Anybody flown with an Airbag Vest - carry on or checked bags?

Unscrew the cartridge - they're user replaceable so that should be easy. Bring the printout of the TSA website with the regulations and store it with the cartridge. Maybe improvise an extra cap to make sure it can't get pierced. Hope for the best.

Worst case they'll confiscate the cartridge but not the vest. Replacing these cartridges is cheap. I don't know what kind of vest you have and what size cartridge it uses, but if it's not too big you can try marine stores for replacements. Marine life vests seem to use cartridges up to 60 grams depending on the life vest size.


Dunno if your motorcycle vest classifies as a life vest.

Some useful tips here: Traveling with your Life Jacket? TSA Guidelines - US Sailing

I flew with one within the US and there were no problems.

Nicad said:

I flew with one within the US and there were no problems.

Click to expand...

Carry on or checked baggage?
Did you have the CO2 cartridge with you?

Mine is a Hit- Air vest
Think the cartridge is 48cc ( about 6” long and 1” diameter. )

I flew with mine in my checked baggage from Canada to Australia. Didn't mention it, wasn't an issue there or back.

LV Strom1k said:

Carry on or checked baggage?
Did you have the CO2 cartridge with you?

Mine is a Hit- Air vest
Think the cartridge is 48cc ( about 6” long and 1” diameter. )

Click to expand...

Had the turtle vest in checked baggage. I also downloaded the form from the authorities (forget which) that it was legal to fly. Same as the inflatable life jackets

I thought Hit-Air had this info in the paperwork that came with the vest or on it's website.
It's the last one on the page
.

I'd take the cartridges out of the vest just in case you have an overzealous TSA agent, hopefully the only thing that's confiscated is a cartridge.

TSA rules are weird. Been trying to figure out if a tire plug kit and CO2 inflator would get confiscated. Suppose I could check the bag, but kriega has so many straps hanging off it don't really want it going through baggage.

LV Strom1k said:

Thanks Thrust I had already printed this page from the TSA website - note the final sentence - “The final decision rests with the TSA officer on whether an item is allowed through the checkpoint”.
So basically the rules saying an item is “allowed” mean nothing if you get an overzealous power tripping TSA agent. (And while the majority of TSA agents I’ve met have been polite and professional I have come across a couple of power tripping badge wielders.) Hence why I was asking about people’s actual experiences. View attachment 314669

Click to expand...

Yep, just a chance you'll have to take

Think I’ve come up with the best workaround. Was going to have my wife drop me at the airport but instead will park ($3 for one hour short term parking) and ask her to go inside and stand by as I go through TSA checkpoint.
If they agent won’t allow my vest and CO2 cartridge to pass I will just get out of line and give the vest to my wife to take home. If I get through I’ll wave goodbye to her and proceed to the gate.

I flew in early July last year and checked the vest. No problems going through security. I had the printout from the TSA page prepared, but no one gave me any grief about the vest.

Does it change anything if I'm flying internationally?

I'm flying into/out of Munich this summer and would like to take the Helite vest.

LV Strom1k said:

Think I’ve come up with the best workaround. Was going to have my wife drop me at the airport but instead will park ($3 for one hour short term parking) and ask her to go inside and stand by as I go through TSA checkpoint.
If they agent won’t allow my vest and CO2 cartridge to pass I will just get out of line and give the vest to my wife to take home. If I get through I’ll wave goodbye to her and proceed to the gate.

Click to expand...

Let us all know what happens

Update -

Went right through TSA checkpoint with zero extra scrutiny - I was pleasantly surprised they didn't even open my carry on that had my helmet and vest in it. Last year I flew without the vest and the TSA opened the bag with my helmet and gloves in it to look at it. Maybe it helped that I am "TSA Pre-Check", or maybe it helped that it was 0630 and the agent on the X-ray machine looked half asleep and was also chatting with another agent at the time.

Thanks again for everyone offering suggestions and thoughts.

So, what are you riding home?

bajakirch said:

Does it change anything if I'm flying internationally?

I'm flying into/out of Munich this summer and would like to take the Helite vest.

Click to expand...

Then you're dealing with not just airport security but also customs, which adds to the "fun." As far as I know, you shouldn't have any problem taking an airbag vest into an EU country. I've never dealt with German customs, so I wouldn't know what to expect.

US based airlines do not seem to have an issue with airbag vests on domestic flights. If flying internationally, it's probably best to call the specific airline and talk to someone beforehand.

DesertBike said:

Then you're dealing with not just airport security but also customs

Click to expand...

Customs is normally at arrivals, as they're concerned with what you're bringing into the country, not what you're bringing on the plane.

I've brought my complete MC gear from the Netherlands into the US and back without any customs official batting an eyelid. As long as you can argue (or prove) that it's just personal stuff and not commercial import, customs should not be a problem at all.

IATA rules (which are enforced by the TSA) are pretty much the same the world over, so if it's allowed on a domestic flight, it's most likely also allowed on an international flight, especially when you're flying a US carrier.