Update from People who are travelling; taking Alaska Airlines on Saturday what should I expect? Can I take car keys with automatic door locks?
 

I previously asked about cell phones and you people as always are great in your responses.

I am leaving tomorrow for Reno from LAX. I received an email from Vantage travel that stated you can't take keys that have the electronic door locks.

Any advice? I have never heard that before...experience any of you? I intend to take my medicines in their original bottles but also a bag of vitamins as well. Will let you know how it goes.

You do not need to ask about every items you're preparing to carry. Just remember:

<b>No liquid or gel in carry-on</b>. That's the only change for flights that are not going to the UK.

Clear?

I don't have to ask about everything I am taking, I know about liquid, gels, etc. I read the TSA site. However, Vantage, a respected travel site sent me an email about the keys. I am asking for an unpdate, Clear?

Marjean, I would rely on your travel agent's advice. I'm sure it has have the latest information and would not go to the trouble of emailing you if it weren't true. Sounds like they're doing a good job of keeping you informed. Go to your dealership &amp; get a set of car keys made without auto door locks. Or take a taxi/shuttle to the airport. Or have your family members or friends take you to the airpot.

marjean, cool it. Maybe you don't know but rkkwan is one of the most helpful posters here. She is right. Is your next post going to be about toothbrush? I think many people make up their own new lists of items we cannot take on board. Yesterday I heard from a checker at the supermarket we won't be able to take spouses with us starting next week.

Look I'm nervous about what to take and not and I felt that Kkwan was not being nice. I asked two questions about what to take and people have been generally nice about it.

I certainly did not intend to come up with a list of items. I did read the TSA site and this was not addressed. My travel company mentioned it for the first time and I was concerned.

So I will &quot;cool it&quot; as you said. I little kindness here would be nice.

You are so right and good to know you we'll be kind to helpful longtime posters

You are so right and good to know you'll be kind to helpful longtime posters

I never understand taking the time to put down a poster instead of either answering the question or going to another thread.

Tone is everything here, and there are many regulars impatient with anything they decide is a &quot;stupid&quot; question.... rkkwan is sometimes one of those, and apparently z wants to be, too.

Frankly, I think this is a fair question in a time of uncertainty and frequent policy changes. And the advice to listen to your travel agent and/or err on the side of caution is good.

Actually CNN was reporting a few days ago that key fobs were being confiscated -- that may or may not be the case now.

Typically a car with a key fob will have a valet key without the electronics that will only give you access to the door and the ignition (leaving the trunk locked for valuables). Leave the fob at home, take the valet key and put your luggage in the back seat on the drive to and from the airport.

I have a 2006 Ford Fusion, the key and fob are all ONE unit - they cannot be separated. I called 3 Ford dealers &amp; the manufacturer of the key/fob itself. No way they said. If you do manage to take it apart the key will not start the car because it needs the chip that is in the fob (at least that is how I understood it). OK ... so that leaves me a major problem.

The car does not have a valet key device because it does not have an alarm system, that was about $1000 extra.

So ... do I chance putting key in checked luggage and hoping everything arrives so that I can drive back home? I live 2 hrs from the airport, no one is going to drive me there and then come back and get me. This is a real dilema ...

suggestions anyone

Lori,

Have you checked about getting a key made? Even if your key has the fob included, you should be able to unlock the door with the actual key. In that case, check at your local hardware store and see if they can duplicate the key. They only cost about $2 to have made. I have one for my car - I use it for servicing, etc. so I don't risk losing the fob.

toedtoes, I called the hardware store - they said the &quot;fob&quot; on my key contains the chip that enables one to start the car. If I were to just have a key made (if they could even do it, he was not sure) you could only use it to open the car door, not start the car itself (because you need the chip).

This has turned into a real nasty problem. I looked at the Ford Fusion keyfob website and they go on and on about the wonderful integrated technology - the All in One Key &amp; Fob. I guess they didn't figure on terrorists :-(

in Seattle, if you spend the night at one of the airport hotels, they will allow you free parkiing while you are gone. Call a few of them &amp; see if you can do that. If so, they may have a person who mans the booth at the lot or maybe you can leave your key with the hotel. Leave it taped to the bottom of the front seat. I know you can think of a solution to this problem - Be creative.

Lori - looks like Ford's got you screwed :( I guess sometimes old-fashioned is still better.

For the other readers: I read Ford's website and there is no way to get around this key fob issue for her - it doesn't just control the locks, it controls the ignition.

This would be my best alternative solution:

Find a willing friend or family member to store your vehicle at their home. Provide them with the key. Then take an airporter from their home (or have them drop you off at the airporter pickup) and then reverse the process on your return.

This is actually my personal preference. I don't like leaving my vehicle at the airport, but I don't want everyone to see the airporter at my door and know I'm going away. I drive to a cousin's house, leave my car and she drives me the 5 minutes to the airporter. When I return, I call her at the airporter drop off and she picks me up, takes me back to her house, and I hop in my car and go home. I always pick up a thank you gift for her during my trip.

Or have someone drop you off and pick you up.

toedtoes .. thanks for your suggestions, right now I am just going to pray that restrictions get a little more realistic in the near future (I can hope - can't I :-) ) It was not so long ago that nail clippers were a &quot;threat&quot; and now they are ok to take. Hopefully someone besides me will bring up the key/fob issue with the powers that be that make these rules.

Hey guys, did any of you even read the link from AAFF? Or any of the other posted links that deal with DOMESTIC travel? All this talk of key fobs being banned doesn't apply to U.S. domestic travel.

Vantage books both domestic and international travel. I'd be very surprised if the e-mail Marjean references wasn't talking about international travel. I do not understand why she states that she couldn't find any info on the TSA website about key fobs. It explicitly states that electronics are allowable in carryons for domestic travel.

Before everyone runs out to make new keys, please, read the TSA guidelines. It's really not confusing at all - that is, until you start listening to people on this forum who give out incorrect info and rumors.

TheWeasel - my last post was directed to Lori who did not indicate where she was travelling. From her other posts, I believe she is flying to the UK, so the information is accurate. Marjean, the OP, was the one with the domestic flight.

soccr - Note that I did answer the OP's question in my answer.

And let me state why I wrote with that tone. If you browse the Airline and Europe forum for the past 3 days, you'll find so many of the same questions - can I bring this, can I bring that.

Many of us regulars have patiently answered all of them clearly, with explanation about liquid/gel, along with links to TSA website. The OP's other thread has received the same good replies.

I believe starting yet another thread based on some travel agent's email is somewhat unnecessary. But again, please note that I did answer the OP's question with a very precise answer that's correct then, and correct now.

And also note that I have no idea who Vantage Travel is, and what's the relationship between it and the OP. And we all know that travel agents are often wrong, intentional or not. Now, if the OP says he/she receives an email from Alaska Airlines saying no key fobs, then I will take it a little differently.

The wording on the TSA website was interesting:

&quot;<i>We suggest, to the fullest extent possible, that you pack all liquids and gels – including shampoo, toothpaste, perfume, hair gel, suntan lotion and all other items with similar consistency in your checked baggage to minimize any delays at the screening checkpoint.</i>&quot;

They don't just suggest, or suggest &quot;fully&quot;, but they suggest as fully as the full extent possible could possibly be.

re. key fobs on the Ford Fusion, same with Toyota Prius. No old fashioned keys, just the electronic remote thingy for entry into the vehicle and starting the car.

better hope the airline doesn't lose your checked baggage!!!!

Thanks to all of you who responded to my question. I do think there was confusion there. And thanks soccr. Maybe some people thought my question was stupid but...I was concerned and others were too based on some of the responses I received.

I still think this is a good forum and I guess I will have to expect that some people will not take kindly to some people's questions....too bad... but fortunately, the majority are not that way at all and for that I am grateful.

For your information, my friends did take their keys with a key fob and had no problem. We choose to leave ours at home this trip. Next time it will be domestic again and we will take the full set of keys.