Can I carry my heat exchanger through Gatwick security?

whiteoaks7

whiteoaks7

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South Wales, UK
www.seasolutions.co.uk
Getting the Volvo heat exchanger through Preveza as we left was a non-event, the X-ray scanner drew a big flashing red rectangle around it because the scanner couldn't penetrate it so the guard turned away and looked elsewhere until the conveyor carried it off.

Now I can't imagine (I hope) Gatwick security being that disinterested in something they can't see into so: anyone have any experience of this? Any ideas about what I could do to ensure I don't get hassle at the airport?

The original intention was to ship it back to Greece via Vernon K, but we have so little else to carry this year that that option is nonsensical now.

David Berry
 
Security at Gatwick would definately find it and probably wouldn't let it through. (how big is it??)
My suggestion would be to put it your hold baggage - it will cost you 15 mins waiting for your bags at the other end but on the plus side of it you wouldn't have to carry it!

Andy (I work at LGW and go through security regularly)
 
duncan99210 said:
Your heat exchanger is not dangerous air cargo - its just an inert bit of metal. The security folks at Gatwick might take it off you if it were in your hand baggage 'cos its a large lump of metal which you could use to ding someone round the head. Put it in your hold luggage and it should not cause any problems.
Click to expand...

+1

They don't like anything heavy which could be used as a weapon.
 
It´s not directly comparable, but a couple of years ago we came through Luton with an exhaust elbow in hand baggage - they wanted to know what it was (they recognised all the filters) but then were quite happy.
 
Had a good barny with security one year, they said I couldn't take an arc welder in hand baggage - must go in the hold sir. Had to call airline rep in the end who confirmed that electronic items should not be in hold baggage therefore OK in hand luggage. Some problems this time at Manchester with an inverter, except supervisor said it was OK after having swabbed for explosives.

I usually carry a pair of pool fins and face mask in the top of a sports bag supposedly containing scuba gear. Sailing gear not recognised as "sports gear" by some airlines.
 
We had to take a VP heat exchanger gatwick- preveza a few years ago. Put it in hold luggage. Got tannoyed, had to go and explain ourselves! They had no idea what it was and even when we explained they were non the wiser! However, they let it fly. That was about 10 years ago.
 
I took a Saniflo macerator out through Bristol airport some years ago in my hold luggage.

Having a coffee in the lounge when the Tannoy asked me to report to security.:o As soon as I explained what it was, they were happy.

Paul
 
I once got stopped with an anode in my hand luggage. My hold bag was over weight otherwise. When accosted by the security wonk I launched into a highly technical monologue about marine electrolosis till his eyes glazed over and he waved me through...
 
....security..

Tried to get an alternator,solenoid switch and cav regulator through Gatwick in my hand baggage a year ago...going to Gibraltar...they made me put the alternator in the hold!
 
We brought a starter motor through Heathrow a couple of weeks ago, in hand luggage but left it in the carry-on bag, which was then emptied, swabbed etc. The security person said we should have treated it like a laptop and just taken it out and put it on a tray so they could see what it was.
 
I took a stainless steel passerelle extension pin through lgw as hand baggage a few weeks ago - got profiled but they let it through. Coming back from nce though it got confiscated. Had to go back down a couple of weeks later and bring it back as hold baggage. They didn't like it because it was heavy and could be used as a weapon (weighs a couple of kg and is about 250mm high I guess). I'd check it in, I think you'd be very 50/50 with the lgw security folks.

Cheers
Jimmy
 
PhilipH said:
We brought a starter motor through Heathrow a couple of weeks ago, in hand luggage but left it in the carry-on bag, which was then emptied, swabbed etc. The security person said we should have treated it like a laptop and just taken it out and put it on a tray so they could see what it was.
Click to expand...

I took a dyson city vaccuum cleaner though lgw in a wheely bag a while ago - I thought it was bound to raise eyebrows given the motor, tube, cable etc - but not a thing, a complete non-problem.

Cheers
Jimmy
 
Used to carry diving kit a fair bit. Obviously not main cylinders, but the small half-litre backup cylinders on three Buddy jackets went with us. Usually no bother as hold luggage, one airport (I think in Turkey) wanted us to open the valves to show they were empty, which they were.

Pete
 
It's all random. They would not let throught a tiny pink water pistol from the pound shop but have been fine with anodes , filters, auto helm and no end of other heavy stuff. Once has a scre driver. That however is a no no.

It makes no real sence as a d6 oil filter would give you a head ache, but so I suppose would a bottle of gin
 
Blimey! I couldn't get a bloody jar of Branston pickle through security in my hand luggage at Gatwick. They took it off me because there was too much liquid in it. I pointed out it wasn't liquid it was lumpy, but they still took if off me.
 
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