Taking juggling balls on plane journeys
eMretsiM
On a recent trip abroad to Switzerland, I had my hand luggage searched at
the airport because my SRX Russian balls were in there. Apparently on the
X-ray machine it looked like they contained some sort of suspicious
liquid. After they examined the balls and I explained they were filled
with sand I was allowed through, but it got me wondering whether anyone
has ever had their juggling equipment confiscated by airport security.
Also, I'm wondering which type of juggling balls are the least
'suspicious' to take on plane journeys. I've taken millet filled beanbags
to Switzerland before without any problems, although I'm aware that taking
millet abroad could be considered as taking seeds or food abroad which
might cause problems. Any thoughts?
Alan
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Marcin Tula
I also have russians (not srx, but still) and I have traveled with them
multiple times on a plane. I went from Poland to the UK and back and they
never wanted to check anything. I actually always looked carefully at them
and at the monitor to see how interested they are in the balls :). But
they never were... Did they search your luggage at a UK airport or in
Switzerland?
Also I don't understand why you would not be able to take food or seeds
abroad? Drinks yes, as they are liquids, but food?
But then at least there is one area where my russians are better then
yours :D
peter pen
going through customs in new zealand they said- so you are a juggler? show
us your balls!
fortunately i dont use bean bags so i was spared the horror of watching
them cut open my props so
they could dump out the stuffing. and then hand me back the empty shells.
which they will do.
apparently, introducing non-native species to an isolated ecosystem can
have devastating
consequences, and they are on to jugglers down under.
panic
Constantine Vetoshev
> Also, I'm wondering which type of juggling balls are the least
> 'suspicious' to take on plane journeys.
I finally took my Sil-X balls with me on a plane trip. Two domestic
flights in the US. No problems at all. I imagine that the filling looks
innocuous to X-ray scanners, and it does not violate the 3-ounce
container rule.
--
Regards,
Constantine Vetoshev
Colin
I bet in both weight and liquid volume, 150gr sil-x are probably very
close to that. pretty crap if you had you bag up some of the silicon outa
your balls to make the pass... imagine it!
anyway,only flown a couple times with them so far, but had them in my
carry-on. I don't think they look suspicious in the xray.
jimifun
I allways have taken my juggling balls on with me. always something
differnt. thuds, mmx and a contact ball. that could be used as a wepon...
also, for the first time, i took 6 clubs in my cary on luggage. no prob.
i think there is nothing to worry about.
kind regards,
Jimifun
(french computer with NO spell checker)
eMretsiM
> Did they search your luggage at a UK airport or in
> Switzerland?
>
They searched on the flight out from the UK. They didn't seem to care at
the airport in Switzerland.
Also I don't think there are food or seed restrictions within the European
Union (although I could be wrong), but because Switzerland is outside the
EU the millet inside beanbags might cause problems.
PinkNigel
> Also I don't think there are food or seed restrictions within the European
> Union (although I could be wrong),
Completely off topic as regards juggling kit, you're right as far as the
UK is concerned- from within the
EU there are no restrictions.
http://www.food.gov.uk/foodindustry/imports/imports_advice/personal_imp/
Which is a bit of a surprise, as I'd thought cheese from unpasteurised
milk was a no-no.
jamesfrancis
I had that horror on entering Australia where they cut up one of my balls
and confiscated all 7 after deciding the seed was potentially dangerous.
Luckily they were cheap thuds, and i managed to pick up an identical set
(probably the exact same manufacturer and seed) within a few days.
I then got the replacements cut apart when i entered New Zealand 5 months
later though!
James
Iver Tronstad
confiscated. And he was doing a show there...
Luckily, they were pretty cheap.
Marcin Tula
From where to where did you go with the clubs? And what airline was it.
Because for instance Ryanair says that you cannot have blunt clublike
objects in your carry on. I'm pretty sure clubs fall within this category
:D
Al Teal
idea. I may drive instead. It is only about 6000 miles round trip and only
adds several days to the trip. I'll have to check the weather.
I need a new airplane.
Al
thegoheads
homemade russian balls! I have only taken beanbags through airports
before, so I was wondering if my russian balls would look suspicious to
the security peoples.. I guess not. Not today, anyway...
Here's a funny story about this sort of thing:
On the way to last years IJA fest in North Carolina, I had to change
planes somewhere in Texas. While waiting at the gate for the flight to
NC, I was juggling some beanbags, and a fellow juggler (who I had not
previously met) approached me and said, "You wanna pass clubs?"
At first, I didn't believe him that he made it through security with
clubs! I was expecting him to pull out some really lightweight flimsy
one-piecers, but to my surprise, he busted out a set of full-sized gnarly
renegades!
We were passing clubs at the gate for a while. Directly behind a security
checkpoint. Nobody seemed to mind.
About a week later, on the way home from the festival, I passed through
the exact same airport in Texas. This guy that had the same flights as me
managed to take his delphin clubs as carry-on out of North Carolina. So
he had them the whole time we were wandering around the airport in Texas.
We both went outside for a smoke, and when we tried to get back through
security, they would not allow him to bring his clubs back into the
airport. This is the same airport that didn't seem to mind us throwing
clubs around at a gate about 15 feet away from a security checkpoint.
Crazy, right?
I think the bottom line here is: the types of juggling props you can get
into an airport often depends on the individual who is working the
security booth that particular day, and perhaps what kind of mood they're
in. It's probably best to always have your props in your checked baggage
just in case.
ijuggle42
> I think the bottom line here is: the types of juggling props you can get
> into an airport often depends on the individual who is working the
> security booth that particular day, and perhaps what kind of mood they're
> in. It's probably best to always have your props in your checked baggage
> just in case.
>
Get rid of the word juggling and replace the word props with bombs and
you'll have the exact reason I try and stay out of airliners all together.
Mike
jimifun
Southampton to barcurac. flybe.