Flasks and airport x-rays?

[s1214215]

This may be a silly question, but are flasks affected by airport x-ray machines?

Brett

[lambelkip]

x-rays are about as dangerous to plants as they are to people. you don't want long-term exposure, but a quick run through the machine is unlikely to do any damage.

[s1214215]

Thanks Lambelkip

I would rather avoid it, but will have to see if the departing airport will let them through if I open the box for them.

Brett

[camille1585]

They will not let you through security without running the orchids through the machine. At least, that's the case with Easyjet and Air France. I traveled with my orchids at xmas, and other plants in the past, and it's xrays or nothing.

Anyways, it's a very short exposure so I don't think it harms the plants, unless you plan on traveling with them on a weekly basis. My orchids are doing just fine right now!

Question though: Does the medium count as a liquid? Then you would have the issue of the flask size and amount of medium. Some airlines can be a pita about things like that.

[s1214215]

Hi Camille

I called Thai Airways and as I expected I got a headless chicken on the other end of the phone who had poor product knowledge. She was uncertain if the media was classified as a liquid or solid - nor could she find the information on the Thai database Neither could she count on the X-ray needing to be done or not.

I contacted Tiger Air as I have to go to Singapore with them and want to bring flasks back and they said no problem to bring onboard No idea on the x-ray.

Anyway, I will just go prepared to put them in cargo if I must and x-ray them if I must. Seems that the staff at Thai have no clear idea.

Brett

[camille1585]

LOL. I hate airlines. I bet if you called again you would get different answers!! I was once flying back from the UK with hemerocallis. Since they were in bloom, I kept them with me. I had called the airline ahead of time, they assured me that there was no problem. I get to the airport and at the desk they tell me my plants are fine to go in the plane. Well, at security they threw up a stink because they were in soil,(nearly had to unpot them and wash the roots) and then once in the plane my plants were confiscated during take off and landing as they (and I quote) posed a threat to other passengers!

Oh, and when I flew home for xmas, I brought my mounted orchids with me since they need daily care. Security made me take the hooks off the mounts because they were considered dangerous! (but they didn't notice the bottle of water I forgot to take out of my backpack. Go figure. )

I don't think I would put the flasks in your checked baggage though, unless the seedlings are ready to be deflasked. Seeing how baggage handlers, well, mishandle baggage, you're going to end up with soup in the flask!

[Des]

A headless chicken !!I have always wanted to call these people something , it is so frustrating to deal with them ,headless chickens they will will be in future

[s1214215]

Well if you have seen a chicken after you have chopped its head of, it sums it up. Its alive, runs around and flaps madly for 5 minutes, but no brain. In Australia we like this term for those who have no idea, run about when perplexed and are generally confused most of the time.

Brett

[Des]

When flying with flasks ,I take the plants out of the flask wash off the agar and seal them into Zip-lock plastic bags under sterile conditions, I then label the bags as "sterile do not open".These bags are then placed in a sturdy Tupperware lunch box I have never lost a plant and have had no objections from the airline or the Dept. of Agriculture officials at the airport .
Hope this helps

[s1214215]

Hi Des

I wish I could do that bag method, but Australian customs officials are like the Gestapo.... I a mean, it is correct to protect our biodiversity from disease. I just get annoyed when I get some underling with insuffient knowlege - I could use some rather colourful language here... Importers to Australia can only get certified labs to do the bag method and there are not many in Bangkok.

Brett