How To Bring A Halloween Costume With Wires On A Plane?
October 13, 2009 by Mistress Spank
Filed under Halloween
I’m flying from Southern California to San Francisco for the Castro’s big Halloween party, and just realized that my costume might look awfully suspicious when they X-ray my baggage. I’ve wired battery-powered LED lights into the top of a dress and then used duct tape on the inside to protect my skin from the wires. Would I be better taking this carry-on, so I can explain to the security people then and there what it is, or should I put it in checked baggage? I feel like it would be less threatening in checked baggage, but what if they thought it was a bomb and pulled me off the plane before i could explain? It’s really just a harmless set of lights, but I’m worried what security might think.
Your best bet is to treat it like a firearm (another potentially catastrophic mistake if the wrong people think the wrong things). When you go to check in at the airport, state that you have an item to be declared in your checked luggage, and they’ll hand you a form to fill out about your declared item, and send you to a TSA agent. The TSA agent will examine your declared item (if you state its simply a halloween costume, and all evidence shows to that, you’ll get it cleared up right there where you can explain, put the costume on, etc) there is no harm in having the worst case scenario cards pulled out and taken care of before it or your luggage leaves your presence.
On second thought, is there a friend in the Bay Area (or the hotel you stay at) that can accept a package? USPS, Fed Ex, and UPS all can do next-day shippings of your costume, at a fraction of the hassle you’ll have at the airport with your costume.
Call the airline and ask them.
Put it in checked baggage. From your description it seems like anyone with half a brain could realize that it’s not a bomb. Plus, it’s not a given that the baggage handlers will even go through your bag, so you’ll surely be alright.