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Traveling with pins

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Traveling with pins
I'm attending my very first PTN this Friday. I'm very nervous and don't know what to expect. Any advice for a first timer?

My boyfriend and I will only be carrying one pin bag with us. Although we're trying to stock up before the PTN. I'm sure we'll be a laughing stock because of the puny amount of pins we've got compared to all of you.

That being said, is there an official May PTN thread? I'd like to get numbers to meet up beforehand so I don't feel as uncomfortable. At least Max and I will have some people to hang out with while we're there.
 
Alexa
WhoohOO I will be there too..not bringing a bag though..just meeting a few DPF members and hopefully get our pic taken by my hubby

Judy
 
I always carry on a rolling bag that has most of my pins in it. Be prepared for a longer stop at security. The check might take a little longer. However, more times than not the security people are curious and want to see the pins. I've not met a fellow collector/trader but several have taken their time looking through the pins and clearly enjoying them.
 

I love this!
 
I like to listen to the screener when they go thru the x-ray. It's usually something like, "What the &^^&% is that?!" Then they all gather around the screen and look at the bag of solid metal. They will stare at it for a full minute and then let it go and I'm waiting at then end for, "Who's bag is this?" I give my little finger wave so they can do their swipe with the explosive swab and then the questions start. "You collect these?" "For how long?" "How many do you have?!" "Thousands?!" "How many people will be there?!" Then they scan the bag again and I'm on my way until the next time. Which is why I usually check my pins.
 
katpogo said:
....and your wonderful southern drawl-lol!

Brandy, I vote for both too! The Sept event is gonna be a blast! Someone needs to start a list of who is going to the PTN. It seems like a lot of people are visiting in May.
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Yes! My ACCENT as Juan calls it! Ha! HE has the accent!

Come on down, Brandy! You know you wanna!!!
 
I am actually bringing a pinbag to PTN!!cannot wait!!one week from tomorrowBrandy come on down...us Hoosiers can take over WDW!!
 
I don't carry all of my books, just a small make up sized bag with traders in it....I will always take it out of the carry on and put it in the bin by itself. Surprisingly as long as I remove the pin book (sometimes I will carry my book) or whatever has pins in it, I'm good. Actually the only three times I've ever been hassled was at John Wayn Airport (near Disneyland) and once at Orlando (yes - WDW) .... the worst being at John Wayne (SNA) and the bag was full of pins (pins only) .... when I tried to explain what it was, she said "we will have to just remove the pins and rescan the bag". I told her that when she removed the pins, the bag would be empty except for my wallet and paperbook. She then looked at me like I was lying and started dumping my things out....I asked her nicely to "stop"...explained that these were valuable items and immediately asked for a supervisor. They still were a bit suspicious when they removed a large box and said "so this is just pins too"....and I replied "yes, it's a large super jumbo pin valued at almost $200...would you like to see the receipt?" and then as they opened the box.....I was allowed to turn it over to show the pinbacks. After they literally opened each small bag (I divide up my pins in the small shopping bags for organization) they started "stuffing" them all back in...again I asked the supervisor if I would be allowed to repack my items to prevent damage, since they still refused to understand that these things really were valuable. All in all the supervisor was very nice, but a bit clueless. It almost made me not want to return to that airport ever again. I had a similar experience at WDW, but they were much nicer and while they took time to look through an entire carry on of pins (it was a pin event) .....they were respectful and very nice.

Anyway, I've had less trouble at my two Dallas area airports than at John Wayne.....and Orlando can be iffy depending on who you get.
 
Anyway, I've had less trouble at my two Dallas area airports than at John Wayne.....and Orlando can be iffy depending on who you get.
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I dislike traveling through SNA, John Wayne airport. The security people there that I've dealt with are not very polite and I've had more stuff gone missing out of my luggage there than anywhere else. I can totally relate to your pin story Elizabeth.

I've only had two issues with MCO, and one was because I was coming home from an event and I had so many pins in my bag it really looked like I was carrying a bag of solid metal.

Personally, I wish TSA would search everyone's bag if there was a suspicion then nobody would have to worry. That's why I get to the airport early.
 
Alrighty... I finally made up my mind. As much as I would **LOVE** to come in both May & Sept, I just don't think it's financially wise for me... so I've decided I'll be coming in Sept! Exact dates TBD but I will be there for Mickey's Circus! Yay!
 
We always take them in our carry-ons. We usually let them know ahead of time at the security check that we have many pins, and when it goes through the x-ray machine they usually scoop it up on the way out and check to confirm it. They just see a mess of sharp metal in the bag so they will always check.
 
Hi Brandy

My mom and I have gone to the last 2 Pin Events at WDW with all of my pins and we took 2 suitcases (the biggest ones they would allow without charging extra) on the plane with us because I do not trust checking them and we are coming from Missouri and we did not have a problem. My airport (KCK) just wanted me to open the suitcases up when we went through security and just looked through my Pin binders to make sure that all there was were pins and nothing else. Hope this helps.
 
I've always taken my pins with me (carry-on) - but I take the pins out of the carry-on and put them in a separate tray thru the x-ray machine. That way they don't have to go thru my luggage. I then put the pins back in the luggage before I board the plane. I've even had a few TSA people thank me for running the pins thru separatly (like D.C. Reagan National where security is really, really tight) - making their jobs easier.
 
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