ATA will bust open your locked instruments?

Colm Chomicky · Post by **Colm Chomicky** » 17 Oct 2005 5:48 pm

Just got back from the Airport only to find a government printed notice inside my suitcase saying my bag had been opened and searched. It also said that the government is not responsible for repair of locks or other damage in the course of opening. I was wondering about instrument cases, I can imagine checking a steel to find out your locked flight case has been pryied open.

PS Probably best to strap shut somehow some damage to case won't result.[This message was edited by Colm Chomicky on 17 October 2005 at 06:51 PM.]

Dave Van Allen · Post by **Dave Van Allen** » 17 Oct 2005 5:59 pm

Yes they will.

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 17 Oct 2005 6:24 pm

Yeah, you're not allowed to lock any luggage anymore. Understandable... I don't want any locked luggage below me that hasn't been searched when I'M on that plane!

Stu Schulman · Post by **Stu Schulman** » 17 Oct 2005 7:32 pm

My neighbor has a lock for her luggage that is ATA approved,I'm not sure if it's got a magnetic device or a pass key that they use to open it and then lock it again after the search.I'll find out who makes it.

Duane Reese · Post by **Duane Reese** » 18 Oct 2005 12:48 pm

It is true that you can't put a lock on your luggage, unless you want it to be busted.

Here is what I'm worried about: imagine you put your pedal steel in checked baggage, unlocked, and it goes through as expected... Then the Homeland Security guy opens up your case, and decides to look under the upside-down guitar sitting there, and instead of picking it up by the edges he just grabs a handfull of rods and tries to pick it up like a bail of hay...

I'm not saying they're stupid or anything, but that's a worry I have about taking a steel on a plane. If you left a note saying <- pick up by edges please -> would it anger them?

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 18 Oct 2005 1:26 pm

No, I don't think it would anger them. They're probably wondering what the heck they're looking at. I put a typed sign inside my case for them that says:

"This is a steel guitar (upside down). The other side has 20 strings. Please handle with care."

Colm Chomicky · Post by **Colm Chomicky** » 18 Oct 2005 3:34 pm

Thanks, these are good tips, and I did not know there was a thing as an ATA approved lock. And yes, I can see a concern with how a steel is lifted out of the case by the inspector, not easy given the weight and lack of visible hand holds.

The reason I have locked bags in the past is to keep latches from accidently springing open during handling and having my multi-color boxer shorts all over the tarmac. (but, I do get compliments on my 60-year old suitcases though).[This message was edited by Colm Chomicky on 18 October 2005 at 04:34 PM.]

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 18 Oct 2005 3:50 pm

to keep latches from accidently springing open during handling and having my multi-color boxer shorts all over the tarmac.

Oh, well in that case, Colm, I have two suggestions for you:

1. Wrap duct tape around your case a few times, covering the latches over. Sure, ATA will open it, but they'll also retape them up like they found them. They'll use their own "ATA approved" tape but it's good stuff and should do the job fine.

2. Avoid multi-color boxer shorts.

Don E. Curtis · Post by **Don E. Curtis** » 18 Oct 2005 3:50 pm

Recently and even before 9/11 they always make me take it out and hold it up and even Scotty too with the Frypan...then I'm allowed to put tie wraps on the road clasps to help keep them secure. Then they charge me $20 extra!

Gaylon Mathews · Post by **Gaylon Mathews** » 18 Oct 2005 4:42 pm

I have been asked before by the TSA if I wanted to wait until they are done searching my road case and lock it afterwards. I never do because as soon as I say yes, I can see someone later noticing that the case is locked and bust it open to check it again. And yes, they will pick up your guitar and look under it. They put my Emmons back in the case backwards and put a small ding in the laminant finish. The airlines have also knocked a hole in the top of my $550.00 road case not once...but twice!

------------------
Gaylon's Homepage
www.gaylonmathews.com

Gretchen Wilson
www.gretchenwilson.com

GFI Ultra D-10, Fender Steel King, GHS Strings, SteelSeat.com

Dyke Corson · Post by **Dyke Corson** » 18 Oct 2005 4:59 pm

Leaving the Dallas show last March I had two ProfexIIs in a suitcase with t-shirts packed around and between them to protect them. When I got home there was the goverment note inside, ProfexIIs on top of the t-shirts with knobs broken on each one. They did not re-pack this one like they found it!

Stu Schulman · Post by **Stu Schulman** » 19 Oct 2005 5:18 am

Here's the deal on the ATA approved lock according to my friend.It's a seatbelt type device that goes around the luggage,it has a three digit combination lock on it that only you can open,The ATA has a master key that will open it.I will get a brand name and price sometime today.

Danny Naccarato · Post by **Danny Naccarato** » 19 Oct 2005 6:32 am

Great idea about the sign Jimbo. I usually ask to stand with them explaining what it is and offer to lift it for them.

Danny

------------------
Janie Fricke

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 19 Oct 2005 6:55 am

By the way, they sell those ATA-approved combination locks in all the airport stores.

Dick Wood · Post by **Dick Wood** » 19 Oct 2005 7:10 am

I went to Alaska with my band about a month ago. I got one of those notices telling how they had inspected my guitar case.

When I got to the gig on Kodiak Island I got the steel out at the club and found my bar and picks rolling around in the undercarriage. I tried to tune it up and found the pedals and levers couldn't be tuned to pitch or return true.

I turned it over to see what was wrong and I'm about 100% sure they pulled the guitar out of the case by the pull rods because there were many that were bent badly.

I think I had to remove seven rods and straighten them out with a hammer before I could tune or play it. That will be my first and last time I ever get on another flight with my steel.

------------------
Cops aren't paid much so I steel at night.

Duane Reese · Post by **Duane Reese** » 19 Oct 2005 8:00 am

My fears CONFIRMED! AAAHHHH!!!
:O

Chris Lucker · Post by **Chris Lucker** » 19 Oct 2005 8:48 am

On my last two trips over seas with golf clubs in my hard case "club coffin" I have had my case locked. However, when at LAX at departure, I waited with my keys for the club case to be inspected. He unlocked the case, did his search, relocked the case, suggested that he further secure the case with a couple surrounds of tape, and I thanked him. On the return from Barbados, both times, same procedure. In Miami, customs check, I was there to provide the key. Same good service.
Just ask to help with the key. Let them know you are there to assist with unlocking. But, don't expect to be able to do the actual handling of your luggage contents.
Aren't shotguns still required to travel in locked cases?

Colm Chomicky · Post by **Colm Chomicky** » 19 Oct 2005 10:50 am

Be aware that you might not always be present during these openings to help the inspector. I am talking about later inspections, somewhere down in the bowels of the airport, that occur after initial screening.

Chris Lucker · Post by **Chris Lucker** » 19 Oct 2005 11:16 am

I don't really know what you are referring to as additional checks in the bowells of the airport. That's not how an airport works. The Transportation Security Admin checks after you check in, and you may provide a key to your locked case. After TSA checks, the bag will not get opened again until Customs, and again, you can be there.
Perhaps if there is a threat and they want to recheck every bag, you may have an issue, but there are no "bowels" in an airport where TSA does secondary checks.
I suggest that you call your local TSA office. Or, the easiest one I have found to get through to is in Palm Springs: 760 416-7833. Thomas Anthony s the Director, but you can speak to anyone there. They can tell your the Federal Regulations and procedures for all US airports.
Chris Lucker

Stu Schulman · Post by **Stu Schulman** » 19 Oct 2005 11:57 am

Here is the link for those ATA locks,My friend just took a flight from Kodiak to Anchorage and said sure enough that the agent had the pass key. http://www.magellans.com/store/Safety___Security___Locks___Straps [This message was edited by b0b on 20 October 2005 at 10:09 AM.]

Dick Wood · Post by **Dick Wood** » 19 Oct 2005 12:08 pm

Chris, I respectfully disagree. I checked my guitar at the counter and never saw it again from Dallas to Kodiak Island. As a matter of fact,the girl at the ticket counter simply asked what was in the box.

I told her a steel guitar and after a look you'd see on a deers face in the headlights, she put the tags on it and they took it to the bowls of the airport to have their way with it.

------------------
Cops aren't paid much so I steel at night.[This message was edited by Dick Wood on 19 October 2005 at 01:56 PM.]

Fuzzy Plant · Post by **Fuzzy Plant** » 19 Oct 2005 1:01 pm

Brinks makes the combination locks you want. That is: Hampton Products in Foothill Ranch, CA.
They're called Travel Aware luggage locks. They have a red indicator that shows if they opened it.
Somebody from out there in CA must have the phone #

Fuzzy

Chris Lucker · Post by **Chris Lucker** » 19 Oct 2005 1:37 pm

Dick, reread my post. In both cases I tell them at the counter that my SKB case is locked and that I have a key. I ask to be present when they inspect my SKB case so I may give the inspector the key, and make sure the case is locked again.
Reading your post you don't mention asking to help the inspector with the key. The girl at the ticket counter IS NOT the TSA inspector.
If you did, perhaps you are travelling in an airport that does not follow TSA regulations? Or, someone who is not with the TSA is openning your case. Which is the reason why i always lock my golf case, or all the golf balls will be missing when I get the luggage at the other end. The TSA ain't the ones taking golf balls.
Chris

[This message was edited by Chris Lucker on 19 October 2005 at 02:38 PM.]

Colm Chomicky · Post by **Colm Chomicky** » 19 Oct 2005 2:17 pm

All I know is I checked my bags at the ticket counter (Kansas City - MCI)and there was no TSA agent present. (They used to inspec right out front in the past at this airport). When unpacking at my destination I found the TSA inspection note inside the baggage. It is my understanding some of the Airports (generally major) have checked baggage x-ray and other detectors and these are not in public access areas. So the tips on at least having a note inside with the steel guitar to aid the inspector and having ATA approved locks appear very helpful.

PS the tip on asking to be present during inspection is also helpful and never hurts to ask but perhaps at some Airports it may not be permitted.[This message was edited by Colm Chomicky on 19 October 2005 at 03:22 PM.]

Stu Schulman · Post by **Stu Schulman** » 19 Oct 2005 2:45 pm

Dick:Where did you play in Kodiak?Most of the time the baggage folks in Kodiak take good care of my stuff,I play there about 5 times a year,and it's a small airline...Although a couple of years ago we watched the handlers while we were on the plane throw our keyboard player's amp about 15 feet in the air,we reported him to the flight attendant before we even left the ground,and they had to pay,You never know.