talkmagic.co.uk

Hi guys!

Long time no speak!

Im flying over to Ireland in a week, and wondered what sort of stuff i would get away with taking through customs, magicwise. For example, would i get flash paper and the revn confiscated?

Has anyone had any experience of this, as i know that airport security is very tight, but all ive taken over in the past is a deck of cards via flying.


Mark

hi i live in spain and travel to and from uk to spain on the reg.
most time i take my tricks with me through hand luggage (depends on how many tricks you have) and have never had a problem but then again this is easyjet!!!!!

Nope, you can't take flash paper.

See the CAA link for this: Dangerous Goods

Kati

flash paper?

Yes. Flash paper.

It doesn't matter which airline you fly with, the rules are the same and airport security (in terms of baggage) is handled by the selected security contractor.

Often, it depends on which airport you fly from as to how tight the security is, although it should be the same. As an example, If I fly from Southampton the checks are more rigorous than if I fly from Bournemouth. Different size airports, risks etc. Again, in practice things should be the same at each airport.

I could talk about airport security all day (as an ex security-operations manager for an international airline) but I won't bore you. The advice that I can give you is to ask at the airport if you are not sure about anything that you're not carrying. They can take it off you and let you fly. if you don't ask and take a chance and they find a prohibited item, often they will refuse to allow you to fly and often, other airlines can also refuse to take you too.

Flash paper is technically pyrotechnic material but surely due to the low risk and if shown in context of a collection of magic tricks and with prior notification to the airline it would be ok???

Then again, plead ignorance, have it in your stuff and if challenged say you didnt thinnk about it as a pyrotechnic and apologise. They're hardly gonna send ya to Guantanamo Bay are they lol??!!??!??!?!?!?

Do not take flash paper.

It IS CLASSED AS AN EXPLOSIVE.

I have read elsewhere that people have had magic props confiscated before. If you are going to take anything, put it in the hold, not hand luggage.

Ref Ireland,
They seem to be much more thorough in their searches, than England.
Steel toecapped boots made sure I had more of a search.

NOT the rubber glove type I'm happy to say!

hehe i can imagine them searching for a pack of cards hidden in your ***! Euww actually i dont want to imagine that!

Anyway, i managed to get through customs from America to Amsterdam, and then Amsterdam to Birmingham with no problems, and i had 17 packs of cards, 7 magic DVDs, 10ft of cotton rope, 8 sponge balls, 3 lots of IT, 2 very large books, 13 shot glasses, 4 lighters, and a partridge in a pear tree! After all, it was christmas time!

As for flash paper though, is it really worth the risk? Even if they dont catch you there is a risk that it could light in your bag and start a fire on the plane while its pressurized. I think you might be better off getting all your flammable items in your own country.

I also work alongside airport security. I fix/service x ray machines. The ones for the hold luggage and also in the passenger search area.

I have seen a guy get pulled up for having a rifle and ammo, but the only reason he got pulled up was because he had some of the ammo in his hand luggage. He was fine with the gun because it was in the hold and he had the correct paperwork for it.

Most of the times you are likely to get your bag opened in the search area, (where you put your hand luggage through an x ray machine) is when you have sharp objects in your bag, or when there is something really dense in your bag, (ie thick magnets, or lumps of lead). Being hand searched on your body will be because you set the archway off with something you have on you, (ie thick belt buckle etc.). Be safe and put it all in the x ray tray.

As for flash paper, leave it out, it's a pyro as mentioned earlier.

Andy

P.S sorry to bang on about all that.