Ceramics On A Plane!

[xuancheng]

It would probably make a better movie than 'snakes on a plane.'

My question is, is it OK to bring ceramic teaware in your carry on?

I have a few things I bought in China, and I didn't feel safe mailing them or putting them in my luggage. Now I am worried that for some reason they won't allow my to put them in my carry on. I am not thinking of carrying on my puer knife or anything. Has anyone ever brought teaware in a carry on?

[Luthier]

i carried my gaiwan tea set in my hand carry luggage on board. my classmate had her's hand carry also but with an additional mug. when she arrived, her tea set was alright, her mug broke into 2.

keep the puer knife somewhere else. baggage or something just not with you and pack your teawares nicely compact together with lots of paper or anything soft and comfy. not forgetting tape

[xuancheng]

Thanks so much, Luthier.

I guess it may sound stupid, but I am really anxious. Your answer helps.

I bought a bunch of stuff, and if it breaks, I guess it's not the end of the world, but it's also all teaware I use everyday.

It is all wrapped and in the little boxes. The puer knife is not in the carry on

[GoTea]

I feel the same way. I'm about to buy a whole lot of tea stuff and tea in China. I was worried about this and was considering posting the stuff. Is this safer?

[xuancheng]

I feel the same way. I'm about to buy a whole lot of tea stuff and tea in China. I was worried about this and was considering posting the stuff. Is this safer?

I have lived in China for 4 years total, and sent a lot of boxes home by surface mail (the slowest kind) I just sent 3 boxes home this last week! It cost about US $200 total for a grand total of more than 50 KG.

It is safe (every once in awhile a box gets lost, but it has never happened to me) The last 6-7 boxes I have sent home, I have lined with styrofoam, sometimes as much as 3 layers (about 5cm thick) and sometimes even use an internal box. A friend I sent tea to said one corner of a box was missing, but the inner box was pristine. Anyway, the boxes wind up in awful shape. Many other teachat users can attest to the China post syndrome!

[Herb_Master]

I did not have any trouble on my last 2 return trips from Malaysia.

Tea and tiny ceramics, well packed amongst layers of clothes, or padded with socks securely into shoes, fared well in the hold luggage.

Larger ceramics carried carefully in hand baggage, stowed carefully in the overhead locker. Just keep an eye out during the flight for any fellow passengers rummaging through YOUR locker. And on touchdown make sure you are first to open the locker, so the bag does not come tumbling out!

As long as you have nothing else in your hand luggage to interest the security staff, when it goes through the scanner, it is a breeze.

[Chip]

Last year returning from Vegas (WTE), I had more teaware and tea in my bag than clothes. I was in the airport trying to consolidate to one carry on since I did not pack a suitcase to check in. Some clothes got left behind ...

Didn't seem to ruffle any feathers.

[MarshalN]

I'd suggest if you have lots of tea, the best way to do it is to mail it. I have had some custom people asking me what this green, leafy stuff is, especially the ones that are hairy -- they look suspicious.

I don't think sending teaware is a smart idea, unless you've double boxed them and are packed really, really well. You should hand carry those unless they're cheap and expendable.

[Tead Off]

I have always carried on teaware and tea and never had a problem anywhere.

[twinofmunin]

I have carried on a kyuusu and a gaiwan on two separate occasions with no incident whatsoever. The former I packed in the box it came in, and the latter I put in a tupperware container padded with a towel.

[wyardley]

Carry-on should be no problem.

[LeverTime]

My in-laws brought a couple of tea sets from China when they came to visit us. They just put them in the original packaging in their checked luggage. Nothing broke.

[xuancheng]

Thanks a lot for the feedback, I am back home now, and nothing broke!

Hopefully the China post boxes will do as well.