TSA and Pelican case latches

[Matty]

Every time I travel, my Pelican 1610 cases arrives at the destination
with at least one, and usually two of the four latches open. I don't
trust TSA, so I carry the big ticket items on with me -- mics, mixer,
radios, recorder. (It's a doc kit, so the load is manageable.) I put
the stuff I can afford to replace if I have to -- boompole, zeppelins,
chargers, headphones -- in the checked case.

Last week, my case arrived at SFO with 3 of the 4 latches open and my
headphone cable dangling out the opening. Fortunately nothing fell
out.

I'm fed up with the cretins that work for TSA. I mean how much
intelligence does it take to close the damn latches? I'm considering
putting decals on the case with arrows to each latch. Don't know if it
will make a bit of difference though.

Is my recurring experience the exception or the rule? I'd like some
input from the community about what it takes to keep checked gear more
secure.

Thanks,
Matty

[No_MOS]

Are you using TSA locks? I lock every case that I check, and in my
experience they probably get inspected only 1 out of 20 times. My big
complaint is that for some odd reason they always seem to throw the
cases on the luggage carousel upside down. What's up with that.......
No pun intended.

I once put a large laminated sign inside my cases pleading with them
to put the equipment back where it came from, but that just seemed to
make things worse, so now I just lock 'em up and count on human nature
to take it's course, basically TSA personal are lazy so my cases
rarely get checked now.

Ken Dabek
West End Recording

[glen]

I thing the latch problem has to do with Pelicans being airtight.
As they compress, the lid is sucked tightly closed, removing
any tension from the latches so they flop open.

Many folks just remove the purge valve from the older style
cases. They new versions seem to be better.
To be certain, I always put a piece of gaff tape across each latch
and zip tie the cases closed.

In my experience, my checked cases are rarely opened.

Glen Piegari

[rraudio]

When the lid and case O-rings are present they latch tightly, even on
all the old pelicans I've seen and used, if the rings are missing,
they CAN unlatch very easy.

[Andy]

True about the compression thing and the latches. Ground-level air
gets smaller at high altitude and sucks the sealed lid in tighter,
causing the latches to come loose. I noticed that in the days before
TSA. As for the TSA locks, I can't even recall the number of those
that I've lost now. They either forget to put them back on, steal them
outright, or cut them off before realizing that they actually have a
key. I'm thinking about using somebody's suggestion from an old thread
on here to place a cheap firearm in the case and declare it at checkin
to take full advantage of the built-in security and paranoia regarding
guns. It's legal, but a bit dramatic. According to that old thread, if
you declare a firearm in your checked baggage, it gets all kinds of
extra security...hand-carrying, seal-tape, etc. But I'm not sure I
really want to draw the extra attention.

Andy

[Matt Mayer]

I have the same issues with my 1610 and have for years. I've removed
the purge valve entirely and it didn't help. I have an intact o-ring
seal. I've meant to ask Pelican about this for years, but never think
about it once I am home.

Now, I just double zip tie the case lid closed and put a note on top of
the case saying "Please re zip-tie" with two new ties taped to it. Nice
thing about that is I know instantly when the case hits the belt if it
has been opened.

Ken, they put the cases on the belt upside down because of the wheels.
Any pelican or suitcase with wheels, goes wheels side up.

---Matt

[Andy Turrett]

I also use zip ties when I travel with a note to TSA agents inside
with extra zip ties and my pelican cases have always been re-zipped
anytime it has been opened.

Pelican as you might know bought out Hardigg Cases who make the Storm
Case. The Storm case has a great latch system. I was told by a
Hardigg employee that Pelican will soon be using the Hardigg latch on
the Pelican cases.

Andy

[Paul Graff]

Ditch the Pelicans for Stormcase, imo. You will never miss the
Pelican cases. Stormcase latches
are effortless to open when you want to open them and will never open
on their own. Way better cases.
Pelican latches are a dealbreaker for me. Miserable design.

Paul

[John E. Perkin]

I believe the cheap firearm idea is well worth it.

If you can't be bothered with the hassle of going through with it then
having the contents trashed can't be too much of an inconvenience to
you.

- John
www.bluecowcables.com

[Soundhaspriority]

"Andy" <voicesinmy...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:7a12173a-fcbb-4c5a...@m26g2000yqb.googlegroups.com...

> On Nov 2, 1:38 am, glen <glenso...@comcast.net> wrote:
>> I thing the latch problem has to do with Pelicans being airtight.
>> As they compress, the lid is sucked tightly closed, removing
>> any tension from the latches so they flop open.
>>
>> Many folks just remove the purge valve from the older style
>> cases. They new versions seem to be better.
>> To be certain, I always put a piece of gaff tape across each latch
>> and zip tie the cases closed.
>>
>> In my experience, my checked cases are rarely opened.
>>
>> Glen Piegari
>
> True about the compression thing and the latches. Ground-level air
> gets smaller at high altitude and sucks the sealed lid in tighter,
> causing the latches to come loose.

It's actually the reverse. As the plane climbs, the air in the case has more
pressure than the air out of the case. So the case bulges outwards. The
purge valve then releases the extra air inside the case. When the plane
descends, the outside air presses in on the case, causing the panels to
deform inwards, and compress the gasket. If the deformation is large enough,
the latches pop open -- on descent, not climb.

Bob Morein
(310) 237-6511

[Andy]

On Nov 2, 1:25 pm, "Soundhaspriority" <nowh...@nowhere.com> wrote:
> "Andy" <voicesinmyheadpho...@gmail.com> wrote in message

> (310) 237-6511- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

What shame I now feel...and my dad was a physics major. Thanks for the
correction.

[Soundhaspriority]

"Andy" <voicesinmy...@gmail.com> wrote in message

news:90fb5ba3-d0b5-4fc9...@m38g2000yqd.googlegroups.com...

Andy, feel good about yourself. What goes down must come up :)

Bob Morein
(310) 237-6511

[John E. Perkin]

but still, buy a cheap Gun. :-)

- John
www.bluecowcables.com

[Whitney Ince]

On Nov 2, 6:46 pm, "John E. Perkin" <john.e.per...@googlemail.com>
wrote:

> but still, buy a cheap Gun. :-)
>
> - Johnwww.bluecowcables.com

I ship everything UPS or FEDEX now best way to go. It is always
waiting at my hotel for me. I always pre-print return tags so when I
am ready to return home I just put on the return tags and call for a
pick up or drop cases off on way to airport.

[freeheel]

Last month my pelican arrived with none of the latches done up and
only hanging together by the TSA approved pelilock, which had been
forced open, and then crushed back into the locked position.

I made a formal complaint at the baggage desk.

He said it had nothing to do with baggage handling.

I walked away shaking my head.

I keep all my gear in a duffel bag inside the pelican, cause this
happens every third trip and hopefully the boneheads can at least do
the zipper back up....

cheers,
Brent C

[Soundhaspriority]

"freeheel" <freehe...@yahoo.ca> wrote in message
news:f6664bad-4e66-4300...@k13g2000prh.googlegroups.com...

This is not just an equipment issue. Last year, on arrival at LAX, I
discovered that my checked duffle bag, which had no valuables, had an
unwelcome addition -- somebody else's soiled underwear. I took the bag over
to an agent for a discussion, which went in the usual, ludicrous direction,
ie., whose underwear was it... etc.

The flight originated at Philly, where, a few years ago, the USAIR baggage
operation was supposed to have serious problems, losing 1% of the bags PER
DAY. Actually, there was a theft ring, who were having trouble riffling the
bags and getting them loaded on time. It actually took the airline multiple
years to "solve" the problem, and from my experience, they never did.

Here's my explanation of how my bag could have an article added to it: The
thieves riffled the bags in a controlled area. They had to clean the place
up in a hurry, and the easiest way to do that was to simply stuff junk into
any and every bag.

So it amazes me anybody checks anything. You must have good insurance.

Bob Morein
(310) 237-6511

[G. John Garrett, CAS]

I once flew on a small plane and they wouldn't let me carry my Deva/Pelican case
on, and made me check it at the gate. When I went to the cart to retrieve it on
arrival it was upside-down with both latches open. Nothing gone, thank god.
Beats hell out of me. All the Pelicans I check in cargo get tape on the latches,
and I've never had any of them come back open. Yet.

jg

[G. John Garrett, CAS]

John E. Perkin wrote:
> I believe the cheap firearm idea is well worth it.
>

> If you can't be bothered with the hassle then maybe your not caring
> enough about your equipment.

If you're going to carry a firearm, you may as well carry one that can save your
life. None of that .25 Raven crap!

jg

[Mark O'Russa]

I have flown many times with my Pelican 1650 loaded full. It seems to
get checked by TSA everytime as the little TSA paper is in the top of
the box when I open it. Furthermore, the latches are always locked
when I pick it up. Maybe I'm just lucky? I usually fly Southwest and
Horizon/Alaska.

Mark O.

[sagerivers...@gmail.com]

Here's the thing... It's not TSA, its the baggage handlers, gravity, and hits/ touches from other luggage in the heap of the cargo bay that open those latches. There are a couple solutions: A) Travel with a firearm. Yes, travel armed (following TSA and airline guidlines, being aware of your home and destination's local laws). The advantage to this: all of your bags are number one priority, they are also hand carried to and from the cargo bay, you don't wait in line at the baggage claim, as it will be wheeled to a private office to be picked up at your destination, and they take special care to seal them, and treat them with care. PLUS you then get to put BIG ASS LOCKS on EVERY lockable point and it is TSA regulation that nobody except YOU can have the key or combination. The cons: the locks can only be used on the luggage containing the firearm, but the luggage privilege, priority, and extended care in handling, applies to all your bags. You can do this, or, B) write a note on the side of your checked luggage and tape some zip ties on it and ask any reader to seal it, they will. You may also consider a TSA luggage strap (or two), like this: http://www.homedepot.com/p/Safe-Skies-TSA-Approved-Blue-Luggage-Strap-73/203625240?cm_mmc=Shopping%7cTHD%7cG%7c0%7cG-BASE-PLA-D25H-Security&Safety%7c&gclid=CjwKEAjwubK4BRC1xczKrZyj3mkSJAC6ntgrcsEJNEZDYTdC3xx-i35GoQxSnjAibQj4JSuVgklOnRoCYqbw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

[1stcamera]

Everyone is correct about the Pelican latches. Try to open and close those suckers when it's freezing. Knuckle Buster City is what that is. And if you are working out your rental can, you may have to enter those cases multiple times during the day.
I'm thinking of just using heavy weight cardboard boxes secured with buckled leather straps.