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Do they have any problems with it? I'm going to be bringing a ton of models in my carry on and want to make sure I don't run into any problems.

The last time I flew with models it was fine and I know several people flying across country for cons with models in their carry ons. Although I will say be very careful because when they scan and check your bag models may get damaged.
Also remember to pack them well because of turbulance while in flight!
Good luck in your travels!

Plastics are no problem whatsoever.

Metal models may be inspected, as they show up on the x-ray. But they'll just check them out, look a little puzzled, and pass you through.

I brought my models to indonesia and they were fine, even though the paints raised a few concerns at the airport.

Cool. Thanks so much for the responses!

Hrm... been through airport security and port authority!

Took my Battlefoam Malifaux case filled to the brim with metal models as most airlines allow you to take a backpack and a carry on (I did both). I was a little worried since I wasn't sure what might happen. I put it on the conveyor belt and I went through the backscatter machine, and watched as my bag was just about to come out of the x-ray, the guy saw lots of metal, pulled it back in, looked at it again, and sent it back through, his supervisor asked him to pull it back and took a look again. The port authority asked me, "Is that some Harry Potter stuff?" Granted a Harry Potter film hadn't been out in like 2 years when this happened...

Edit: As for paints, I checked them in my normal luggage just to avoid any issues.

You'll get some weird looks, but you're not bringing anything illegal onto the plane no matter what airport security might say.

Flown to GenCon twice with minis.

First time I used my Battlefoam Heavy Gear Bag as a carry-on. No issues, the smaller bags fit great in carry-on.

This year I was able to trim down to a Battlefoam PACK Mini that I could toss in my carry-on laptop bag. Again, no problems. I think I put them in my checked luggage for the way home.

Make sure that it's available and easy to search if security feels the need, and definitely follow all rules on paints and such.

If in doubt, plan ahead and ship stuff home at the end.

I would only carry on, and then only use a bag that fits under the seat, not in an overhead. I don't trust models to TSA.

You can ship a bag of models for less than the cost to check a bag, and the package will be handeled better and will not be opened in transit.

If you plan on using an overhead, be careful, because your bag might very well get gate checked, then you are in the same boat.

If you don't mind a bit of potential harm and don't mind the chance of losing the odd model, TSA is fine, but I would expect losses and damage and be pleasantly surprised if there wasn't any. Shipping models, I expect them to arrive in perfect condition, and am upset when they don't. Plus, you have plenty of room for restitution with UPS or FedEx.

i travel with the Sabol Army Transport...
it just fits in the overhead...
i've never had a problem, and i travel a lot...

every once in a while i have to open it at the security gate, but they just have me lift a tray or two, and that's it...

cheers
jah

I'll be traveling with two sabol bags this weekend to Nova. One for under the seat and one for the overhead. Found out they fit under the seat just fine the last time I flew (colorado that time). Never had an issue but they have been inspected from time to time.

Heres a link to a short blog post I did a while back for people going to Adepticon- most of the weather advice isn't going to apply but the other travel tips should be useful for getting your minis through the airports and to the game tables

http://mistressofminis.blogspot.com/2013/04/moms-virtual-care-package-for-her-weird.html

Brought some nids on plane, in my backpack, wrapped in bubbles.

The metal/pointy parts made the security dubious (lictors/zoanthropes...), but once I opened the box and explained them that they are minis for a game, all was OK.

Just in case, my advice would be to have the corresponding codex with you, which could prove that they are mass manufactured minis for a game.

Did it once, won't do it again unless I can take them in my own plane. Security was no problem, but hauling a large carryon bag around the airport really sucks (and don't even think about checking it). If you're going to take an army make sure it's a case you're able to comfortably walk a mile or two with, and travel with someone who can watch your bags while you get food and stuff.

 Peregrine wrote:
Did it once, won't do it again unless I can take them in my own plane. Security was no problem, but hauling a large carryon bag around the airport really sucks (and don't even think about checking it). If you're going to take an army make sure it's a case you're able to comfortably walk a mile or two with, and travel with someone who can watch your bags while you get food and stuff.

Yup, agree here. I've had some horrid experiences of air travel with models. I frequently take a trip to Dubai to go to the club once in a while, as I don't get any games here. It's only 45 minutes, but god it's bad! I carried it all around in my North Face backpack (which is very sturdy). Fly Dubai, however, love to chuck stuff around as you go through all the baggage checks. Then when I put it on the luggage racks on the flight, some came and threw his heavy "hand luggage" on top of it (I swear it was just another suitcase!). After that I found all the tail wings on my Dakkajet had come off, despite me wrapping it in 2 layers of bubble wrap. This didn't help when I didn't want to put it back in my backpack and ended up lugging it around downtown at 8 in the evening, lol.

Normal luggage will just depend on who you fly with. I did this the first time with Fly Dubai, and found a lot of severed Guardsman in my case later . Generally it's the safer option, but frankly you need an air grade black box to keep your models in if you want to keep them 100% safe.

Some companies (Ryan Air in the EU and Muse on Minis had some horror stories about a US company I can't remember the name of) can be very anal about their carryon size restrictions. But I have flown to England, Poland, Denmark, Thailand and the US with my standard WM/H Battlefoam bag and never had any problems. Once they wanted to put it up by the crew compartment but they were very friendly about it and understood that the models were fragile.

I've traveled several times with my IG Army in my Battlefoam 720 case. Though it won't fit in most overhead bins I usually gate check it without problem. Out of six flights with my army I have only had one item broken. It was a simple repair. I would not recommend checking your bag at the counter though. By gate checking you can ensure you stuff will sit on top of most of the other luggage. I have never had a problem getting through security. Hope this helps!

I know KR Multicase's backpack was made with the overhead compartment in mind. It's a pretty common thing. I just wouldn't leave any in checked luggage, since that stuff gets tossed around like crazy.

I packed my minis in my luggage ONCE. Never did that again.
On the way back, I carried them on the plane, didn't have any problems.

Just traveled from Europe back to Canada with tons of metal miniatures in my carry on. I had them in bubble bags and foam for easy access. Security at Heathrow airport gave me weird looks and i had to unpack a few in Vancouver for a customs officer, took probably 5 minutes and i was good to go again.

 jah-joshua wrote:
i travel with the Sabol Army Transport...
it just fits in the overhead...
i've never had a problem, and i travel a lot...

every once in a while i have to open it at the security gate, but they just have me lift a tray or two, and that's it...

cheers
jah

Yup Ive used the Sabol and attended most of the major tournaments in Canada with the pewter hive tyrant (blades for heads) and never had a single problem, always go carry on.

I think you definitely need something like a Battle Foam case to transport it. I don't have one, perhaps that is my problem here .

also, word of advice? don't carry your tape measure in hand luggage. It is generally considered a sharp object. I learnt this the hard way when my Munitorum Tape Measure was removed from my hand luggage and examined. I swear they must have thought I was some evil nutter when they looked at it

This whole year I have been flying with and using Sabol Army Transports.

They fit in the over head with no problems and I have not had a single issue with any one of my figures.

The battalion and division bags hold a ton of figs.

http://www.saboldesigns.net/home.html

I had a box of about 60~ models (some metal) and all the lady behind the counter did was call someone over and make a "dah fuh?" face

Carried my eldar through domestic carry-on a couple of times.

Most of the infantry was metal, and even the tanks had metal bits on them.
Two guys studying the screen.
Only question I got asked was "What's in the case?"

My reply? "Toy soldiers. I can open it if you want."

They looked at the screen again and one of them said "looks like eldar. My kid plays with them. Go on through."

This was 3 days before a national tournament - so I added "You'll probably be seeing a few more go through in the next few days."


On the way back, at the airport there, similar situation.
This time the security guy's response was:
"Been to Cancon, huh?"

Protip*: Pay extra for early boarding if you can. This gets you on first, which means that the overhead bins aren't full already, and you won't have to gate check your miniatures. Not all airlines offer this, and it's often an "at check-in" or "at the gate" upgrade, but I've seen it be as cheap as $10. Worth it. Plus, last week I was bumped to first class because I did this.

If you do have to check any baggage, try to get a direct flight. This reduces the chances that the airline will lose your bag. I did end up having to check 1000 points of mostly-painted Blood Angels two years ago, and they came through fine (bubble-wrapped in cardboard boxes, surrounded by clothing in suitcase with one hard side). Paints went fine too.

I have flown with Sabol and BattleFoam to Chicago from Tampa twice, no problems. I did see WaaaghGonads get his case searched at security because it was a bunch of metal pikes; security wasn't overly happy about that, and neither was WaaaghGonads.

*I travel professionally. Well, I travel for my job. They don't pay me JUST to travel; I have to do actual work once I reach my destination.