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For those of you who fly regularly with your instrument, what do you do with the valve oil? The TSA forbids flammable liquids as carry-on luggage and checked luggage.

Thank you in advance for sharing your experiences.

DK

We flew to Michigan in August. I placed the valve oil in my quart ziplock bag with my other liquid items (didn't even think about it being flammable). It wasn't questioned in Detroit or Orlando.

Wait.... valve oil is FLAMMABLE??? They probably didnt care cause usually it doesnt say so on the bottle.

In the case, checked. TSA has never noticed it, and even if they did I doubt they would care.

Carry-on - yes, THOSE folk will care.

On the way back from basic training to advanced training this summer, and then from advanced to home, I had a large can of shaving cream, large tube of toothpaste, several things similar to a toothpaste tube (medicine-type stuff), and probably more I can't remember. I never got stopped or questioned.

Bob Kolada wrote:On the way back from basic training to advanced training this summer, and then from advanced to home, I had a large can of shaving cream, large tube of toothpaste, several things similar to a toothpaste tube (medicine-type stuff), and probably more I can't remember. I never got stopped or questioned.

Many regulations are either stretched or overlooked when military passengers are flying on orders.

So far it seems best to pack the valve oil with my checked luggage, probably in with the bathroom essentials. I better remember not to brush my teeth with it.

For anyone who has traveled with their hard case, what do you think of locking it? I'll be checking the horn at the gate, so I'll take it past TSA myself. Once inspected, I don't think they'll do so again. But who knows? Would they break the lock if they had to, or do you think they would try to pick it? It's on a standard Yamaha tuba case.

Thanks for the responses thus far.

Dylan

Dylan King wrote:

For anyone who has traveled with their hard case, what do you think of locking it? I'll be checking the horn at the gate, so I'll take it past TSA myself. Once inspected, I don't think they'll do so again. But who knows?

TSA knows. Ask them.

What I've done is to bring it to TSA unlocked (and early) and asking if I can lock it after they inspect it. The inspections are all different. One TSA agent told me to lock it before sending it through the XRay - and to wait to be sure she did not need to UNlock it. Another did a hand inspection of the inside of the case and then let me lock it. Others have simply swabbed the case and done a check for residues - and then had me lock it.

Once locked and tagged, I don't think anyone wants to open it. For one thing, that would be bad security.

Empty an eye drop bottle. Refill with valve oil. Put with your personal care items in your checked luggage. Even if they open your checked luggage and examine the bottle they will never figure it out. I've never had a problem.

I flew with a horn to China this summer, and I had two bottles of hetmans in my checked luggage with a ziplock bag. As for locking the case, I assume you want to do this to ensure that it doesn't come open, you can buy TSA safe locks that have straps hooked to them and then wrap that and lock it around your case. I was unaware of this until I saw some of my section mates having them. I used a tie down strap you can pull to tighten (the same thing you would use to tie down furniture when moving) and I didn't have any problems any where on the entire trip. I wanted to be sure that I had my mouthpieces, so I took them in my carry on and that was only questioned once but after looking at them there was no problem. Happy travels!

All the best,
Keegan Watson

Dylan King wrote:For those of you who fly regularly with your instrument, what do you do with the valve oil? The TSA forbids flammable liquids as carry-on luggage and checked luggage.

Thank you in advance for sharing your experiences.

DK

I would not mismark or rebottle valve oil. Just take it in the clear baggie. TSA is getting smarter about the liklihood of a carry on threat from travelers.

The, er, ah . . ., pucker factor over carry on explosives took a quantum leap recently with the underwear/rectum bomber. It was difficult for investigators to determine the pre-explosion concealed location.
http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/meast/09/ ... ia.attack/" target="_blank" target="_blank