TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums British Virgin Islands Inflatable life vest question

What difficulties should I anticipate when traveling with Inflatable life vests that use replaceable CO2 cylinders? I'm asking here first because some of you might have already done this. Will the airlines or TSA be a problem. Thanks in advance for any information you can provide.

Once heading to the Bahamas, I put my PFD with (2) canisters "not installed" in my carry on. I saw the Dulles International TSA screener pause looking at my bag. He called another officer over and they both told me my canisters would not be permitted. I had fortunately printed out TSA's published policy regarding these and asked that they show their supervisor for clarification. I was allowed to proceed on the flight with my canisters.

That was a few years ago, google their current policy to see if things have changed, if still permitted take it with you.

Here you go. Print it out and take it with you as TSA training is very inconsistent. I know an airline pilot who was denied entry for to much metal in his body. The TSA agent actually told him he would need some removed to enter an airport.

https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/whatcanibring/items/life-vest

We did what BEERMAN and GeorgeC1 said. We were challenged. We had the TSA policy printout. Then we had to deal with getting the duty exception in Grenada, but the PFDs were clearly not new.

Cheers, RickG

I had no problem at all this past February, flying from Newark to St. Thomas. I brought one life belt. I unscrewed the cartridge and left it inside.

I've done this on previous trips. I vaguely remember someone at some time in the past raising a question, but I never actually had anything confiscated.

Dan