jorlyfish Posted January 3, 2011 Share Posted January 3, 2011 Has anyone flown with shisha lately? I know there have been some topics about this before (most recently in Aug. 2009 based on my search), but as the ever-lovely TSA ramps up security, I'm not sure if things have changed. I'm not sure whether it'd be better to put it in a checked bag (it's Southwest, so I can check up to two bags for free) or in my carryon, if anyone's been held up at security with TSA agents wondering WTF it is. I just flew to and from home for the holidays, and both times I got a slip in one of my bags -- interestingly, a different one each time -- from TSA saying my checked bag had been searched (for my safety! [img]http://www.hookahforum.com/public/style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif[/img]), so things might be "rearranged" a bit, etc., so even if I put it in a checked bag, there seems to be a pretty good chance TSA is going to see it. I know it's not an illegal substance, but since not everyone is familiar with hookah/shisha, I'm vaguely concerned they'll throw it out just for being a mystery item. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joytron Posted January 3, 2011 Share Posted January 3, 2011 There is that deal with liquids so I dont know if that would fall into that category Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Genie Posted January 3, 2011 Share Posted January 3, 2011 I flew with it last year. I had several 50 gram boxes in my checked luggage. My bags were checked everywhere I went, found the notes, but no problems at all. Some of my coals had one woman concerned, she opened up my case, looked at them, then closed it back up and didn't ask me anything about it. She only commented that their density is what caused her to one to take a closer look. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nun Posted January 3, 2011 Share Posted January 3, 2011 Early Nov from Burbank to Oakland. I put the zip-locked tobacco and bambino stem in the checked bag (and found the slip when I unpacked), and the vase in the carryon bag. To be safe, since coals are under flammable items, I ordered ahead of time and have the coals ship to my destination address. no prob at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
antouwan Posted January 3, 2011 Share Posted January 3, 2011 flew from Madrid to the US with like a kilo of nakhla. the guy checked my bag because i was an ass to the tsa guy but no problemo. the biggest problem wasn't the bottles of cuban rum in my bag or the tobacco, but rather the porrón: [img]http://www.23hq.com/23666/2933469_88024f1f102c2f95c0c5d5b7f38bd8ab_standard.jpg[/img] a wine drinking vessel native to Cataluña/catalonia. the brilliant tsa guy legitimately thought that it was an nht device....yeah. so he called like 3 other fellow homeland defenders to look at it. long story short, i think it really depends on who searches your bag and how shitty his/her day has been up to that point. i've come to learn that (at least in airports) if someone is wearing a badge, then rules are irrelevant (almost). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Genie Posted January 3, 2011 Share Posted January 3, 2011 [quote name='antouwan' timestamp='1294065490' post='493213'] long story short, i think it really depends on who searches your bag and how shitty his/her day has been up to that point. i've come to learn that (at least in airports) if someone is wearing a badge, then rules are irrelevant (almost). [/quote] You nailed it right there, it generally boils down to the discretion of the person(s) you are dealing with. Not to mention your attitude with them. One of the reasons I made sure to carry 50 gram boxes of shisha when I flew, which I ordered especially for the trip I was taking, was so that whoever searched me would see the packaging and be able to read it for themselves. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
antouwan Posted January 3, 2011 Share Posted January 3, 2011 [quote name='Genie' timestamp='1294075558' post='493226'] [quote name='antouwan' timestamp='1294065490' post='493213'] long story short, i think it really depends on who searches your bag and how shitty his/her day has been up to that point. i've come to learn that (at least in airports) if someone is wearing a badge, then rules are irrelevant (almost). [/quote] You nailed it right there, it generally boils down to the discretion of the person(s) you are dealing with. [b]Not to mention your attitude with them.[/b] One of the reasons I made sure to carry 50 gram boxes of shisha when I flew, which I ordered especially for the trip I was taking, was so that whoever searched me would see the packaging and be able to read it for themselves. [/quote] yeah, it usually takes me a little longer because i hate cooperating with them. i have nothing to hide, they're all just douchebags. my thought is that i should make them just as miserable for how miserable they're making everyone else. eye for an eye. my parents won't even fly because of the new regulations. it's fucking pathetic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allstar Posted January 3, 2011 Share Posted January 3, 2011 Checked the web site and called them. They said it isn't an issue with flying with it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Greek Posted January 3, 2011 Share Posted January 3, 2011 I flew home a few weeks ago and checked my hose, hookah bowls, about 500 grams of shisha and about 70 QL coals, everything had been shifted around, found the sheet that said it had been checked, but my coals werent there. sucked majorly. Ive flown with my vortex and narbish hose in my carryon and never been checked Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Genie Posted January 4, 2011 Share Posted January 4, 2011 I've flown w/QL's and natural coals, they've never been taken. That bites. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nun Posted January 4, 2011 Share Posted January 4, 2011 so it depends on the airport. International is more strict than the domestic port. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Genie Posted January 4, 2011 Share Posted January 4, 2011 I think it depends on the person checking your bags. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Travis Posted January 5, 2011 Share Posted January 5, 2011 [quote name='Genie' timestamp='1294075558' post='493226'] [quote name='antouwan' timestamp='1294065490' post='493213'] long story short, i think it really depends on who searches your bag and how shitty his/her day has been up to that point. i've come to learn that (at least in airports) if someone is wearing a badge, then rules are irrelevant (almost). [/quote] You nailed it right there, it generally boils down to the discretion of the person(s) you are dealing with. Not to mention your attitude with them. One of the reasons I made sure to carry 50 gram boxes of shisha when I flew, which I ordered especially for the trip I was taking, was so that whoever searched me would see the packaging and be able to read it for themselves. [/quote] That's a great idea. 50g boxes are alot safer than flying with a ziploc bag of brown gooey stuff. "Looks like napalm to me Greg!", "Good lord George! I think your right! Send her to Guantanamo!" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nun Posted January 5, 2011 Share Posted January 5, 2011 well of course you wanna keep the brand new tobacco in the original box. But it's always better to be safe than sorry. A zip lock just in case the airline wanted to bitch of how some stuff would leak. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squidget Posted January 6, 2011 Share Posted January 6, 2011 I flew with shisha in my carry on over the holidays with no problem. They were in their original boxes and the xray guy didn't look twice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
r1v3th3ad Posted January 6, 2011 Share Posted January 6, 2011 I am a bit worried about this... My parents went to the Florida Keys recently and upon their return trip, the contents of a jar of lotion was removed, looked through, and put back in the jar... This worries me because I plan on going to Eric's lounge in the summer for a holy pilgrimage and I would be attaining at least 25 kilos of tobacco...worried that they would do that process with 100 packages of shisha and possibly ruin them and my luggage.(I could just spend a lil extra money and flat rate box them back home to solve this problem though) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
noodle Posted January 6, 2011 Share Posted January 6, 2011 [quote name='r1v3th3ad' timestamp='1294347368' post='493580'] I am a bit worried about this... My parents went to the Florida Keys recently and upon their return trip, the contents of a jar of lotion was removed, looked through, and put back in the jar... This worries me because I plan on going to Eric's lounge in the summer for a holy pilgrimage and I would be attaining at least 25 kilos of tobacco...worried that they would do that process with 100 packages of shisha and possibly ruin them and my luggage.(I could just spend a lil extra money and flat rate box them back home to solve this problem though) [/quote] If the accounts from this thread mean anything, I'd say posting your tobak to yourself would be very worthwhile. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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