Con Suite > Cosplay
Getting your cosplay costume, props etc through airport security...
dogberry:
Transmute Jun posted a handy quote from the SDCC Annual on bringing cosplay weapons into convention grounds here: You are not allowed to view links.
Register or Login
However, I have another concern which comes before getting through the convention itself. I am flying to the US from overseas, and then via domestic to get to San Diego.
Specifically, I really want to get this: You are not allowed to view links.
Register or Login for my SDCC cosplay. My plan is to have it shipped to my place of stay in New York, then pack it in my check-in luggage when I fly Delta Air to San Diego. However, I don't know if it would cause problems for me when checking in at JFK, which I know is pretty strict!! (Had a bad experience in which I was detained and subjected to an invasive search even though I'm a frequent tourist just because I looked very different from my passport photo and booked a one-way ticket because I didn't have fixed plans on which state I would be returning from),
I'm also worried that the obvious shape of the weapon replica through the x-ray screening would be flagged, and I'd be subjected to a luggage search and have the item confiscated.
Another item I plan to bring in are feather wings. I understand the usual wariness regarding avian products (one time a CAKE my friend tried to pass through JFK with got trashed because it contained eggs) so I'm worried about my wings getting confiscated too.
As such, I'm wondering if other cosplayers are willing to share their experiences with bringing their costumes, weapon replicas and props into the US, or even via interstate travel. Has anyone else flying in encountered any trouble with customs, x-ray screenings or baggage checks?
Thank you!
Transmute Jun:
I don't have experience bringing these kinds of things through customs, but I would say that if you need them and want to have them, have them shipped to your San Diego hotel, not your New York hotel. Then you can ship them home again before you leave San Diego.
Friends of Comic Cons:
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
Zero:
Alternatively, if you know anyone in San Diego who would be willing to receive the shipped cosplay items for you (before con) and then arrange to pick them up from him/her, that's something to look into as well... If you really need it, I might be able to help... maybe. Ha ha.
Personally, I think that if you can avoid bringing through your cosplay weapons and props through customs, the better. It'll be easier to just ship to someone you trust or directly to the hotel (make sure that you contact the hotel about your plans to do that and see if they'll help you). You can also try asking a FedEx or UPS store in Downtown S.D. to see if you can ship your items there and have them hold it for you until you pick them up. I'm not particularly familiar if you can actually do that or not, but it's worth doing some research to save you the hassle of going through customs with them.
Hope that helps! ^_^/
dogberry:
Thanks for the tip, you guys!
Unfortunately I do not know anyone in San Diego (and it's my first time visiting) so I'm really unfamiliar with the place, and I don't know if my hotel will be able to do that - in fact I'm STILL trying to get a downtown room so that's pretty much in the air. But that is a good idea inded - at least the item will be directly sent to SD and I can pick it up from there. The only risk is that I wouldn't have the time to examine or make modifications to it (what if it doesn't arrive in good condition etc) as once I arrive in San Diego I'd be busy picking up my badge and going full-on into the thick of the con.
I tried emailing the US Border Protection/Customs via their website contact but they have yet to get back to me. I have a feeling those guys are laughing over my earnest letter asking about bringing in turkey feather wings and resin/wood swords for cosplay. :P I also am really paranoid about postal services, esp when it's international so I am really hoping to be able to carry it with me on board the plane. Fingers crossed to see if I can get around this issue (legally of course!) :)
Transmute Jun:
Let us know what you find out, Dogberry! It's good to know about these things.
Navigation
[0] Message Index
[#] Next page
Go to full version