Telescopes & airport security ?

[Tony.S]

I'm off to Portugal next week & have booked a villa in the countryside in an elivated position & I would think it would be great to take a scope.

I was wondering about taking my 5SE without the tripod as it will break down small enough to fit in as hand luggage (theres no way I would put it in my case due to heavy handed baggage staff) but am a bit worried about airport security letting it through.

Has anyone else had any experience of this please ?

[NickH]

I found that LAX were a pain the proverbial (Gee son that looks like a gun...for an ETX90), but China didn't bat an eyelid when I took the WO80 and tripod..

so much for democracy!

[Ford Prefect]

I went to Portugal two years ago and took my WO72 in hand luggage, I didnt have any issues with security at all.

It will be well worth taking your scope as they do have some great skies there.

have a great trip

Jon

[Doc]

I'm off to a villa in Lanzarote in August, I'm taking a pair of 12x70 Binoculars, these should give pretty good views from a dark site. How about taking bins instead of your scope, alot less hassle and cost.

[JonH]

I travel frequently with a big bag of camera gear, including a tripod head that looks like a hand grenade and a long lens. As long as security can x-ray your stuff and it falls within the carry-on size restrictions you should be fine.

Just don't ask for a room overlooking the airport.

[Tony.S]

Many thanks for the replies

I am now going to think more seriously about taking it,just going to make sure it fits within the size & weight limit & then the hardest bit....To tell the wife I'm taking it

@Doc

Hopefully the wife managed to get to Lidl's today for a pair of bins,I will definately take them as well.

Just don't ask for a room overlooking the airport.

I only live 5 mins from Stansted airport,so wont need a room but I wouldn't be supprised if one day I get a visit from the airport police when I have my 12" Orion out

[Ibbo!]

I've taken scopes on planes before with no problems

I would suggest you take an astro mag with you just to show them

Steve

[Merlin66]

I've taken scopes and tripods on planes all over the world and never had any problems (yet!).

I like the idea of carrying an astronomy magazine... just in case.

Ken

[Tony.S]

Mmmm.

The astro mag is a good idea.

I have a few astro books, I'll take a couple of those with me

[Tony.S]

LOL

Thats a sure fire way to get the rubber glove treatment

[Peter Drew]

I've been filling up an apartment with astro equipment in Tenerife. Travelling from Manchester airport, the first item was a demounted ETX 90. Security wanted it out of the bag and a look through before the OK. Next was a 102mm binocular telescope, they completely ignored it. Last item so far was a Celestron 8SE, I cut out an advert from a mag and stuck it on the side of the case to confirm the Xray image, again no problems, it even arrived safely!,

[yeti monster]

As a regular passenger through Manchester, Heathrow and Hong Kong airports, I find the best way to get through security is to be polite, calm and respectful (I know it is hard at times) to the security folks. They are only doing their job and what a horrible job it must be.

Camera gear, batteries, chargers and HUGE binoculars present no difficulty. Stroppy and arrogant attitudes will always have your bags emptied and the chemical sniffer device brought into action.

[RobH]

I completely agree with YM....be polite and respectful and willing to show them what they wanyt to see and you'll have no trouble.

I always laugh at the folks who start complaining about airport security....they'd complain a lot more if the plane they were on got blown out of the sky

Cheers

Rob

[yeti monster]

Slightly off topic here:

When I arrive in China and have passed through immigration, I have to put my bags through a scanner. I've never had any trouble with the 1 kg of Drum rolling tobacco (can't get it here) I bring each trip.

This time I got called over to the customs desk. "Fair cop" thinks I, I'll have to surrender the baccy or cough (sic) up some readies.

Imagine my surprise and relief, when the customs man pulled out my copy of "Atlas of the universe" and flicked though it.

He then reached back into the bag, "this has got to be it" says one of the many voices that reside inside my head.

No, he moves the tobacco aside, still within the bag, and pulls out my OVL catalogue!

Somewhat bemused at the thought of a westerner NOT bringing pornographic material into China, he then smiles and waves me on my way!

Stunned, I was, relieved but stunned.

Then a quick look at the telescope stall (looking for a small spotter to take offshore) before heading to the hotel.........

[Tony.S]

Thanks for all of the advice

I've made up my mind & I'm going to take the scope....Heres the plan :

Because I slightly look like a thug, bald/shaved head (not really my choice but its better than a comb-over ) stocky build & quite heavily tattooed, I normally find myself being over polite to compensate.

The tube is going in my hand luggage, along with some eyepieces, Tomtom sat nav & my ridiculously over-sized Samsung Pro815 camera, all carefully wrapped in t-shirts.I will also put in an astro book or two & a couple of photos of the scope, both with & without the mount..Not taking the tripod but the motorised mount will go in my suitcase (hope they dont lose it)

Coming back will be the same, except that I will be using 3 kilos of tobacco as packing material instead of t-shirts