Flying with a.......Mouthpiece?

[Peach]

Folks,

Do I need to worry about having a couple of mouthpieces (Brass & Stainless) in my main luggage bag (hold) for a flight to the US??

Thanks!
MP

[Peach]

Wow, ok. Thanks.
I was sure I was being over-cautious in worrying.

Would a Kellyberg show up on a scanner I wonder...

[Biggs]

I've flown at least three times in the last 2-3 years in the US (all domestic) with my usual metal mouthpiece in my carry-on and no one has given it so much as a second look. Not a guarantee, just my experience. If you're schlepping a lot of other heavy things though, a Kellyberg is appealing for weight reasons alone.

[gionvil]

It happens to me to be stopped most every time I pass a security control even through european airports. After a little buzzing they are all laughing but they understand what is it for...

[bort]

I have never had a problem. And a few times, the TSA person has even asked me "what's that, a tuba mouthpiece?"

[sousaphone68]

I have flown internationally with a travel tuba as carry on complete with mouthpiece with no problems.
Can't see you having any problems the density of the mouthpiece may attract attention on X-ray so make sure it is packed separate from any electrical or electronic items in the hold luggage bag.
If the mp is of high $ or emotional value carry it on

[eupher61]

I got stopped by a cop while driving once, I was buzzing and he thought I had a pipe of some kind.

[Bob Kolada]

Zero issue. I'd say to be sure to do a knife check but hey, your government doesn't trust you guys with them anyway. So you're probably good.

[jmerring]

Even when I explained that it was just a mouthpiece, Delta made me send it through TSA, along with my horn (in its case). They all got to my destination, without further incident.

[bububassboner]

I have flown many times in Europe and in the States and have had zero issue with mouthpieces in my baggage, carry on, and in my pockets. Now flying in Kosovo with a tuba, a VERY different story. I wouldn't worry about it.

[Michael Bush]

I got stopped by a cop while driving once, I was buzzing and he thought I had a pipe of some kind.

Yep, I was once asked at one of those DUI/driver's license checkpoints what a mouthpiece on the seat beside me was. It seemed like the cop thought it was drug paraphernalia.

I am never without a mouthpiece on a trip, so I can buzz at least. TSA has never raised the slightest question even in carry-on luggage (which is where it usually is, since I don't risk checking bags if I can help it).

[OldsRecording]

I got stopped by a cop while driving once, I was buzzing and he thought I had a pipe of some kind.

Yep, I was once asked at one of those DUI/driver's license checkpoints what a mouthpiece on the seat beside me was. It seemed like the cop thought it was drug paraphernalia.

I am never without a mouthpiece on a trip, so I can buzz at least. TSA has never raised the slightest question even in carry-on luggage (which is where it usually is, since I don't risk checking bags if I can help it).

I once drove through a Canada to US border crossing with a tuba mouthpiece in my ashtray AND a paring knife in my glove box. The border guard looked at me funny, but oddly enough there were no problems.

[taylorbeaty]

back in 2008 i flew to florida and back with a mouthpiece in my luggage. i only got asked once what it was.

[Art Hovey]

I always carry my mpc in my pocket, wrapped in a cloth handkerchief. When I go thru the security check at an airport I unwrap it and put it on top of everything else in the xray bin, and say "that's my tuba mouthpiece" to the person running the machine. Never a problem.
I have also flown with a plastic mouthpiece in my carry-on bag; it has never been an issue.

[charlieJ]

No problem...I travel with them all the time. Got quite the interest at Heathrow with a Mike Finn a couple of years ago. With all those cameras zooming in on me, I expected the SAS to rappel in and snatch that pretty gold-rimmed mouthpiece while they double tapped me with a nasty HK.

But, I had far worse trouble crossing from Canada to the US with six salmon steaks, an apple, and a banana. I was moving from Alaska back to Colorado...and brought along six salmon steaks, an apple, and a banana. Even though I had a shotgun and black powder rifle in the truck (declared), they zero'd in on those pesky salmon steaks...ignoring the weapons and the one-pound can of black powder that could have reduced their office to a communal pit roast with nary more than a free box of matches.

After a remake of the Inquisition and the filing mounds of forms for the six salmon steaks, I was grilled on where the apple and banana had grown. My reply that "I think they were grown in the Safeway in Anchorage" wasn't sufficient. They were tossed away. Damn Osama. I really had big plans for eating that apple and banana.

[Bob Kolada]

Charlie, all of your posts rock!

[PaulTkachenko]

Should be fine if checked.

If in hand baggage, they will probably want a look but won't take it.

[tubajoe]

sometimes they question about my mouthpieces in my carry-on, but once I tell them what it is, it's not an issue. Often I see them ask one another what that is (before they ask me) and by now, most know what it is.

...i've never been asked in Germany... they just seem to know.

I put all my "questionable" items into one inner bag inside my carry-on... (mic cables, tools, pedals, mouthpieces, etc) and I remove that bag while in the security line and put it in its own tray, like I would with a laptop etc. Fairly regularly they do want to inspect it, but it's not a problem. If I don't remove it from my carry-on, they always want to inspect it. Seems to streamline the process to remove it first and have all those type of items in one container.

Another thing I learned is to put my valve oil in my see-through liquids/toiletries bag... so that all liquids are in the same place. This is important for airports like Heathrow that really scrutinize everything.

[Alex C]

At all of the TSA security checkpoints I've encountered in the last year or so, the agents have recognized my mouthpiece for what it was.

At worst, you'll have to open your case and show them. Bring it.

[Peach]

Thanks one-and-all.

Think I'm taking one mouthpiece as carry on.
I checked with the Airline too who seem ok with it.

Thanks again,
M