Hi Frank, if you really want to personally take the dewar with you, here are my 2 cts (it is from a few years back, we send the dewars now by fedex):
Just tossing the dewar on the check-in belt is not a good idea. It is a roulette with ever increasing odds that the dewar will not enter the plane and only after a lot of negotiations and some luck will arrive with the next flight (it happened to me). Since you are a single person and the airport security/airlines are big bureaucratic entities, you have no choice but to use bureaucracy as well to get through. Here is the SOP my colleagues had put in place and which works: 1) call airport security a few days ahead explaining what you want to do. If you found the right person, send him a fax/email, preferably as officially-looking as possible (minimum letterhead of your institution) that you will bring a cryogenic case, which is non-toxic, non-flammable no bio-hazard etc. and not dangerous, not restricted, as per IATA special provision A152. Ask them to confirm your fax/email in writing. 2) put copies of your letter (on institution letterhead), of the response of the airport security, a copy of the IATA special provision A152 and some instructions that although the dewar is not dangerous, one should not touch the inside for risk of cold burns, inside the dewar so they find it when they decide to open it. 3) take the same copies with you and go well-ahead in time to the airport, so you have at least one hour to get the dewar through. Here Murphies law applies: if you have enough time, everything goes quickly and you have to hang around, if you have little time, you will not get through in time. Show all your documents to the security officer, take his or hers concerns very seriously, welcome it if the person decides to call a supervisor and explain that the very important experiments inside the dewar will lead to a huge benefit to makind. 4) For the US, you probable need some more official documents stating that there are no agricultural products etc. inside the dewar. Here I would contact the US customs or consult some websites. Good luck! Herman PS: in your case, I would consider sending them by fedex -----Original Message----- From: CCP4 bulletin board [mailto:CCP4BB@JISCMAIL.AC.UK] On Behalf Of Frank von Delft Sent: Tuesday, April 17, 2012 9:04 PM To: CCP4BB@JISCMAIL.AC.UK Subject: Re: [ccp4bb] Checking in dry shippers? Hi, thanks for all responses. Most people suggested avoiding the scenario altogether, which was cute but not the question. Answers below the original question: On 17/04/2012 15:59, Frank von Delft wrote: > Hi, what's the latest on flying with dry shippers? > > Until about 2009, I used to fly with dry shippers all the time: I > just tossed them (dry!) on the check-in belt, and the airlines didn't > mind. But that was only London-Zurich, using BA or SwissAir. > > Anybody know if this still works, especially flying to the US? Or > have the securocrats now secured total victory? Any airlines / > airports to avoid? > > phx. Harry: for a trouble free journey with your dry shipper, I'd say avoid any airlines that are flying to the States, and avoid any airports in the States.... Herb: We ship by FedEx ahead of time rather than try to bring on commercial passenger flight. It may be possible to do so but it's just not worth the hassle of running into an unexpected problem. Liz: For what its worth I always use a courier because i didnt think you could fly with them as luggage. THats between here and Berlin. Marko: no idea about flying to US, but Easyjet has been ok still to Lyon etc. We have designated contact at the airline, she approves the dewar, although the final decision is with guy in the uniform (pilot). Stanstead is ok as well, we simply call the security at airport, they as for a form by fax and ask to speak to supervisor when going through security. Doubt they let the dewar inside though, and hence the latter deal with airport security - I carry the dewar to the plane myself, so it is upright at least until it leaves the plane at the other end. Kris: If you are returning and the dewar has no samples, it is just a box. It will get X-rayed and forwarded to the cargo area. I generally keep it closed with zip ties so that no one can place anything in it without my permission. Also, remove all hazardous, flamable, or cryogenic stickers.
