Safe to fly with corals?

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pikachoi

New member
Hi everyone,
I was wondering if it's safe to fly with corals in my carry-on luggage. They'll probably have to go through the x-ray machine. I don't know if that will harm them or not. Has anyone had any experience with this?
Thanks,
Pikachoi
 
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With the new rules in place after what happened in London today, it sounds very doubtful that security would even allow a bag of corals.
 
Well i'm not flying for another week and a half.... i'm hoping they'll lift the ban by then, hehehe....
I also don't wanna check it in, cuz i heard it can get pretty cold in the cargo hold
 
Maybe I can help you. I work on planes everday and know how the systems work for various models of aircrafts. Average cargo hold is 20 degrees C. Without temperature adjustment. If it is regulated due to perishable cargo and live animals like dogs then they can regulate to the same temperature of theupper cabin. Many airlines dont heat the bulk area because it requires extra fuel. And that cost is added to cost of shipping special freight.It also depends on the type of aircraft and its method of temperature control. And I doubt the ban will be lifted for a while. Security at the airport is terrible I could not even bring my coffee in. I had to throw it out and buy one after security. Just pack it in a box and you should be fine. I used to work on cargo planes and they never regulated the temperature for regular freight and it was cold on the main deck of a Jumbo. And I have seen shipments of fish come in on the pallets from asia on these planes. Hoep I can be a help
 
Thanks mbunaman, I'll have to pack it safely away then in my luggage. I hope i have enound room left with all the shopping i've done.... hehehe....
 
Domesticly, I've carried coral as well as fish in the cabin. Of course that was before these new restrictions.

I've packed it in my carry on and carried it seperatly in it's own box. I never had a problem either way. X-ray wasn't a problem and asking TSA to visually inspect it was ok too.

Evey store I've bought from had no problem packing in a small box for travel. You want to make sure it's well bagged so it doesn't start leaking in the overhead. I would definitly recommend the cabin where you can keep an eye on it.

Where are the corals coming from?
 
I'm currently in Toronto, Canada. I never really thought about the custom's issue...... Has anyone ever tried bring stuff from outside of the US?
 
Errr...newsflash.

Unless you're flying Lloyd Airlines or another similarly equipped air transport, the chances of you being able to carry on your favorite Thermos / Gatorade bottle or any other liquid on board anytime soon is very, very slim.

http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/08/10/us.security/index.html
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14282396/

"U.S. authorities banned the carrying of liquids onto flights after the arrest of 24 people in an alleged plot to blow up U.S.-bound planes using explosives disguised as drinks and other common products.

Chicago aviation commissioner Nuria Fernandez said the tighter restriction will remain in place for at least 12 to 72 hours and possibly longer."
 
I was talking to my buddies who work at British Airways they said in London they made mothers feed the bottle of milk to the infant in front of a security officer to verify its milk. The airport security lines today are the longest I haver ever seen. Only medication and infant milk is allowed on board for liquids.
 
I asked this question at Southwest Airlines before and they told me corals were not allowed as a carry on.
 
I honestly belive that in times like this, everyone should spend the extra money to ship their corals/fish overnight.

I would hate to hear about people showing up at the airport thinking they are going to take their livestock home, to find out they won't let you. So what happens then to your livestock when you have to catch a flight.

Our airports are busy enough trying to keep our country safe, lets not add any more stress or delays. Is it really worth it?
 
I travel to canada a lot for work and the only thing that I was able to bring back was fish. I had to throw the coral out (after much arguing with Customs). I even called airport security before i bought the piece and was told everything should be ok. If you were traveling within the US you wouldnt have a problem. but as soon as you cross the border is when you run into trouble. Let us know how you make out. Hopefully we wont see you on the news. Crazy person trys to bring Sea Creature on plane. Good luck
 
Before this week I've packed up corals in a cooler for numerous customers who just opened the cooler and let security check out the contents. Never a problem. Not sure that can happen now though in light of what happened this week. The airlines have usually said that it's security that might have a problem with it...not them.
 
Perhaps a soft sided cooler...like for 6 packs, can be packed using a cooling gel pack and placed in the bottom of your luggage instead of carry on. I'd make sure that there was adequet cooling though as luggage often sits on a hot tarmac for quiet some time before being loaded. Even that might rise eyebrows when scanned. You can ship even sps with little or no water. Borneman wrote a good article about that sometime around December, I think in Reefkeeper Magazine.
 
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