The Phil-list Mar_2008: [philmont] One if by Air .... or maybe y

From: Jim Moss <bsa.rec.law@gmail.com>
Date: Sun Mar 02 2008 - 19:48:54 CST

I do 40000 miles a year for the past 30 years and have never lost anything. Twice the luggage was delayed and both times I failed to follow my own advice (#2). Some hints.

1. Packs must be in a tough duffel bag, not plastic. As more and more airports use conveyor systems more and more packs are arriving with no straps and buckles. The conveyor systems just strip them off.

2. Always know the 3 letter identifier code for the airport you are flying to and all stops along the way. When your bags are checked, make sure the bag identifier on the tag attached by the customer service rep matches those codes and there are no others identifiers on that tag. There are several websites you can use to find them; usually your itinerary will have them also. (http://www.airnav.com/airports/) (Never make a customer service rep mad, they have two immediate ways to get back. You bags go to Bangkok and you get SSSS on your boarding pass. It doesn't mean you are super super super special. It means you are going through the advance security check point and are going to be patted down.)

Codes for flights arriving near Philmont are: Denver: DEN, Colorado Springs, COS, Albuquerque, ABQ (And those are from memory). I would have one person in charge of checking every bag if you are checking in as a large group as well as every person checking their own bags.

3. Never carry anything of value in your checked bag. Put valuable stuff in your carry on. If it won't fit or you are worried get a TSA approved lock. Eagle Creek is probably known the most (http://www.eaglecreek.com/accessories/security_id/). I also put a big sticker on my bags next to TSA lock that just says TSA lock. That way they don't start with a pair of pliers.

If you can't lock your bag pack right. Thieves don't have a lot of time. They grab what is on top or next to the zipper.
        A. pack valuables on the very inside and bottom as far from the zipper as possible.
        B. Put clothes next to the zipper. Preferably dirty.
        C. Never put your toilet kit where it can be grabbed. People keep valuables in their toilet kits and thieves grab them all the time.
        D. when you close the bag up put the zippers some place they are going to be hard to find. My zippers all end up under the strap that tightens the bags up. That way to unzip they have a.) find the zippers, b) loosen the strap & c) unzip the bag.

All of this is moot if TSA gets in the bag, but that is actually pretty rare. I've had TSA searches of 3 bags out of 45 opportunities the last 6 months. 2 of the 3 to look in m bicycle case.

4. Always put two id tags on each bag. I put three on and always carry spares with me. I use laminated business cards. Find someone who does trade shows they can do them for you.

5. I print out extra copies of my itinerary. Enough for one for each bag out and back. In a pocket that is on top or the first one someone would open I fold and put in an itinerary of my flights. On boxes I grab FedEx plastic sticky label holders and put one on the box and put my itinerary in so it can be read.

6. Never borrow a pack from a ski patroller.

Jim
Recreation.Law@gmail.com

James H. Moss, Attorney specializing in Recreation Law

Recreation Law Blog: http://rec-law.blogspot.com/

Editor, Outdoor Recreation & Fitness Law Review:
The Outdoor Recreation & Fitness Law Reviews are publications for members of the Outdoor Recreation, Adventure Travel, Hospitality and Fitness Industry
lawreview@snewsnet.com http://www.snewsnet.com/cgi-bin/snews/law_review/index.html

Instructor: Ski Area Operations, Risk Management Course Colorado Mountain College
jmoss@coloradomtn.edu http://www.coloradomtn.edu/programs/sao/home.html

PO Box 16743
Golden, CO 80402
303-807-2275
Personal Email: jhmoss@gmail.com
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-----Original Message-----
From: philmont@troop47.com [mailto:philmont@troop47.com] On Behalf Of Mark Liechty
Sent: Sunday, March 02, 2008 6:10 PM
To: philmont List Member
Subject: [philmont] One if by Air .... or maybe your stuff you'll never see

Reminder to make sure your packs are inside of ugly duffel bags. If it
looks good it may not be meeting you at Philmont. Sad thing is that the
real number has to be more than the 31MM reported. I have had stuff
stolen at least three times in the past 4 years but the paperwork makes
fining complaints more trouble than it is worth.

http://www.myfoxkc.com/myfox/pages/News/Detail?contentId=5886022&version=3&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=3.2.1

Mark Liechty
ASM Troop 160, MC Pack 160 & 573
Eagle Class 0f 82
Lincoln, CA

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Received on Sun Mar 2 19:52:37 2008

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