Packing Orchids (Luggage)

[MattWoelfsen]

I re-read your note. You only have seven orchids? I think you put these in one back pack and carry it on board.

[Charlaux]

Hi everyone,
I did not want to open a new thread but my question will be. I have a flask with me, a precious one I would say and I will be flighting from Columbus Ohio - JFK and then my home country.

Would it be safer to carry it in my luggage or as a carry on? Turkey customs are certainly %100 not interested with me carrying it at all so my top concern is Ohio and New York JFK.

Thanks

Best wishes

[estación seca]

You will face a surmountable issue with transporting liquids when boarding the domestic flight in Columbus, and again when boarding the international flight in Chicago.

In addition, there will be a CITES question when boarding the international flight in Chicago, but not in Columbus. CITES only apples for transactions between the US and other countries, not within the USA.

The US Transportation and Security Administration (TSA, airport boarding inspectors) will consider the flask to be a liquid. If you carry it on, it will have to fit into the single, 1-quart plastic bag you are allowed to have in your carry-on luggage. This single bag must hold all liquids and gels you carry on the plane. This is where people put toothpaste, sunscreen, deodorant, cologne, contact lens liquid, etc. in carry-on luggage.

The TSA people will need to believe it contains 3 ounces (84ml) of liquid or less. That is the largest container allowed.

They don't pay much attention to things like toothpaste and deodorant on the viewer screen when X-raying your carry-on luggage, but when they see something they don't recognize, they will probably search the bag, and ask you what it is.

There is also the issue of CITES. If it is a species orchid, you need a CITES export permit from the USA to export it legally. Violating this can lead to a very expensive penalty. I don't know whether CITES applies to hybrid orchids in flask. You absolutely must find the answer to this question before your trip. The TSA does not enforce CITES and may not think of it, but if the idea of CITES does occur to them, they might call an agriculture agent to look at the flask. The agriculture agent will probably be very familiar with CITES regulations.

Whatever happens, do not lie to any inspector. Lying to a US Federal agent is treated as a major violation. Martha Stewart went to prison over this, not because she did anything else wrong.

If you put it in your checked luggage, it will be shaken, not stirred. Vermouth in a martini would be broken under these circumstances. The CITES issue would also apply here. They X-ray all checked luggage and may search any of it without you present.

[AnonYMouse]

Hybrids are not covered under CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species).

[estación seca]

I think the US takes the point that hybrids of parents brought into the country in violation of CITES are also illegal.