[Jewelry making - Article 00140] - Re: [Orchid] Flying with tools

[R . E . Rourke]

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    I just flew Delta air around mothers day with a lot of tools, metal
    and stones. 

    I called the airline before leaving to advise them of the fact I was
    a goldsmith and wante to know regulations for this type of thing.( i
    also needed golf cart and wheel chair assistance in Atlanta)..They
    told me to keep the stones and metals with me in my carry-on.I said
    I have a locked case I travel with for that purpose adn got them to
    waive the 2 bag rule..God so far..then I asked about the
    tools.."Check them in your luggage, locked luggage if possible and
    wrap well".I have photographic bags that resist x-ray that I put some
    smaller deadlier looking items in,,put hammers in jeans legs, and the
    rest - wrapped all in a down throw or in bubble wrap 1st then the
    throw..When I got to the airport, wheel chair was at the curbside
    check -in w/a security escort -the airline had arranged due to
    stones and metals,,,relatively painless check in - had to remove
    shoes and got the pat down but otherwise easier than without
    tools..rolled up to the boarding area, they boarded me first and the
    staff all knew i was a jeweler..they bumped me into first class,asked
    if i had anything they wanted me to stow with the crew! I kept
    everything with me ..after we were in the air the drinks were
    distributed the snacks given out, two flight attendants asked if I
    had anything with me made up so I happened to have thought it out
    beforehand and had some gold and silver pieces in the 300-500 range
    made up and some pieces with dichroic glass that i wanted to unload
    fast ( i think its a dying trend,if not dead already) in the 200-1500
    range..I kept the pieces in riker mount style trays that fit nicely
    at the bottom of one carry-on,so i pulled them out and told them to
    their kitchen area..every piece of dichro was gone when they returned
    the trays..some had cash( they were alerted that a jeweler was going
    to be carring stones and jewelry, some i accepted a cheque from- one
    I have yet to see the promised cheque,a note, anything... 

    All-in-all, check your tools in your baggage lock it if possible,
    Call ahead and ask you carrier what their special considerations are
    for jewelers carrying valuable items, if any..if not satisfied ask
    for a manager or the airport manager's number, often they have more
    regulatory info pertinent to your concerns and".. homeland security
    regs" Keep your really valuables on you or in your lockable carry-on
    - I didn't know this but some MD, and Boeings and almost all Virgin
    Atlantics have on board safes..so you can put your stuff in there if
    desired, and available.. 

    And since they know your coming perhaps have a tray ready for
    "on-the-fly" sales..I was amazed at the spending frenzy.., and truly
    didn't realize that calling Delta would have gotten me so many
    perks..
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