[meteorite-list] "Don't Check My Bag if You Please....

From: Jason Utas <meteoritekid_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Wed, 25 Nov 2009 19:55:34 -0800
Message-ID: <93aaac890911251955heb562e0nb98c61354a1c86fb_at_mail.gmail.com>

Hello All,
Sorry for the late reply to the topic, but I'm currently in Oakland
International waiting to board with a 3.5kg stone in my backpack.
I planned ahead, anticipating some scrutiny from security (got here
with a few hours to spare), but they only held me up for about ten
minutes. I think my age may have had something to do with it, but the
factor that seemed to sway them the most was the specimen card that
accompanied the rock.

To be honest, it seems like dubious security work to me - label or not
I suppose I could use the thing as some sort of a weapon (if they
would otherwise have not let it on, a label seems a poor excuse),
but...I'll not complain.

To that end, I'd say that if one's worried about getting onto a plane
with meteorites, just...bring some labels or literature - some sort of
evidence that suggests that you're not planning to use it for
something illegal - and be prepared to take it out and explain what
those little circles or the funny patten is...

Thinking back, though, my favorite incident involved security agents
at Charles de Gaule. We were trying to check a stone, and the thing I
remember most clearly about the ordeal (I was around eleven years old
at the time) was their asking us if the Gao in question was a bomb...
They took some convincing, but let the stone through in the end.

Happy Thanksgiving,
Jason

On Sunday, November 15, 2009, Kevin Kichinka <marsrox at gmail.com> wrote:
> ...... Mr. Customs Man." - Arlo Guthrie
>
> "Coming in from London
> >From over the pole
> Flying in a big airliner
> Chickens flying everywhere around the plane
> Could we ever feel much finer?
>
> Coming into Los Angeles
> Bringing in a couple of keys...."
>
> ***************************************
>
> ... of small-scale examples of the ultimate weapons of (planetary)
> mass destruction - meteorites.
>
> Thanks to list members, Adam, Darryl, Robert, and two Dave's for
> sharing their experiences while hand-carrying mets on-board domestic
> and international flights.
>
> After my trips to the Tucson show (last visit- sadly way back in
> 2002), I'd return to Florida loaded with hand-grenade-size chondrites
> and cannon-ball-size Irons in my hand-carried without a worry of
> raising threat levels of terrorists tendencies to Code Red. But in
> 2009, I figured that the "times they are a-changing" (Dylan).
>
> Since 2003 I've made thirty (30, yes) round trips to my home here in
> Tambor de Alajuela, Costa Rica. I know the rules well (subject to
> change without notice) even if American Airlines only emails me
> frequent-flyer spam offers of Jamaican vacations but can't tell me
> when they change a baggage allowance. If I be gellin', it's packed in
> a checked bag.
>
> I fly out of FLL (Fort Lauderdale) after driving two hours across
> Alligator Alley in a rental car from Fort Myers. There's no easy "home
> return" for disallowed items, i.e. bunker-busting meteorites. As I
> learned last June when I tried (and eventually succeeded) in bringing
> aboard a new quad-processor PC, even the metal-framed box used to
> determine the acceptability of one's carry-on bag varies
> airport-to-airport.... forget what's on the American Airlines website.
> And nothing orally represented to you on the phone means anything at
> the check-in counter.
>
> The computer in its flimsy box was not a carry-on weight problem, and
> three inches less than the 45" cubic allowance, but of the wrong
> height dimension. Even if I paid $100 for checking a third bag, it was
> impossible to check without the baggage-handlers destroying it. We
> worked it out when I gave my day bag to a carry-on-free passenger to
> hand to me once we boarded. I carried on the computer. It wasn't my
> idea, the American Airlines check-in lady told me to do it that way.
> It's not the heat, it's the stupidity.
>
> Based on list members experiences, I don't believe one can routinely
> transport meteorites on a plane without the threat of loss or serious
> hassle so 'll have to settle for visitation rights back in Florida. Or
> I guess I could hire DHL. Thanks for the info.
>
> ********************************************************************************
>
> Meteorite Subject #2
>
> While I would guess that all m-listers read the free, monthly,
> Meteorite Times to learn about meteorites and absorb and consider the
> worthy insights of its contributors, no one has yet mentioned the
> stellar November issue that Paul Harris has just put together. It's
> not to be missed.
>
> Martin Horejsi's sensitive and well-researched article on the Sudan
> fall "New Halfa" brings vivid color to this glossy-black, fusion
> crusted chondrite.
>
> Gentleman Jim Tobin's cleverly-written photo-essay of his recent
> Mojave adventure with best-buddy Paul takes you along as a welcome
> guest, ultimately blasting off for space measured in Oreo cookie
> kilometers.
>
> Norbert Classen posts a stunning photo of the world's largest Iron,
> Hoba, en sitio.
>
> Bob Verish teared me up with his well-written, intimate memoir
> enhanced by touching personal photos describing some quality time he
> spent with every one's friend, Richard.
>
> John Kashuba, offers this month a photo album of breccias, topped with
> NWA 2727, a mind-boggling lunar.
>
> And a tip of the sombrero to Darryl for obtaining the Indonesian
> ataxite Lovina. Click on Macovich.com from the Met Times opening ad
> page, then "Lovina", to view arguably the world's most incredible
> Iron. I blinked in disbelief the first time I laid eyes on it. I love
> Lovina.
>
> The Meteorite Times they are always a-changin', and if you read all of
> the issues you won't need a Weatherman to know which way the winds are
> a-blowin' the bolide smoke trail. ?Thanks to Paul and all those who
> donate their time to produce this wonderful contribution and help keep
> our meteoritic fires burning bright.
>
> Oh look, a toucan flying over my house! It's nature's way of telling
> me... to quit typing and go mow the lawn.
>
> >From Nine Degrees North,
>
> Kevin
> ______________________________________________
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Received on Wed 25 Nov 2009 10:55:34 PM PST