Air travel with a metal detector

[firea100]

Hello to all on the site! My name is Larry, I live in East China Mi. My bride and I are going to be traveling to Ft. Lauderdale Fl. late in Aug. for a week long vacation. I own a Whites Surf Pro II. I'd like to take it with me on the trip so I could dig up enough gold coins to pay for return flight tickets! Anyway, how do you check / carry a metal detector post 9-11? Can I do a carry-on or do I check it as baggage? Should I try to collapse the unit and pack into a piece of luggage or purchase a specific bag for it? I tried to contact the airline but gave up after 25 min. on hold! Very cool site! Thanks, Larry in East China Mi.

 

[TerraDigger]

Cmon....possibly someone here can help Larry? He's new here. I never air traveled with mine so I have no advice to offer.

 

[srf2112]

I've never flown with mine Larry but if I did I'd definitely look to put it in a hard case. A purposely designed detector case or possibly a hard suitcase fitted with padding. I would also definitely contact the carrier you're using again and make sure about whatever THEIR particular policy is regarding the detector. . . you don't want a surprise at the airport. Sorry I don't have any practical experience to add beyond the obvious . . .good luck.

 

[Flintstone]

Hi Larry, I have took mine to NV. and AZ. with no trouble i take it as carry on. Be sure you tell them at the gate that it is a detector, open it and show them. It is a good to have the manual so they can see it. Most airlines know what they are. Don,t take the battery pack on.If you don,t have a check bag, put batterys in plastic bag so they can see them. But be safe and call before you go. Flintstone