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Air line X-Rays(was: taking fish as airline baggage)
I can now tell you definitively, that the X-Rays used at Stansted airport (UK) haven't effected the viability of any fish brought through. All the fish that recently spawned (see my most recent posting (Spawning) came over at the same time in the New Year.
I can't say how this relates to other X-Ray machines. If anybody is interested maybe they could get in touch with Stansted and find out the model of machine used there.
F.Y.I. For those travelling to/from the UK, Ryanair don't care whether you take fish on board, either as hand luggage or in the hold (if the latter, I'd use WELL insulated boxes and seal them) whereas Easyjet have a strict "No Fish" policy (Which just means that I don't tell them :-)). For this reason I always try to fly Ryanair 'cos I don't know what I'd do if I was told "You can't take them!"
C:-)lin
----- Original Message -----
From: Randy Carey <carey@spacestar.net>
Date: Wed, 21 May 2003 10:27:42 -0500
To: apisto@v2.listbox.com
Subject: Re: taking fish as airline baggage
> Sorry about the lateness of this response, but I don't check my list mail
> as often anymore.
>
> I would like to share my recent experience....
>
> Last month I took a two-leg flight for a speaking engagement. I was
> transporting fish packed in my check-in. They were in a fish box and the
> individual bags were contained by one large shipping bag -- to contain
> possible leaks.
>
> I left Minneapolis airport with the bag going through an inspection. My
> luggage had been opened and a note said that it was thoroughly
> inspected. No problem.
>
> When I left JFK, I dropped off this luggage for the "checked bags"
> inspection. About 10 minutes later I was paged to return to the inspection
> site. I gathered my resolve and reported there. The inspector was
> concerned for my fish. He didn't think they would survive the flight. He
> had asked the airline (American) about the fish's safety, and they had no
> advice. I told him that I had done it several times before and that a
> friend of mine made an even longer flight the day before from Logan and all
> of his fish survived. He didn't seem completely satisfied, but he accepted
> my acceptance of all responsibility.
>
> So in this case, I received no grief, just concern from the inspector. And
> the airlines were informed and gave no objections. I believe that the
> response by the airline depends both on the particular airline and by the
> particular person being asked. I've heard so many different stories so
> that I am convinced airline personnel just give whatever response he/she
> thinks is reasonable as he/she does not really knowing any firm policy.
>
> Furthermore, my wife has a friend who works as an inspector. He reported
> that they found a whole suitcase full of illegal drugs, but they are not
> authorized to report this (it doesn't threaten homeland security). All
> they could do was put the typical notice in the luggage that it had been
> thoroughly inspected. So I am compelled to believe that as long as the
> fish are packed so as the bags won't leak water, then the checked baggage
> inspectors have no interest nor authority to notify the airlines or hold
> the luggage.
>
> One more point about check-ins.... I brought this point up a few months
> ago on this list, but no one really responded to the issue. I have heard
> that the checked baggage x-rays are more harsh than the carry-on
> x-rays. I've been told that a really harsh x-ray can sterilize. Some
> aquarist needs to send fish through this system and then see if the fish
> still produce viable eggs/sperm. Then the aquarist should report this. I
> assume the fish are not sterilized, but one friend of mine is skeptical and
> suspects that they will be. Until one or more aquarists try this out and
> report the findings, we are just assuming.
>
> --Randy
>
>
>
> At 12:06 PM 5/7/2003, Mike wrote:
> >Unfortunately I won't be able to bring anything this
> >time. Ever since last December, when airlines started X-raying or visually
> >inspecting every piece of baggage, I have found it impossible to take fish
> >on aircraft as baggage - carry on or checked in. Before December I could get
> >them on mixed in my luggage, but not now that everything going on the plain
> >is checked out. Some airlines will take them as air freight at a high cost,
> >but that is all. Have others found this to be true? Does anyone know of any
> >domestic US airlines that permits taking fish as baggage?
> >
> >Mike Wise
>
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C:-)lin
They said "Smile, things could be worse." So I smiled, and sure enough...
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