# Who amongst you have actually taken a snake on a plane? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 18, 2006, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-amongst-you-have-actually-taken-a-snake-on-a-plane/369158 "2006-08-18T00:00:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2006, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-amongst-you-have-actually-taken-a-snake-on-a-plane/369158/1 "2006-08-18T00:00:40Z")
I have. I was coming home for the summer after my freshman year in college. I had bought a pet garter snake, Boots, and had to get him home. So I packed him in a cloth camera case, sans camera, and slung the case over my shoulder like it was, you know, a camera. This was years ago and I don’t remember if Boots got sent through an x-ray machine or if I walked through the metal detector holding the case or what. However it worked out, I made it safely aboard as did Boots. During the flight I opened the case every few minutes to allow for fresh air inside. We arrived safely and deplaned without incident. Unfortunately and unbeknownst to me, Boots was very ill with pneumonia and, sadly, he died the next day. ---
**Author:** ![Llama\_Llogophile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@Llama\_Llogophile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Llama_Llogophile)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2006, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-amongst-you-have-actually-taken-a-snake-on-a-plane/369158/2 "2006-08-18T00:14:36Z")
Well I’ve had a few flight students who were kind of skeevy, but no ACTUAL snakes yet… However, [this guy…](http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/14733625.htm) ---
**Author:** ![fisha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@fisha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fisha)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2006, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-amongst-you-have-actually-taken-a-snake-on-a-plane/369158/3 "2006-08-18T00:36:17Z")
Once, in Reno. ---
**Author:** ![zoogirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b9bd4f/32.png) [@zoogirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoogirl)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2006, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-amongst-you-have-actually-taken-a-snake-on-a-plane/369158/4 "2006-08-18T00:40:01Z")
Busses, ferries and the Skytrain. That count?! ---
**Author:** ![CynicalGabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@CynicalGabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CynicalGabe)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2006, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-amongst-you-have-actually-taken-a-snake-on-a-plane/369158/5 "2006-08-18T00:41:22Z")
[QUOTE=dahfisheroo] Once, in Reno. [/QUOTE] Just to watch it fly? ---
**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2006, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-amongst-you-have-actually-taken-a-snake-on-a-plane/369158/6 "2006-08-18T02:49:47Z")
I took a snake into a Denny’s once. Not really the same thing, I suppose. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2006, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-amongst-you-have-actually-taken-a-snake-on-a-plane/369158/7 "2006-08-18T03:05:44Z")
We took our 3 foot iguana, Attila, a on a plane once when we couldn’t find a pet sitter over Christmas. The security people at Logan wanted to check the pet carrier bag even though I didn’t mention what was in it and, when I opened it, he leapt out onto one of the screeners and started running down the terminal. I had to skip security and run and catch him because no one else was going to. That was in 1999. I don’t think that would go over as well now. Everyone there had a big laugh at the time although I thought one heavy lady was going to have a heart attack on the spot. ---
**Author:** ![Loopydude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e56c9b/32.png) [@Loopydude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loopydude)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2006, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-amongst-you-have-actually-taken-a-snake-on-a-plane/369158/8 "2006-08-18T03:54:40Z")
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**Author:** ![Mirror\_Image\_egamI\_rorriM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e56c9b/32.png) [@Mirror\_Image\_egamI\_rorriM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mirror_Image_egamI_rorriM)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2006, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-amongst-you-have-actually-taken-a-snake-on-a-plane/369158/9 "2006-08-18T04:00:13Z")
A family friend took his five foot long corn snake, Baby, on the plane from Kansas City to Miami. He put Baby in a pillowcase and she went through the x-ray machine, no problem. This was before September 11, of course. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2006, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-amongst-you-have-actually-taken-a-snake-on-a-plane/369158/10 "2006-08-18T05:06:07Z")
I just saw the movie, and if I ever manage to get on a plane again, I think I will take a rubber snake with me on every flight. Far as a real one goes, no, I haven’t owned one yet. ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2006, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-amongst-you-have-actually-taken-a-snake-on-a-plane/369158/11 "2006-08-18T05:08:46Z")
[QUOTE=Hal Briston] I took a snake into a Denny’s once. Not really the same thing, I suppose. [/QUOTE] No, but that would be a beautiful sequel. _Snakes in a Denny’s_ Pretty catchy, huh? ---
**Author:** ![Cardinal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardinal/32/4000_2.png) [@Cardinal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardinal)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2006, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-amongst-you-have-actually-taken-a-snake-on-a-plane/369158/12 "2006-08-18T06:11:08Z")
I took a small snake in a sock that was closed with a rubber band. I put the sock in the inside jacket pocket, and everything was fine. They don’t pat you down, which is what it would have taken. ---
**Author:** ![Long\_Time\_First\_Time](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ad7895/32.png) [@Long\_Time\_First\_Time](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Long_Time_First_Time)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2006, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-amongst-you-have-actually-taken-a-snake-on-a-plane/369158/13 "2006-08-18T12:25:47Z")
[QUOTE=Cardinal] I took a small snake in a sock that was closed with a rubber band. I put the sock in the inside jacket pocket, and everything was fine. They don’t pat you down, which is what it would have taken. [/QUOTE] I did exactly the same thing once. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2006, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-amongst-you-have-actually-taken-a-snake-on-a-plane/369158/14 "2006-08-18T13:09:54Z")
[QUOTE=Loopydude] \ [/QUOTE] Heh heheh. he said ‘insert’ ---
**Author:** ![Crotalus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crotalus/32/41_2.png) [@Crotalus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crotalus)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2006, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-amongst-you-have-actually-taken-a-snake-on-a-plane/369158/15 "2006-08-18T13:16:30Z")
I have transported quite a few snakes, as well as poison dart frogs, in my carry-on luggage on planes. I don’t think I would try it now. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2006, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-amongst-you-have-actually-taken-a-snake-on-a-plane/369158/16 "2006-08-18T16:35:10Z")
> [@Otto](#): > > I have. I was coming home for the summer after my freshman year in college. I had bought a pet garter snake, Boots, and had to get him home. So I packed him in a cloth camera case, sans camera, and slung the case over my shoulder like it was, you know, a camera. This was years ago and I don’t remember if Boots got sent through an x-ray machine or if I walked through the metal detector holding the case or what. However it worked out, I made it safely aboard as did Boots. During the flight I opened the case every few minutes to allow for fresh air inside. We arrived safely and deplaned without incident. > > Unfortunately and unbeknownst to me, Boots was very ill with pneumonia and, sadly, he died the next day. This feels like an amalgamated shuffle of “Ironic”: Mr. Play It Snake was afraid to fly He packed his suitcase and kissed his kids goodbye … He won the lottery and died the next day… [QUOTE=Rigamarole] No, but that would be a beautiful sequel. _Snakes in a Denny’s_ Pretty catchy, huh? [/QUOTE] “Get that motherfuckin’ snake out of my motherfuckin’ Moons Over My Hammy!” ---
**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2006, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-amongst-you-have-actually-taken-a-snake-on-a-plane/369158/17 "2006-08-18T16:43:09Z")
No snakes but I’ve shipped a lot of zebra fish. ---
**Author:** ![Danalan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/76d3ee/32.png) [@Danalan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Danalan)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2006, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-amongst-you-have-actually-taken-a-snake-on-a-plane/369158/18 "2006-08-18T16:47:20Z")
[QUOTE=zoogirl] Busses, ferries and the Skytrain. That count?! [/QUOTE] No. ---
**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2006, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-amongst-you-have-actually-taken-a-snake-on-a-plane/369158/19 "2006-08-18T18:25:46Z")
[QUOTE=Rigamarole] No, but that would be a beautiful sequel. _Snakes in a Denny’s_ Pretty catchy, huh? [/QUOTE] _“Get these motherfuckin’ snakes outta my motherfuckin’ Moons Over My Hammy!”_ Oh, wait…Jules don’t dig on swine…nevermind. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2006, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-amongst-you-have-actually-taken-a-snake-on-a-plane/369158/20 "2006-08-18T18:32:04Z")
Wow, great minds really do think alike. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-amongst-you-have-actually-taken-a-snake-on-a-plane/369158.md?page=2)