Max: Flying with cash

[Max]

Hi all,

No AP for me, but I do play hold em' and have accumulated a bit of cash. I was reading posts from a couple months ago about flying with large sums of money. In one of Parker's posts he wrote:

"If I were carrying more than $20K or going somewhere other than Las Vegas or Reno, then I would undoubtedly take additional precautions."

I will be flying from San Diego to Seattle and plan to be carrying 5k-6k in cash. Does anyone have an opinion as to whether this could put me in a predicament if found at the security checkpoint?

Thanks for any and all comments.

[ODAAT]

I have flown across the country with up to $20K with no problems. Usually I carry the money on my person in sealed envelopes. I don't use money belts because I have yet to find one with absolutley no metal (anyone know of one?)so I don't set of the detectors.

My last trip I put the money in my laptop case which of course never left my grasp except when it went through the x-ray...I wonder what a wad of Benjamins looks like on an x-ray

[suicyco maniac]

A couple of months ago on my Jackpot trip I was carrying a little over 10,000 on me and another 1,000 in chips at two of my layovers the security gaurds freaked about the way my chips looked on the x-ray (they had never seen chips before) and took me aside to search my pockets at first they didn't want me to open the pockets they wanted to do it themselves until they saw how much cash was in there and then they got all scared (probably about geting accused of stealing) and had me dump it all out. They seemed amazed at how much was there but didn't seem to care and let me on my merry way. I think the chips turned out to be both a target and an alabi. So to each his own hope this helps. SM

> I have flown across the country with up to
> $20K with no problems. Usually I carry the
> money on my person in sealed envelopes. I
> don't use money belts because I have yet to
> find one with absolutley no metal (anyone
> know of one?)so I don't set of the
> detectors.

> My last trip I put the money in my laptop
> case which of course never left my grasp
> except when it went through the x-ray...I
> wonder what a wad of Benjamins looks like on
> an x-ray

[Coug Fan]

> I don't use money belts because I have yet to
> find one with absolutley no metal (anyone
> know of one?)so I don't set of the detectors.

My money belt is all vinyl, including the zipper. I believe that it is made by Eagle Creek. I usually take ALL of the metal off my person (including belt, watch, wedding ring, glasses, etc), to minimize the chance of setting off the detector. Your pants zipper probably has more metal in it than the average money belt, unless you are wearing pants without a zipper. I have never had a metal detector go off when I walked through it.

The other nice thing about money belts is that they can be worn with boxer shorts in such a way that it is not detectable unless you remove your underwear. This is a nice feature for Airport security and potential muggings.

[Bettie]

> I
> don't use money belts because I have yet to
> find one with absolutley no metal (anyone
> know of one?)so I don't set of the
> detectors.

Mine is all cotton with a velcro closure and has a plastic thingamabob that you pull to tighten the straps. It's not a belt so much as a pouch (5x6), which I wear under my clothes. Depending on what I wear, it can go in front, back, or around my waist. The brand name isn't on it, but you'll be able to find it in just about any travel needs store. It's the brand that packages all of their stuff in an orangey-tan color. I've never had any problems with it at all, and the adjustable strap makes it easy to wear while sleeping on the plane.

Bettie

[Parker]

> I have flown across the country with up to
> $20K with no problems. Usually I carry the
> money on my person in sealed envelopes. I
> don't use money belts because I have yet to
> find one with absolutley no metal (anyone
> know of one?)so I don't set of the
> detectors.

Eagle Creek makes a whole line of travel accessories, including several products of this nature. I have an Undercover Deluxe Security Belt and an Undercover Leg Stash. Neither has any metal parts. The zippers and buckles are made of nylon. They are well made and comfortable to wear. Between them I can easily carry $20K or more.

They have an excellent website. You can order directly from the website or find a retailer in your area.

Link below.

The money belts are under "Travel Accessories/Security and Necessities."

> My last trip I put the money in my laptop
> case which of course never left my grasp
> except when it went through the x-ray...I
> wonder what a wad of Benjamins looks like on
> an x-ray

I've occasionally used my laptop case in this manner. I figure that, since you have to remove the laptop from the case, a thief would probably grab the laptop rather than the mostly empty case.

Eagle Creek

[Parker]

> Hi all,

> No AP for me, but I do play hold em' and
> have accumulated a bit of cash. I was
> reading posts from a couple months ago about
> flying with large sums of money. In one of
> Parker's posts he wrote:

> "If I were carrying more than $20K or
> going somewhere other than Las Vegas or
> Reno, then I would undoubtedly take
> additional precautions."

> I will be flying from San Diego to Seattle
> and plan to be carrying 5k-6k in cash. Does
> anyone have an opinion as to whether this
> could put me in a predicament if found at
> the security checkpoint?

> Thanks for any and all comments.

That amount of cash shouldn't raise any eyebrows. A lot of people travel with that kind of cash on them.

However, the easiest way to avoid any problem is simply to avoid the wand search/patdown. The way to do this is to simply not set off the metal detector.

Choose pants that have a lightweight zipper and a plastic fly buttton. Avoid shirts with metal buttons.

Before you get to security, remove your watch, belt, cellphone, metal frame glasses, loose change, and anything else metal and put it all in your carryon.

Wear slip-on type shoes and take them off when you get to security and run them through the x-ray machine. Many shoes, even sneakers, have metal arch supports.

Since I've started doing all of the above, I don't set off metal detectors and I breeze through security.

[Joey]

Why take cash? Takes cashiers checks and then cash them at a bank in the city where you're going to gamble. If you think that the backroom in a casino is bad, have fun in backroom at an airport.

[Parker]

> Why take cash? Takes cashiers checks and
> then cash them at a bank in the city where
> you're going to gamble. If you think that
> the backroom in a casino is bad, have fun in
> backroom at an airport.

Ever try to cash a cashier's check for, say, $15K at a bank where you do not have an account, especially if you have out-of-state ID?

They will either not cash it at all, or put a 5 day hold on it.

One alternative is to open an account with a large bank that has branches both in your hometown and your destination (Bank of America, Washington Mutual, Citibank, etc.).

Even this is not an ideal solution. Bank office hours are often inconvenient for the 24/7 world of advantage play, and small branch offices may not have enough cash on hand to cash your check.

Traveler's checks are another option. They are available in large denominations, and can usually be cashed at casino cages.

[Norm Wattenberger]

Couple friends and I after a few (too many) drinks in Manhattan jumped in a taxi and said take us to Atlantic City (100 and some miles.) The next morning I found myself in a casino with little cash ? but a cashier?s check. Being a Saturday the banks were closed. So off to the casino cage. Discovered that it is illegal for an AC casino to cash a cashiers check when the banks aren?t open. Unlike traveler?s checks, cashiers checks are not guaranteed. Therefore, cashing a cashiers check without verification from the issuing institution is essentially extending credit during the clearance period. Casinos, at least in NJ, are financial institutions and cannot extend credit without a credit check. I walked down the boardwalk trying casino after casino and eventually did get one to break the law. But, I had to open an account. Anywho, I now have less respect for cashiers checks.

BJStats

[ZOD]

The same thing happened to me. I might as well have tried to cash a personal check...
ZOD

[ODAAT]

Fortunately my bank accounts are with a large bank with branches in LV. Also fortunately, and as suggested by SW in Professional BJ, I don't keep my BR in the bank. I did early on, but man was I busy at the teller and ATM machines always making deposits and withdrawals. I have enjoyed the convenience of having immediate access to my BR. And knowing that when that money is gone---that's it until I can build another one. I think it is a good discipline thing. I just put in in the safe and sleep tight.