US Customs and DVD-Rs
 

Okay, I'm heading from the UK to the US this coming Monday, for to attempt a new beginning at things. I'm wanting to bring my computer data over in the form of handy dandy DVD-Rs, which I have recently burned. As I was doing this, it crossed my mind that the friendly customs officials at the other end (over there in the good ol' US of States) might be none to keen on that idea...

I'm planning to have them in my hand luggage to ensure they don't get fucked up by some disinterested baggage tosser, and I'm just umming and ahhing over what to include in case they just decide to confiscate the flipping lot (40 gigs or so of data, and a lot of game discs). Also, I have a zippo lighter in there that I don't want to get taken off me. I'm carrying it dry and in two pieces, as if that will help convince them I'm not going to take a stewardess hostage with it.

I've not travelled by air in years, not since all the security tightened up a whole load, so I'm not sure what to expect.

Can anyone advise on how anal they're likely to be about my baggage choices?

Lighters are a NO. If it's that important to you, ask a friend to ship it to you once you get to the United States.

As for your DVD-Rs, put them in a normal CD wallet, like your music CDs, and they won't notice a damn difference. They will, however, notice your lighter.

EDIT: You will want to check the requirements by your airline for carrying lighters. Most of the airlines I reviewed (major carriers from UK to US) don't allow lighters even in checked luggage because they have to be packed/shipped per certain cargo requirements.

DVD's should be perfectly fine. I fly all the time with CD's. Just don't sharpen the edges into a blade, they might not be happy about that.

But yeah, lighters are a no go.

I looked at the TSA's website (www.tsa.gov) and guess what? You can check empty lighters going to the United States--but you'll still want to check with your airline before departure as to its procedures, as sometimes the airline's restrictions are harsher than the TSA's in order to keep themselves from getting into any kind of trouble.

And once they snag something - good reason or not - it's gone. I wouldn't risk it.

On the subject of risk, should you make two sets of dvd's? Ship one and bring the other?

Duplicating the DVDs... that's an excellent idea.

I suppose I was right to be concerned, though I didn't anticipate that the 'no' would be so vehement... I guess I didn't think a lighter would be such a sensitive issue, not a completely empty one, at least ah well, I'll ship that too.

Thanks for the advice, folks.

Oddly enough, I got onto a plane with a lighter in my jacket pocket last year.

I had forgotten that we weren't supposed to have them with us. I walked through the security gate without my shoes on and my jacket on the belt going through xray. My things went through, I put my jacket back on, went to drop my keys in and felt the lighter. It then occurred to me that either the tsa agent didn't see it or didn't care.

As far as the data goes, I'm with bringing them with you, but making another set of copies and shipping them, just in case.

The lovely Sin just recently came back home after living in Germany -- I seem to recall her brining backin hundreds of DVDs - Idon't think you will have a problem... customs won't care much -- 40 gig worth of data isn'tall that much...

I was gonna say the same thing. She had an ungodly number of dvds with her along with a HDD or two and she had no issues getting through customs. She had something like 400 gigs so I think your 40 gigs will be a-ok :)

i thought it was ok to bring lighters on planes now. i thought they changed that rule.

I would make sure its empty if its a zippo just in case though.

dont worry about the cds... as long as they arent labelled "BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN PRIATED DVD'S" 10.00 ea. then i think you'll be ok

Dave tried to take a Zippo into Germany(carry on....and this was before the law went into effect in the states).....they took out the guts, threw them away and let him keep the case.

When he came home he checked another zippo that he'd purchased there and had no problem getting it in. (But this was 2004) I would def check with the airline itself...as far as dvd's and cd's.....dave carries a thing with him all over the world thats full of them and has never once had a problem with them.