Jamie Biesiada
Whether it's for medical purposes or an activity like camping, there are a number of reasons travelers may want to bring hazardous materials with them on a trip. But if that trip involves flying, they are beholden to federal regulations dictating what they can and cannot fly with, something agents can assist their clients in determining.
That was the topic of a recent ASTA webinar, "What to Pack and What to Leave," with FAA special agent Lois Umland-Messer. It was the Society's first webinar with the FAA addressing the topic of
hazardous materials.
"What you can and can't bring on a plane is really a critical consideration for your clients and can make the difference between a smooth trip and a disrupted trip, so this is a very important issue," said Eben Peck, ASTA's senior vice
president of government affairs and communications.
Umland-Messer said hazardous materials are governed by Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), which lists the specific types of materials considered hazardous, as well as whether or not they are allowed in carry-on or checked baggage.
"We do not expect passengers to be familiar with all of [Title 49]," she said. "We just expect them to become familiar with the rules, which can be found in easy-to-understand terms on our website."
She encouraged agents to visit the website and to share it with their clients. She also warned that the website is not a substitute for TSA guidelines or international regulations, which could take precedence with some materials.
"As a travel agent, your customer may provide keywords that might trigger you to ask or think of some additional questions, and if so you may refer a customer to the FAA Pack Safe website to help them answer questions," she said.
For example, an agent might receive a request from a client who says he and his friends want to go pheasant or deer hunting.
"You might think, 'OK, but what are you packing?'" Umland-Messer said. "They might be wanting to pack a camp stove, propane fuel, matches, lighters, ammunition, a cooler and a sleeping bag. Is it allowed in checked or carry-on bags?"
Similar questions could crop up with students going to sporting events, missionary groups traveling to assist another country with humanitarian needs, or any number of other situations, she said.
While Umland-Messer said agents are not beholden to ask specific questions about what their clients are packing, she did encourage them to review the information on the FAA's Pack Safe website so they are familiar with it, as well as refer clients to the site when questions arise.
According to the website, here are the rules about each potentially hazardous item Umland-Messer named in her hunting trip example:
-Camp stove: Permitted in checked or carry-on bags, so long as it has no residual fuel or vapor. However, the FAA notes some airlines may not accept used camping equipment regardless of how well-purged of fuel it is.
-Propane fuel: No amount of flammable fuel is permitted in carry-on or checked bags.
-Matches: One book or packet of safety matches per person (not strike-anywhere matches, which are prohibited) are permitted in a carry-on bag.
-Lighters: One lighter per person in a carry-on bag is permitted, but only if it is a butane or absorbed liquid lighter, like disposable Bic lighters or Zippo lighters (lighters with unabsorbed liquid are not permitted).
-Ammunition: Ammunition and other weapons fall under the jurisdiction of the TSA, which permits securely-packed ammunition in checked bags (though carriers may have their own regulations governing ammunition).
-Cooler: Dry ice of 5.5 pounds or less is permitted in both carry-on and checked bags when used to package perishables.
Umland-Messner offered a simple rule to follow: "If in doubt, please leave it out so everyone can get to their final destination in a safe and timely manner."
She encouraged agents to link to the FAA's Pack Safe website via their own websites. She also said they can provide their clients the following phone number, 1-800-467-4922, to call with questions about hazardous materials (the line is open Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time, and closed on weekends and holidays). The TSA also maintains a website listing prohibited items.