Help please - Can I bring this on an airplane?
Jun 5, 2010 | 4:29 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Los Angeles
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Posts: 758
Help please - Can I bring this on an airplane?
My DD won an audition for the Jeopardy! TV show - the college tournament.
We are going to Philadelphia in a couple weeks for her long-awaited audition. For many years she has been reading books written by past adult Jeopardy! champions like Ken Jennings and others, as well as reading online message boards about good ways to practice and study.
One of the universal things people say about studying is to record and watch the shows and play the game yourself, not as most people do by sitting on the couch but as if you were a contestant - meaning standing up in back of something the height of the podium, shouting out the "answer" in terms of a question and, most importantly, using a buzzer.
DD bought a buzzer online and has been using it. She wants to bring it with us because she wants to run up the steps of the Phila Art Museum with the buzzer - a la Rocky in the original movie - and "celebrating" at the top.
I know it sounds corny but it also sounds fun. I'd film her running up the steps.
So here's my dilemma - the buzzer looks like a detonator.
We are only using carryon luggage but I'd check her bag if it meant we could bring it - this silly thing is something she'd really want to do.
The buzzer is plastic, not metal.
what do you think? Would it pass through security?? We are flying Southwest from Manchester, NH to Philadelphia.
We are going to Philadelphia in a couple weeks for her long-awaited audition. For many years she has been reading books written by past adult Jeopardy! champions like Ken Jennings and others, as well as reading online message boards about good ways to practice and study.
One of the universal things people say about studying is to record and watch the shows and play the game yourself, not as most people do by sitting on the couch but as if you were a contestant - meaning standing up in back of something the height of the podium, shouting out the "answer" in terms of a question and, most importantly, using a buzzer.
DD bought a buzzer online and has been using it. She wants to bring it with us because she wants to run up the steps of the Phila Art Museum with the buzzer - a la Rocky in the original movie - and "celebrating" at the top.
I know it sounds corny but it also sounds fun. I'd film her running up the steps.
So here's my dilemma - the buzzer looks like a detonator.
We are only using carryon luggage but I'd check her bag if it meant we could bring it - this silly thing is something she'd really want to do.
The buzzer is plastic, not metal.
what do you think? Would it pass through security?? We are flying Southwest from Manchester, NH to Philadelphia.
Jun 5, 2010 | 5:06 pm
#4
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: DCA, SEA, AUS
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Posts: 260
Take it with you but allot extra time to the inevitable hold-up from TSA. There is nothing against taking this on a plane so you should not let a little extra questioning inconvenience you to make additional (less reliable) plans.
Jun 5, 2010 | 6:47 pm
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Los Angeles
Programs: Marriott Platinum, Hilton Diamond
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I thought about mailing it to the hotel ahead of us. I would rather bring it but I am afraid we would be stopped at security or worse they wouldn't allow her to bring it.
Then again, I travel for business and half the time I forget to take out my liquids bag and no one asks me about it so I wonder about the TSAs.
and a DD is a Dear Daughter.
Then again, I travel for business and half the time I forget to take out my liquids bag and no one asks me about it so I wonder about the TSAs.
and a DD is a Dear Daughter.
Jun 5, 2010 | 7:35 pm
#7
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Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Easton, CT, USA
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You shouldn't have any problems with it. I would not worry at all.
Do you still have the box it came in? That would go a long way with the explanation should it be needed. My guess is they won't even give it a second look, it will just look like a power cable or something. They probably won't care.
Do you still have the box it came in? That would go a long way with the explanation should it be needed. My guess is they won't even give it a second look, it will just look like a power cable or something. They probably won't care.
Jun 5, 2010 | 7:45 pm
#8
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Nashville, TN
Programs: WN Nothing and spending the half million points from too many flights, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 8,043
What you have is a momentary contact switch with an integral cable terminated by a RCA Male plug. (The buzzer is activated by pressing the switch to close a circuit.) While the housing is plastic, the internals have some minimal metal, including the wire. Put it in your carry on and do not draw attention to it. You should fly through.
Lots of people carry momentary contact switches onto a plane built into devices and otherwise. I have a hundred or more in my carry on bag every time I fly in various configurations. Since you do not have explosives, detonators, or a detonation power supply, you are perfectly fine.
It is the TSA however, so YMMV.
Lots of people carry momentary contact switches onto a plane built into devices and otherwise. I have a hundred or more in my carry on bag every time I fly in various configurations. Since you do not have explosives, detonators, or a detonation power supply, you are perfectly fine.
It is the TSA however, so YMMV.
Jun 5, 2010 | 8:01 pm
#9
Join Date: Dec 2009
Programs: TSO, AS MVP, AOPA member, Private Pilot ASEL
Posts: 571
They may take a closer look at it at the checkpoint but you shouldn't have any issues. We do see electronic components like microphones and other gizmos all the time. After the closer look, you should be good to go. Best of luck in the audition!
Best of luck in the audition!
Jun 5, 2010 | 8:01 pm
#10
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 3,702
My DD won an audition for the Jeopardy! TV show - the college tournament.
We are going to Philadelphia in a couple weeks for her long-awaited audition. For many years she has been reading books written by past adult Jeopardy! champions like Ken Jennings and others, as well as reading online message boards about good ways to practice and study.
One of the universal things people say about studying is to record and watch the shows and play the game yourself, not as most people do by sitting on the couch but as if you were a contestant - meaning standing up in back of something the height of the podium, shouting out the "answer" in terms of a question and, most importantly, using a buzzer.
DD bought a buzzer online and has been using it. She wants to bring it with us because she wants to run up the steps of the Phila Art Museum with the buzzer - a la Rocky in the original movie - and "celebrating" at the top.
I know it sounds corny but it also sounds fun. I'd film her running up the steps.
So here's my dilemma - the buzzer looks like a detonator.
We are only using carryon luggage but I'd check her bag if it meant we could bring it - this silly thing is something she'd really want to do.
The buzzer is plastic, not metal.
what do you think? Would it pass through security?? We are flying Southwest from Manchester, NH to Philadelphia.
We are going to Philadelphia in a couple weeks for her long-awaited audition. For many years she has been reading books written by past adult Jeopardy! champions like Ken Jennings and others, as well as reading online message boards about good ways to practice and study.
One of the universal things people say about studying is to record and watch the shows and play the game yourself, not as most people do by sitting on the couch but as if you were a contestant - meaning standing up in back of something the height of the podium, shouting out the "answer" in terms of a question and, most importantly, using a buzzer.
DD bought a buzzer online and has been using it. She wants to bring it with us because she wants to run up the steps of the Phila Art Museum with the buzzer - a la Rocky in the original movie - and "celebrating" at the top.
I know it sounds corny but it also sounds fun. I'd film her running up the steps.
So here's my dilemma - the buzzer looks like a detonator.
We are only using carryon luggage but I'd check her bag if it meant we could bring it - this silly thing is something she'd really want to do.
The buzzer is plastic, not metal.
what do you think? Would it pass through security?? We are flying Southwest from Manchester, NH to Philadelphia.
Have fun!!
Jun 5, 2010 | 8:29 pm
#11
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 201
As SATTSO said, it looks nothing like a detonator. However, it does look eerily like a switch/initiator. I'd check it in, just to avoid any hassle/delay. Or if you do carry it on, speak to the supervisor if it causes any problems and tell them the jeopardy bit. They'd either tell you to check it in or allow it.
Jun 5, 2010 | 8:48 pm
#13
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 3,702
As SATTSO said, it looks nothing like a detonator. However, it does look eerily like a switch/initiator. I'd check it in, just to avoid any hassle/delay. Or if you do carry it on, speak to the supervisor if it causes any problems and tell them the jeopardy bit. They'd either tell you to check it in or allow it.
Jun 5, 2010 | 8:52 pm
#14
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: NJ
Posts: 3,335
DD bought a buzzer online and has been using it. She wants to bring it with us because she wants to run up the steps of the Phila Art Museum with the buzzer - a la Rocky in the original movie - and "celebrating" at the top.
I know it sounds corny but it also sounds fun. I'd film her running up the steps.
I know it sounds corny but it also sounds fun. I'd film her running up the steps.
You might like to get her the book Rocky Stories, by my good friend, Pulitzer Prize winning reporter Mike Vitez
http://www.amazon.com/Rocky-Stories-.../dp/1589880293
Stories of all the reasons people come to Philadelphia to run up the Art Museum steps ala Rocky. It's a great read.
Jun 5, 2010 | 9:16 pm
#15
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Los Angeles
Programs: Marriott Platinum, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 758
You might like to get her the book Rocky Stories, by my good friend, Pulitzer Prize winning reporter Mike Vitez
http://www.amazon.com/Rocky-Stories-.../dp/1589880293
Stories of all the reasons people come to Philadelphia to run up the Art Museum steps ala Rocky. It's a great read.
http://www.amazon.com/Rocky-Stories-.../dp/1589880293
Stories of all the reasons people come to Philadelphia to run up the Art Museum steps ala Rocky. It's a great read.