Increased Airport Security and Cash

Anyone have any experiences with the new airport security and moving large sums of cash? I used to just pass cash thru with my carry on luggage but now I understand carry on luggage is searched.

Don't want cash seized on the assumption of drug money and have to go to the time and expense of proving it is legitimate. Now, I understand cash could be considered sign of terrorist activity.

I assume metal dectectors are now more sensitive. Will money belt with cash set them off or fail wand test? Hate to have to hassle with bank accounts and wire transfers.

Remember when America was free and you could travel freely?

I've had no problems carrying large sums lately but I personally do not use my leg stash. It's never set off a regular metal detector but the zipper might trigger a wand. Might be the same with a money belt.

SOTSOG, Put your bankroll in an envelope or ziplock bag and carry it in the inside pocket of a sport jacket or other coat which has an inside pocket. five or ten thousand in hundreds doesn't take up too much room. To avoid being patted down make sure to remove all metal from your person, including your belt, before going through the metal detector. If your jacket features metal zippers or snaps wear loose pants and carry the ziplock bag in your shorts (briefs not boxers). This is a good way to foil pickpockets too. Hit 'em hard, The Side

to carry large sums of cash to far off places.

Just a comment - nothing personal.

Yeah you ungrateful commies America is a free country... at least until GW and Asscroft use this terrorism scam to steal every one of your remaining rights away from you.

yourself and your assets without government harrassment is an important freedom. Free people should not have to risk having assets "stolen" by the government just for having them. There are many legitimate people in the US that prefer good old cash as a personal choice . Freedom from fear of government confiscation of your assets and unreasonable harrassment is an important freedom.

The last two times I flew, I was asked to remove my jacket and put it on the conveyor belt.

Don

I use a waist wallet (under the pants, strapped around the waist). I carried 80 big bills in the wallet and it had a tiny zipper. The terminal metal detector did not go off in 3 different airports. I was the "lucky" winner of the detailed gate search on two occasions. On one, the wand detected the waist wallet, and the security agent acted like he had never seen one before, and thought it was neat. I did not have to remove it or open it, I just slipped up and outside my pants so he could see it. The second wanding did not even detect anything at my waste.

I don't know if those guys were incompetant and should have investigated me more, or if carrying cash like that is standard for some travelers, so they know it is ok. The flights were coming and going from Vegas after all.

Thanks for the info. The jacket going thru the x-ray is something to watch out for. I'm looking at probably 25k-30k going to Mississippi, which in my opinion is pratically a third world country, if it was to/from Vegas I wouldn't worry about it.

I've heard the new 100s have metal strips in them and wonder if the wands will pick up on a large amount of bills. I think you avoid the x-ray machine at all costs which means going thru the metal detector with the cash on your person.

Anybody know of money belts with velcro as opposed to metal zippers?
Either that or screw it, I'll go to AAA and stock up on traveler checks.

They are doing random searches in airports nowadays. You will have a hard time explaining 5k or 10k , 30k on your person.

I suspect that confiscation of the money will be the least of your problems. Maybe you should inform the airline in advance that you will be carrying lots of cash to gamble.

Get something in writing from them . Why take any chances.

I have a carry on- kinda like a soft briefcase. In that carry on I carry 3 or 4 books on blackjack, a BJ shoe, 6/8 decks of cards (casino brands), a couple of copies of casino mag, a few chips, etc. I carry my cash in a fanny pack and pass that though behind my "briefcase like" bag. They have gone through the bag and I get comments like "going to Vegas huh?".

The first line of law enforcement always jump to the first obvious
conclusion and stick to it, in my experience. Plant the seed
of gambling they will probably stick to it even if they eventually find
drugs and weapons. If the first thing they bump into is cash they
will assume drugs and you will never talk your way out of it.