Hey fellow travelers: I am aware that lighters are no longer permitted in checked or carry on luggage on commercial aircraft. But someone told me that he had heard even empty fuel bottles are no longer permitted in checked baggage. That is news to me. Within the last year I have transported used but clean and dry fuel bottles and backpacking (no reservoir) stoves on flights and I know the baggage was examined. Furthermore, airline FAQs do not prohibit empty fuel bottles and backpacking stoves, as they do many other items, including fuel itself, pepper spray, strike anywhere matches, empty propane tanks, etc. Is the story about empty bottles and stoves just a rumor, or has something new happened? Tom *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
On 9 Jun 2005 at 6:13, Joyce Family wrote: > Is > the story about empty bottles and stoves just a rumor, or has > something new happened? I've been asked about a stove and told I couldn't carry one (I didn't have one on that trip, fortunately). From the discussions I've seen on the internet, it would seem that the rules are being interpreted differently by different airlines and they are enforcing accordingly. While you and I know that a clean, dry small stove is safe, that doesn't mean that every person's idea of what a stove should be like is the same, and frankly, I prefer some restrictions. Unfortunately, the airlines aren't going to distinguish between a tankless MSR stove (i.e. a collection of metal and plastic bits) and an oddball stove with an undrainable fuel tank (like the original Coleman 505 which always leaves an ounce or two inside the tank). This sucks for serious international travel or travel to very isolated places. However, for travel to many areas, local outfitters should get into the business of renting good quality stoves and selling fuel while taking back the unused fuel. Mike *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
So far I have been able to travel with my small alcohol stove without trouble (knock wood). I always let it air out and there is no fuel (or even fuel odor also read "fumes") in the stove. Now that you can't take a lighter, though, things may be different. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
In a message dated 6/9/2005 4:12:42 AM Pacific Standard Time, tfj4_at_comcast.net writes: I am aware that lighters are no longer permitted in checked or carry on luggage on commercial aircraft. But someone told me that he had heard even empty fuel bottles are no longer permitted in checked baggage. That is news to me. Within the last year I have transported used but clean and dry fuel bottles and backpacking (no reservoir) stoves on flights and I know the baggage was examined. Furthermore, airline FAQs do not prohibit empty fuel bottles and backpacking stoves, as they do many other items, including fuel itself, pepper spray, strike anywhere matches, empty propane tanks, etc. Is the story about empty bottles and stoves just a rumor, or has something new happened? Individual results may vary, but my friend Scott was feeling righteous about his 8 dollar fuel bottle on the way back home. Spent a long time cleaning it out and laughing at me how I was wasting mine by leaving it on the nightstand with a hastily written note in Spanish: free fuel. Clean will never be clean enough as far as the authoritah's are concerned. Only a one way ride for a brand new fuel bottle has worked for me every time. I don't want to give them a reason to spend more time with my equipment. In the old days, the reservoir stoves were accepted but I wouldn't base a trip on them any longer. Rob G *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
> I am aware that lighters are no longer permitted in checked or carry on > luggage on commercial aircraft. But someone told me that he had heard even > empty fuel bottles are no longer permitted in checked baggage. That is news > to me. Within the last year I have transported used but clean and dry fuel > bottles and backpacking (no reservoir) stoves on flights and I know the > baggage was examined. Furthermore, airline FAQs do not prohibit empty fuel > bottles and backpacking stoves, as they do many other items, including fuel > itself, pepper spray, strike anywhere matches, empty propane tanks, etc. Is > the story about empty bottles and stoves just a rumor, or has something new > happened? Six months ago lighters were fine in checked-in luggage in USA/Canada flight. I usually carry one in repair kit, as a back-up, - my LPG stove has a built-in ignitor, much better to use than a lighter, especially with soft skin after soaking in water for days. LPG stove didn't cause any problems, but they used a sniffer machine, which is probably some chromatograph analyser (I think it was it - a strip of paper was rubbed around the inside of my bags, then put into the analyser slot). I always wash the stove in soapy water before the flight, completely immersing, and then dry it out for a few days (but didn't do this on my way back - didn't have a time). I also a Trangia Mini alcohol stove (in fact, just an empty burner-container), as a back-up, but haven't been use it for a couple of years, so it is pretty much clean. Containers that ever contained a fuel have been banned from the luggage for a long time now, if I'm not mistaken. Technically, this should include an alcohole burner too, but so far - no problems (like I said, not in use for a couple of years). *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
> > I am aware that lighters are no longer permitted in checked or carry > > on luggage on commercial aircraft. But someone told me that he had > > heard even empty fuel bottles are no longer permitted in checked > > baggage. That is > news > > to me. Within the last year I have transported used but clean and > > dry fuel bottles and backpacking (no reservoir) stoves on flights > > and I know the baggage was examined. Furthermore, airline FAQs do > > not prohibit empty fuel bottles and backpacking stoves, as they do > > many other items, including fuel itself, pepper spray, strike > > anywhere matches, empty propane tanks, etc. > Is > > the story about empty bottles and stoves just a rumor, or has > > something new happened? > > > Six months ago lighters were fine in checked-in luggage in USA/Canada > flight. I usually carry one in repair kit, as a back-up, - my LPG > stove has a built-in ignitor, much better to use than a lighter, > especially with soft skin after soaking in water for days. > > LPG stove didn't cause any problems, but they used a sniffer machine, > which is probably some chromatograph analyser (I think it was it - a > strip of paper was rubbed around the inside of my bags, then put into > the analyser slot). I always wash the stove in soapy water before the > flight, completely immersing, and then dry it out for a few days (but > didn't do this on my way back - didn't have a time). I also a Trangia > Mini alcohol stove (in fact, just an empty burner-container), as a > back-up, but haven't been use it for a couple of years, so it is > pretty much clean. > > Containers that ever contained a fuel have been banned from the > luggage for a long time now, if I'm not mistaken. Technically, this > should include an alcohole burner too, but so far - no problems (like > I said, not in use for a couple of years). While you and I might do an exemplary job of cleaning our fuel containers, I'd rather not have a cargo bay explosion because someone else didn't. It's the fumes that are the most volatile (for most, if not all, flammable liquids), and how are the airport staff to know -- without time-consuming examinations -- which fuel container is really clean and which isn't? It's enough of a hassle to fly these days without adding more "overhead" of examiners testing each and every article in our baggage for compliance. -- Darryl *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
While you and I might do an exemplary job of cleaning our fuel containers, I'd rather not have a cargo bay explosion because someone else didn't. It's the fumes that are the most volatile (for most, if not all, flammable liquids), and how are the airport staff to know -- without time-consuming examinations -- which fuel container is really clean and which isn't? It's enough of a hassle to fly these days without adding more "overhead" of examiners testing each and every article in our baggage for compliance. Darryl Darryl - My experience has been that the security people will examine each and every potential hazard no matter whether it proves to be a hazard or not. And my experience is that they open the fuel bottles, look inside and put their noses to the opening and can tell quite easily if there are fumes or not. And I know there won't be because I leave empty, open bottles in the sun after rinsing them out. And then swish a little cooking oil in the bottle and pour it out before packing them. Jim Tibensky *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Thanks for the replies. I did some further checking with the carrier I am using (Alaska Air). The website FAQ seems pretty clear in implying that empty, clean non-propane fuel bottles and empty, clean, no reservoir stoves continue to be ok in checked bags. I also called the Alaska Air info line and discussed this issue with a live representative. She, too, confirmed that such items should be acceptable in checked baggage. The rep mentioned that it is possible some airports have more stringent standards that could influence the way the guidelines are applied, and when I told her I was flying out of O'Hare, she kind of groaned. So I will be the guinea pig and report back at least on that particular carrier and airport. Tom *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Follow up to an earlier posting. Our group transported the usual empty, dry, clean but previously used fuel bottles and backpacker stoves to and from Alaska on Alaska Air without running into any prohibitions. This is consistent with how I read the FAQ at the airline's website. I had heard anecdotal reports for other airlines that were making some of my friends on other backpacking trips rethink their stove/bottle transport. YMMV. Tom *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
> Follow up to an earlier posting. Our group transported the usual empty, > dry, clean but previously used fuel bottles and backpacker stoves to and > from Alaska on Alaska Air without running into any prohibitions. This is > consistent with how I read the FAQ at the airline's website. I had heard > anecdotal reports for other airlines that were making some of my friends on > other backpacking trips rethink their stove/bottle transport. YMMV. Last year check-in counter in San Diego commuter airport (United Airlines flight) used what looked to me as a "sniffer-machine" on my bags. Small strip of some material was swabbed around inside the bag and then put inot the analyser slot. Cold be gas-analyser (gas-chromatograph). I am more than positive that such equipment is in place in all the major airports, and has nothing to do with particular airline - but provides them with more sensible approach to the grey area of "clean but previously used" stoves and fuel containers.Which might not preclude some particularly stubborn airlines from not using such an equipment, of course. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
At 02:35 PM 7/16/2005, alex wrote: > > Follow up to an earlier posting. Our group transported the usual empty, > > dry, clean but previously used fuel bottles and backpacker stoves to and > > from Alaska on Alaska Air without running into any prohibitions. This is > > consistent with how I read the FAQ at the airline's website. I had heard > > anecdotal reports for other airlines that were making some of my friends >on > > other backpacking trips rethink their stove/bottle transport. YMMV. That, IMHO, is the main issue. All the successful anecdotes that are posted here won't mean a thing if the particular airline representative that I encounter on my next trip decided that the gas stove I'm bringing is *not* clean. The result would be that I would arrive at my destination without a stove and either have to try and buy one there or backpack without one. While I would prefer to use my gas stove, when I'm traveling via air I'll just bring a screw-on propane stove and buy a can of propane after I arrive at my destination. >Last year check-in counter in San Diego commuter airport (United Airlines >flight) used what looked to me as a "sniffer-machine" on my bags. Small >strip of some material was swabbed around inside the bag and then put inot >the analyser slot. Cold be gas-analyser (gas-chromatograph). I am more >than positive that such equipment is in place in all the major airports, and >has nothing to do with particular airline - but provides them with more >sensible approach to the grey area of "clean but previously used" stoves and >fuel containers.Which might not preclude some particularly stubborn airlines >from not using such an equipment, of course. I've seen the "sniffer machines" on almost every trip I've taken since 9/11. I don't think the airlines have a choice regarding the use of them as they're run by TSA. From what I've seen the airlines are not really doing any luggage checking at all any more. They handle the check-in and ticketing, and then any checked luggage is passed onto TSA employees, which may either just do a sniff test, or choose to open it up and search through the contents. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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