A client at work has an amazingly expensive ($100k+) 19th century silver tea set that he wants to get to San Francisco. He is flying up there, and for obvious reasons doesn’t want to check the set. Can he take a bunch of metal stuff as carry on? I’ve poked around TSA’s website a little and couldn’t find anything helpful (though I did learn that if you have multiple metal piercings in your private places, you might want to remove them before trying to clear security) and I don’t have 37 minutes free to sit on hold with them.
If they are in an un-sealed container (so they can be searched), not weapons or tools, and have no liquid or gels, there shouldn’t be a problem. If the tea set includes knifes (even butter knifes), or other knife-like items (cake server), those items can’t be carried on board. If part of the set can’t be taken on board, he can either ship it separately, or abandon his travel plans.
The other option is hiring a private charter. Few, if any, restrictions on those.
AFAIK there is no restriction on metal objects per se in carryon luggage. Obviously, if there are any knives involved that would be a no-no, and it would have to meet the size requirements for a carryon bag.
I suggest calling the airline as well as TSA. They may have suggestions on how best to transport the set, and that might include not shipping via air.
Have you considered a bonded ground courier?
Excellent replies so far, all I can add is don’t forget size is an issue. Airlines have regulations about how large an item can be carried on. Enforcement is spotty, but I have seen oversized items get sent to the cargo hold at the door to the plane.
For what it’s worth, I carried on an 8" omelette pan and a cast iron grinder (still in box, unassembled) onto a plane at Logan (Boston) about two years ago. Both fit into my properly-sized carry-on bag. I confused the hell out of the TSA agent but she conferred with her supervisor and was assured I was unlikely to be able to hijack anything with either of these items.
If they **really ** just have to fly, a private charter may be best - they’ll be immune to carry-on restrictions and limitations, and they won’t have to worry about the set being slammed around by the baggage handlers if TSA says “You’re not bringing that thing on the plane.” Only problem is price. San Diego to San Francisco is in the area of $9,000 to $20,000 for a private charter.
There might be “air taxi” type services that fall between charters and regular flights that carry perhaps a dozen passengers that would have service almost unhindered by TSA and carry-on limits, but for prices closer to regular airlines.
Another possibility is to purchase the adjacent seat and have the set travel that way. This will need coordination with the airline - they might be confused at the gate when passenger T. Set hasn’t checked in.
For reference, carry-on bags need to be no bigger than around 7x14x21 inches to fit under a seat. The exact size will vary, depending on the particular aircraft.
FedEx will only allow a declared value of up to $50,000 per item on their regular services, and even for that, you need to apply for the coverage. If they can split the set into $50,000 chunks (I realize that’s not truly possible, and that the set would be diminished in value out of proportion to the value of any one part.) the insurance would be $150 per box, or $450 if the $100,000+ set is put into three boxes.
FedEx also offers “Custom Critical” service where you essentially charter their truck door to door. It’s loaded onto the truck or van at Point A, and they drive straight to Point B - no other pickups or deliveries and no bouncing around at a hub. This might be the most viable option, short of the client just getting into the car and driving it up.