What Happens When The TSA Intercepts Firearms At US Airports

Above, the TSA checkpoint at the Albuquerque Sunport. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Bringing a firearm through airport security (TSA) can be a major problem if one does not follow proper procedures. I've never had the need to bring a gun while traveling by air.

It is legal to bring a firearm in one's luggage as long as it is locked unloaded in a hard-sided case and declared with the baggage officer.

But not following the procedures can get one heavily fined, arrested and the gun confiscated.

Here's the official TSA procedures for transporting firearms and ammunition.

MSN posted an article on what happens. 

They start with:

As US travelers take advantage of their Second Amendment rights, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) frequently discovers firearms at security checkpoints throughout the US. By not declaring their firearms, travelers can potentially face legal issues for not following the proper procedures.

While the TSA does not confiscate or seize firearms if a passenger attempts to bring one through the security checkpoint or packs one in their carry-on luggage, the TSA will contact local law enforcement to take possession of the firearm safely. The passenger may be arrested or issued a citation, depending on local laws.

To read the full article, go here. 

What Not To Pack For A Hawaii Vacation

Above, the Royal Hawaiian Center at Waikiki. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Since many airlines slap on surcharges on luggage weighing over 50 lbs., more people are learning the fine art of packing light.

That goes for travel to Hawaii. There are things that are unnecessary to pack as most are available to purchase in Hawaii.

Beat of Hawaii posted an article on things not to pack before leaving the mainland.

They start with:

Whether you’re the most seasoned traveler or a newbie who doesn’t think about a packing checklist for Hawaii, today’s post will help keep your luggage under control. Your editors, Rob and Jeff, use Google Docs to keep a packing list up to date for mainland travel, and even then, something is always forgotten.

What to pack for a Hawaii vacation should seemingly be pretty easy given our general lack of dress codes, casual nature, and near-constant tropical temperatures. We say, “Keep it simple” and “Less is better.” But even then, it can get weird.

Here’s what not to pack for your Hawaii vacation.

First, there’s almost nothing you can’t buy here in Hawaii if you need it, including food and medications. Second, most of it won’t cost much more than on the mainland if you shop wisely. So don’t lose sleep if you should forget something. Leave these things off the list to begin with.

To read more, go here. 

TSA Confiscated Record Number of Guns In 2022

Above, a plane being readied at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Back in the good old days, when airline travelers were able to lock their suitcases before checking it in at the check-in counter, I would sometimes have my pistol (unloaded, of course) inside my luggage. 

Since 9/11, the TSA requires all check-in luggage to be unlocked unless a TSA-approved lock is used. One can still bring their firearm(s), but it is under certain guidelines. Since this, I have not brought a firearm with me on trips. I am more fearful that a not-so-honest baggage handler might steal it.

CBS News reports that 6,301 guns, some loaded, have been confiscated by the TSA for not following the rules in 2022, so far.

They wrote:

Transportation Security Administration officers have confiscated 6,301 firearms from airport passengers so far in 2022 – the highest number recorded since the agency's inception. Of those guns taken at airport security checkpoints, 88% were loaded, the agency announced Friday.  

The TSA said that it expects to have confiscated about 6,600 firearms by the end of year, which would mark a 10.5% increase from the 5,972 firearms seized in 2021, which was also a record. 

The agency also reported Friday that it was raising the maximum civil penalty for a firearms violation from $13,910 to $14,950. 

The top 5 airports for firearm stops so far this year, according to TSA, were: 

1. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport – 438
2. Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport – 371
3. Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport – 286
4. Nashville International Airport – 203
5. Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport – 184

Nashville had the highest rate of firearm confiscation per capita, according to a TSA spokesperson.

To read more, go here. 

Hawaii: What To Know and Pack

Above, the lounge area near the Sheraton Waikiki's infinity pool. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Hawaii is wide open again to tourists.

If one is about to take a first-time trip to Hawaii or are an experienced Hawaii traveler, but forgot how to pack, USA Today has a handy article on what to pack for a trip to the Aloha State. 

It has been six years since I was last in Hawaii and I don't really remember what I packed. But I did pack with some of the recommended items in the article.

They begin it with:

If you’re finally thinking of taking a long-awaited trip to Hawaii now that the state’s travel restrictions and mask mandates have been lifted, it’s a great time to do so, as airline ticket prices are still relatively low. Whether you’re looking to escape it all or want a city experience with a tropical vibe, Hawaii offers something for every kind of tourist.

No matter where your Hawaii travel plans take you, there’s no reason to pack a huge suitcase when you really only need a small carry-on. Take it from me, a frequent traveler to Hawaii as well as a former resident of the Big Island: Less is definitely more.  

I’ve put together a comprehensive list of things to know about traveling to Hawaii, as well as a Hawaii packing list that includes all the necessities so that you can vacation in style without bringing too much stuff. 

To read more, go here.

Korean Air Expands Baggage Notification Service To All Flights

Above, a Korean Air jet being loaded for a flight to Japan at LAX. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

One main concern when flying domestically or internationally of travelers is that their luggage makes it to their destination when they do.

It has happened to me twice (once domestically and once internationally) that my luggage didn't make it to my destinations with me. They weren't lost for they were delivered to me by the airlines to my hotels the next day. Still, it is unnerving, to say the least.

Here's something that will ease one's mind.

Korean Air has an expanded luggage notification system that will tell passengers when their luggage was loaded onto their planes. It's a good idea, too.

According to Japan Today:

SEOUL - Korean Air has confirmed that it will expand its baggage notification service to all international and domestic flights, starting 1 May 2021.

Passengers will receive a message such as "Your baggage KE123456 has been loaded on flight KE1211 bound for Jeju (CJU)" on Korean Air’s new mobile app “Korean Air My” as soon as their checked baggage is successfully loaded on their aircraft.

The messages can be checked in the app’s notifications or baggage tracking sections.

The push notification service is available for SKYPASS members who have enabled push notifications on “Korean Air My”.

At present, Korean Air is my favorite airline for traveling to Japan.

To read more, go here.

American Airlines Says Squeezing More Seats Onto Planes Is 'Amazing'

For this post, I'll be blunt. The airline industry (in general) sucks these days!

First, they did away with in-flight meals except for international and (very few) domestic flights.

Then they started charging fees for check-in luggage and "extra" carry-on luggage. And, they charge extra for "overweight" luggage.

Next, they started cramming more seats in planes, thereby reducing legroom for passengers.

Some airlines are worse than others. American Airlines is one of the worst. Yet they say that it is amazing that they're able to add more seats and passengers "really" want this.

Inc. posted an incredible American Airlines video in which the company is just "tickled pink" for all of this. See what else they've done to make everyone's flying experience more miserable.

They wrote (in part):

There are two reasons why American says it makes money, in this era of relatively lowered fares (and elevated fees). [Senior VP of Network Planning] Vasu Raja explained:  

One, is that we have a much bigger network that enables us to collect more revenue. But just as big and arguably maybe even bigger than that are the number of seats that we have on the airplane.

Isn't there more to being a strong company than just being rigidly focused on revenue? 

It's worth asking, given that American's financial performance has actually been relatively poor when compared to its rivals. 

Yet watch this video and you get the impression that the company's ethos revolves around the revenue and almost not at all around human beings and their experience. 

Any executive who has the gall to tell you that stuffing more seats on a plane is amazing may not have a grasp of what an amazing brand truly is. 

Should you have not flown American lately, the airline inserted as many seats as it could into as many narrow-body planes as it could. It reduced the size of the bathrooms to an squirm-inducing squish, removed seatback screens and even reduced the legroom in First Class. 

As an old airline tagline used to say, "Is this any way to run an airline?" 

To read more and see the video, go here.

I just HAD to add this! Where we're headed:

Tokyo Travel Disasters and How To Fix Them

Above, when my luggage didn't arrive at Narita Airport in 2015, Singapore Airlines gave me
 ¥12000, even though they weren't at fault. My luggage showed up at my hotel the next day. 

Have you ever traveled somewhere and have a disaster occur?

The disasters I am referring to are more minor in nature and more of a major nuisance. It has happened to me.

Tokyo Cheapo has nine "Tokyo travel disasters" and what their recommendations are on fixing them.

I have experienced four of them while going to Japan: cancelled flight, getting sick, extreme weather conditions and missing luggage. The first happened in 2014 when my flight to L.A. was cancelled. I actually got on a better flight. The second happened when I caught a 24-hour flu bug in Tokyo in 2001. The third happened when I was stuck midway between Narita Airport and Tokyo in 2014 due to snow. The last happened at noted above.

Their article begins with:

You can plan most elements of your travels down to a tee, from tickets to hotels to activities, but there are some things you just cannot prep for. Whether you’re organizing a year in advance or more of a last-minute kind of person, you probably have the usual things covered: travel insurance, somewhere to sleep and a rough idea of what to do—but travel isn’t always sunshine and rainbows. Lost luggage, a mislaid passport and typhoons are just some of the things that can happen during your trip, and figuring out how to solve them in Japan can be a real nightmare. We’ve come up with some of the most common travel nightmares that we hope never happen to you, but if they do, this is how to minimize the damage and enjoy the rest of your trip!

To read more, go here.

Court Ruling: Passengers Can Sue Airlines For Delayed Bags

Above, Singapore Airlines check-in counter and baggage
scale at Narita International Airport. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

A federal appeals court reversed an earlier court ruling that said passengers couldn't sue airlines for delayed baggage. This is a case involving US Airways.

Condé Nast Traveler reported:

Even if you go to great lengths to make sure your checked bags won't get lost, ultimately, it's out of your control. Once you toss your suitcase on that scale, it's at the airline's whim. A federal appeals court ruled Wednesday, however, that you might have more recourse to recouping your checked bag fee, when it overturned an earlier decision that could pave the way for disgruntled customers to sue airlines over delayed bags. 

As SF Gate notes, however, federal appeals judge Andrew Kleinfeld ruled Wednesday that the airline committed itself to "on-time baggage delivery" in its Terms of Transportation with Hickcox-Huffman, which constituted a "contract to deliver the baggage when she landed" that was not part of state laws. The lawsuit originally pleaded a breach of contract when the airline didn't deliver her bags on time, and didn't refund the checked-bag fee afterward.

Domestic airlines rake in billions of dollars in baggage fees. This ruling can have big ramifications for them. The case is being sent back to the lower court for further ruling. We'll see what happens there.

I had my suitcase delayed for a day during my 2015 trip to Japan. Singapore Airlines paid me ¥12,000 for necessities, although the delay wasn't their fault.

To read more, go here.

Making Last Day Sightseeing Easier In Tokyo

Above, Asakusa's Kaminarimon Gate. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

You are on your last day in Japan. There's a few more things you'd like to see before heading home. But you have a ton of luggage that you need to deal with. You certainly don't want to lug it around while sightseeing. What do you do?

Two Japanese companies have a solution, according to Nikkei Asian Review.

They wrote:

TOKYO -- Two companies in Japan have teamed up to make it easier for foreign tourists to squeeze in a few more activities during their final day in the country. 

Airport Transport Service, which operates Airport Limousine buses between Narita Airport and locations in and around Tokyo, and transport company Sagawa Express recently launched same-day luggage delivery to the airport. The new service lets travelers drop off their baggage at selected collection points, saving them the trouble of minding their belongings while making the most of their last day before heading to the airport. 

Their "Premium Hands-Free Package" includes a ride to Narita Airport via the Airport Limousine bus as well as same-day luggage delivery. At 3,600 yen ($31.76), it is about 30% cheaper than purchasing the services separately.  

Tourists can deposit their luggage at Sagawa collection points located at Tokyo Station, Kaminarimon gate in Asakusa or Tokyo Skytree and later collect it at the airport between 5 p.m. and 9 p.m.

To read more, go here. 

Stripes Japan: 9 Travel Tips and Lessons Learned

Above, a Japanese business hotel room. Everything in your luggage accounted for? Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Have you ever gone on a vacation or business trip and found that your luggage had been lost or stolen, or valuables (jewelry) had been stolen out of your check-in baggage or some other mishap?

Well, Stripes Japan has nine good tips (from learning the hard way) that will help prevent or, at the very least, minimize any misfortune.

They begin with:

I wouldn’t trade the thrill of traveling for anything, but as joyous and fulfilling my worldly adventures have been, I had my fair share of mishaps and less than favorable travel moments. After a decade of independent travel around the world, I think it is time to share some of the lessons learned and tips I have accumulated thus far.

I will share their first tip so that you'll get an idea on what the other eight will be:

Lock your suitcases 

There were couple of occasions when my checked in luggage was opened and things – mainly fake jewelry – were stolen from my suitcases (beware of Ukranian Airlines!). Since then I firmly decided not to take any chances and make sure to put a special little padlock on my suitcase. It is cheap and doesn’t require particular effort, so I’d rather do that than have something taken out of my bag again. Another way you can secure your bag is to have it wrapped in plastic wrappers available at the airports.

To read more, go here. 

United's New Carry-on Baggage Policy Stinks

Above, a United Boeing 787 Dreamliner. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

United Airlines was once my favorite U.S. airline, but after my 2014 trip to Japan with them, no longer. That's one reason why I chose Singapore Airlines for last year's Japan trip.

To add to my dislike of the airline, they have been finding all kinds of ways to gouge the traveler. And, here they go again.

According to Travel + Leisure:

Airlines are adding extra fees for many services that used to be included in the price of an airfare, and one senator has had enough. 

United Airlines' upcoming “Basic Economy” fares, announced last month, offer flight service without the use of the overhead bin (and also without pre-assigned seating). Customers who purchase a Basic Economy fare will only be allowed one carry-on item that can fit under the seat in front of them. Larger bags will need to be checked in for a fee. 

Senator Chuck Schumer is urging the airline to drop the policy.

As much as I am not a fan of Sen. Schumer, this is one time I am in agreement with him.

To read more, go here.

Things To Bring To Japan and Leave Home

Above, a hotel room in Sasebo, Kyushu. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

If one is visiting Japan for the first time, there are essential things to bring along, and there are some things that should be left at home. Leaving some stuff at home makes sense if one wants to free up luggage space to bring back some souvenirs, such as Godzilla toys. Most of these items can be purchased cheaply in Japan or the hotel will provide them.

Kyo Tours Japan has posted a blog on 5 things to bring to Japan and 3 to leave at home.

They start it with:

Recently, I've been getting a lot of questions from guests via email about what they should be packing for their time in Japan. This sort of thing varies by season (it's always gonna be hotter and colder than you assume, trust me), but it got me thinking about some general advice that could go a long way when packing before joining us in Japan on one of our full or half day Kyoto tours. 

So here are 5 things that you might want to consider bringing with you to Japan no matter what time of year you're going to be visiting in.

 To read more, go here.

Japan To Start Paperless Luggage System

Above, the Terminal One Arrival Lobby at Narita International Airport. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

This is interesting!

Japan will be starting a new paperless luggage service for foreign tourists so that they won't have to "lug their luggage" around as they visit from place-to-place.

The Japan Times reported:

JTB Corp., Panasonic Corp. and Yamato Holdings Co. said Wednesday they are joining forces on a cloud-based service that will give tourists the option of exploring Japan without carrying their luggage around. 

Starting in March, arriving travelers will be able to have their luggage delivered by Yamato to hotels and airports without filling out the usual delivery slips if they have already offered their precise travel itinerary details for conversion into barcodes. 

The platform developed by JTB and Panasonic can then read the barcodes via tablet computer to deliver the luggage from place to place.

To read more, go here. 

Major Luggage Failure At Haneda Airport

Above, an ANA jet at Narita International Airport. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Last year, I arrived in Japan at Narita International Airport just fine. I flew to Japan aboard Singapore Airlines.

However, my luggage didn't make it there safely. I was told that the problem originated from the TSA at Los Angeles International Airport. My luggage arrived a day later.

That little matter is dwarfed by a big luggage disaster that occurred at Tokyo's Haneda Airport on August 11. It was confined to All Nippon Airways (ANA) flights.

Here's what RocketNews 24 wrote about it:

Thousands of passengers arrived at their destinations all over Japan last night, only to find that everyone’s bags were left behind.

On the evening of 11 August, now known as Mountain Day and the beginning of the Obon holiday season, a staggeringly large number of passengers on ANA flights from Haneda Airport in Tokyo to various locations across Japan received a shock when their luggage failed to appear on the carousel. 

However, rather than the crushing depression and sighs of “Why me?” that usually accompany an instance of lost baggage, these passengers were more perplexed by the fact that everyone else’s luggage appeared to have gone missing too.

The problem was caused by a conveyor belt failure.

To read more, go here.

Carry-on Luggage Plan Scrapped

Above, sleeping train passengers with luggage of all kinds and sizes in Chiba Prefecture. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It looks like the idea to come up with specific reduced sizes for carry-on luggage is dead. At least for now.

According to Japan Today:

TORONTO —A global airline association said Wednesday that it was scrapping its recommendation to reduce the size of carry-on bags for air travelers after an “intense” response in North America. 

The International Air Transportation Association, a Montreal-headquartered trade group whose members represent nearly 85 percent of total air traffic, said that it is canceling its proposal after “significant concerns” were raised in North America. 

“This is clearly an issue that is close to the heart of travelers. We need to get it right,” IATA senior vice-president Tom Windmuller said. 

The group recommended last week that airlines require carry-on bags to be 20 percent smaller than what major U.S. carriers currently permit saying that would allow for more space.

To read more, go here. 

Airline Industry Proposes "Perfect" Carry-on Bag

Above, my "monolith" suitcase (with my camera bag) in the doorway of
a snow-stranded train in Chiba Prefecture last year. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The airline industry is finally proposing what size the "perfect" carry-on bag should be.

I rarely ever brought aboard a carry-on bag on a flight. This is especially so ever since I bought The Monolith (a big black rolling suitcase that resembles The Monolith from 2001: A Space Odyssey) about 11 years ago. It has gone with me to Japan six times over the years. It would never work as a carry-on bag.

I have seen carry-on luggage of various sizes and shapes over the years. Some seemed ridiculously huge and should have been checked in.

According to an article in Japan Today:

MIAMI BEACH —The perfect-sized bag was proposed this week by the world’s largest airline association, as it aims to resolve how to squeeze everyone’s carry-on luggage onto a crowded plane. 

The rolling suitcase would be small enough to allow every passenger on a flight of 120 people or more to fit one bag in the overhead space near their seat, said Tom Windmuller, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) senior vice president for airport, passenger, cargo and security. 

Windmuller said when he compared it to his own bags, he found it was smaller than his personal carry-on but bigger than his wife’s. 

The precise size is 55 centimeters (21 inches) tall, 35 centimeters (13.5 inches) wide and 20 centimeters (7.5 inches) deep.

To read more, go here. 

U.S. Airlines Making Billions On Fees

Above, those fees U.S. airlines are charging are raking in billions. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

This is certainly not going to make you happy (unless, of course, you are a shareholder in airline stocks).

Those fees for baggage and reservation changes have been going into the pockets of U.S. air carriers by the billions of dollars.

According to Japan Today:

U.S. airlines are earning billions, and they are collecting more in fees on checked bags and reservation changes. 

Whether airlines are making more or less profit than before depends on which figures you use. 

The Department of Transportation said that airlines collected $3.5 billion in bag fees last year, a 5 percent increase over 2013, and $3 billion in reservation-change fees, a 6 percent hike. 

Fees began escalating in 2008, when airlines were losing money and facing a sharp rise in fuel prices. Today, they make up a growing share of airline revenue.

The way to avoid baggage fees is to limit one checked-in piece of luggage per person and keep its weight low.

To read more, go here. 

United Airlines Cracking Down On Carry-On Luggage

Above, a United Boeing 787 Dreamliner. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

On my recent trip to Japan (and during all my flights over the past several years), I normally check in one suitcase (the one I dubbed "The Monolith" as in 2001: A Space Odyssey) and carry on just my camera bag and my laptop computer. I have had no hassles concerning luggage since I have kept to this amount.

Apparently, other travelers have been going beyond what the airlines will allow in carry-on luggage. United Airlines has decided to do something about it: enforce bag size limits.

According to an article in Japan Today:

NEW YORK —United Airlines is getting tough on passengers with oversized carry-on bags, even sending some of them back to the ticket counter to check their luggage for a fee. 

The Chicago-based airline has started a push to better enforce rules restricting the size of carry-on bags — an effort that will include instructing workers at security checkpoint entrances to eyeball passengers for bags that are too big. 

In recent weeks, United has rolled out new bag-sizing boxes at most airports and sent an email to frequent fliers, reminding them of the rules. An internal employee newsletter called the program a “renewed focus on carry-on compliance.” 

The size limits on carry-on bags have been in place for years, but airlines have enforced them inconsistently, rarely conducting anything beyond occasional spot checks. 

United says its new approach will ensure that bags are reliably reviewed at the security checkpoint, in addition to the bag checks already done at gates prior to boarding. 

Passengers are typically allowed one carry-on bag to fit in the overhead bin, which can be no larger than 9 inches by 14 inches by 22 inches. Fliers can also bring one personal item such as a purse or laptop bag that fits under the seat in front of them.

So, if you are planning to fly aboard United Airlines in the near future and want to bring everything but the kitchen sink, you may want to keep this in mind.

To read more, go here.