I would like to bring for the con, but I don't know what the TSA people would think about it. Here's a list of my potentially questionable check-in luggage items:
- My fursuit
- My "bondage" pants, spike bracelets
- Glowsticks, light toys
Business"social" cards with my avatar, LJ screenname, and e-mail
After reading about jill0r's horrific deportation ordeal going to RBW (UK), I've gotten quite worried. I absolutely do not want anything like that to happen to me!! Since I've got long hair and a bit of a beard I sometimes get suspicious glances from security as it is, and it might be advisable to stay on the safe side.
What would you bring if you were in my situation, and what would you leave at home? What would you say to the agents if they have questions about the items above? Your opinion is appreciated!
Cheers,
Ethan Staghorn
(For the record, I will not bring anything illegal, nor engage in illegal activity on my trip. I will not be selling anything at the con or otherwise, either.)
You can probably get away with the spiky things if you put them in your checked luggage and not in your carryon. I've taken a fursuit head in my carryon once, I think it mostly depends on if it can fit.
take every chain off the pants if you plan on wearing them, and put them in the checked lugage, or even better just wear jeans or some other kind of pants, and same with the braclet. ive taken a spiked colar through in the past in my check bag. if you go to the TSA sight (which i just did cause im killing times during RENT rehursal) most everything that is not explosive or presure sensitive is alound in checked lugage as it is in a seperate area of the plane that you can not access and even if you could get to the lugage the plane will have landed before you found your bag lol. but if you want to be extra catious and safe go with what Kage said. never hurts to just play on the safe side, you can always get a pair hear if you want (i can give you the name of...... actually i dont know where anymore sence hot topic stoped selling them in stores lol)
ultimatly its a trade off between chances of security being dumb and all omg you have pants with metal!!!!!!!!! and how badly you want to wear them. but in my experience and such ive been able to have stuff like that in my checked bag (and in the farther past have stuff on my person that really they should have not allowed lol but my image at the time was rather military and that was a while ago i dont sugest it now. anyway happy travels and if you need anything just ask, especially if its a question of will this get my flight destination changed from pittsburgh, home of "the most winingest team" to cuba.
best thing i can also advize is read up on the rules and regs before hand so you know them and if stoped you will know what they are saying and know if they are full of it and just being jerks or if there is something up.
edit: oh ya glowsticks and light toys. agian check them, you dont need them in the plane cabin, and if you do then you have bigger problems. and be advised they are now saying you cant have spillable batteries.
also dont bring your power saws with you, cant be doing your wood working on the plane sorry lol. they take being through and covering everything to a new level im sure even the most ignorent red neck knows they cant bring a hand gernade on a plane.
but they havent said anything about an electric guitar with a portable amp muahahahahahahahah anyway ill stop ranting hope that helped or atleast gave someone a chuckle
well, i am probably taking my chainmaille with me (vest and some jewelry)
i already have experience with my bracelets and collar O_o, they freaked out about the collar with me, and well i cant get my bracelets off.
if you tell and show them, they be ok, if you dont say it, they will check you up more than if you just want.
but problems with my chainmaille is: it weight 12,5 kg, and 25 kg is allowed (and carryon)
so 4 weeks of USA with fursuit and chainmaille wont leave much space....
does anyone have experience with chainmaille on (international) flights
i know, its a unusual question...
Never tried it myself.
I suppose another option would be to call the hotel and make arrangements to mail a box of the stuff to yourself, and have them hold it until you arrive. It's probably not the cheapest thing in the world, given the weight of the maille and the international postage (and you'd need a customs label at that weight), but it would work.
I'd leave the bondage pants and the spiked bracelets at home.