One Way Tickets And Extra Security Measures? Trip Planning

[Jeffage]

Hey Everyone,

I'm planning a trip this summer with some friends where we start by flying to San Francisco, spend a couple days there, trive to LA, spend a couple days there and then fly to Vegas for a weekend. To accomplish this, I had to book some one-way tickets. I heard doing this subjects you to additional security screening. Will having a sizeable wad of cash present problems? Usually I just put my wallet in my carry on bag when I go through screening and it's never been a problem (but I've never bought one-way tickets before). I just don't want them to think I'm a drug dealer or something.

Jeff

[Shajen]

Last summer I flew from Atlanta to Phoenix to Durango CO, back to Phoenix then on to Vegas before flying back to Atlanta.

They treated me as any other passenger. (The man with the rubber glove was surprisingly gentle) I didn't have a huge wad of cash, only a couple grand, and it didn't present a problem. How much are you planning on carrying?

Additional screening doesn't matter though. You aren't doing something stupid like carrying on drugs or something are you?

Seriously though, you shouldn't worry unless you are carrying like 10+Gs and don't plan on returning...then, yeah, that might look a little suspicious.

Also, you might want to consider American Express travelers checks. A lot smaller than cash, and less suspicious too. Either way, just make sure you get to the airport in time to cover any additional screening they may throw at you.

[jakethebake]

You never heard of credit cards or ATM cards?

[jba]

[ QUOTE ]
Hey Everyone,

I'm planning a trip this summer with some friends where we start by flying to San Francisco, spend a couple days there, trive to LA, spend a couple days there and then fly to Vegas for a weekend. To accomplish this, I had to book some one-way tickets. I heard doing this subjects you to additional security screening. Will having a sizeable wad of cash present problems? Usually I just put my wallet in my carry on bag when I go through screening and it's never been a problem (but I've never bought one-way tickets before). I just don't want them to think I'm a drug dealer or something.

Jeff

[/ QUOTE ]

I just took a couple one way flights and had no problem. I was probably only carrying 1g but they had no idea of course. they didn't treat me any differently because of the one way flight. I think if you pay in advance with a credit card you should be fine.

my little brother (15 at the time) once showed up at the airport an hour before the flight left, bought a one way ticket with cash, and had no luggage. Oh and did I mention he was 15 so all he has is a high school ID. That was funny.

[Jeffage]

LOL. I have, but I'd like to play decent limits in Vegas. $600 a day ain't gonna cover it. I was thinking of just wiring money to Bellagio...anyone ever do this? Easy? It would be fine b/c I'm not planning on playing poker in CA (I'm going with one friend who isn't a big gambler for that part).

Jeff

[Jeffage]

It would be somewhere between your number and 10k, but not over 10k. Don't worry, no drugs here...poker is my only vice. Traveling is kinda annoying cause you don't have a box, etc. I mean, if all my cash is in my wallet, they're prob not gonna go through my wallet right? We're not talking 8 $5k bundles or something.

Jeff

[Shajen]

[ QUOTE ]
It would be somewhere between your number and 10k, but not over 10k. Don't worry, no drugs here...poker is my only vice. Traveling is kinda annoying cause you don't have a box, etc. I mean, if all my cash is in my wallet, they're prob not gonna go through my wallet right? We're not talking 8 $5k bundles or something.

Jeff

[/ QUOTE ]

I don't see any reason why they would go through your wallet. Try this site though, maybe it will help:

Transportation Security Administration (http://www.tsa.gov/public/interapp/editorial/editorial_1052.xml)

Have fun.

[turnipmonster]

I got searched recently at an airport and had a lot of cash on me, they didn't say anything at all about it. if they ask, just tell them you're planning on going to vegas. it shouldn't be a big deal at all, as long as you're comfortable walking around with that amount.

--turnipmonster

[lu_hawk]

it doesn't always subject you to the extra screening. if you get an "SSSS" on your boarding pass that means once you go through the metal detector and pass your bags through the x-ray they will take you aside and give you the extra scrutiny. the extra scrutinty includes opening your bags and searching the contents, patting you down, etc. there is some sort of formula for determining who gets the "SSSS" on their boarding pass, a one-way ticket is one variable in that formula that will increase your odds of getting singled out.

[Guthrie]

Never put your wallet or cash in carry-on baggage. It's far too easy for a team to delay you going through the metal detector, snatch your carry-on off the conveyor and disappear into the crowd before you know it's gone. I don't think either the airline or the government will consider themselves responsible. Your stuff, and money, is just gone.

Buy a vest, like a hunter's or photographer's, with lots of pockets with Velcro closures, and plastic zippers so it won't set off the metal detector. Fill the breast pockets with your cash and never take it off.

[AviD]

[ QUOTE ]
It would be somewhere between your number and 10k, but not over 10k.

[/ QUOTE ]

Jeff, do you plan on losing all vacation? /images/graemlins/smile.gif
What happens when you win and have over 10K...

Don't carry that much cash on you on the airline.

Better solutions:

1) Wire the money to the respective destination

2) ATM it, increase your withdraw limit with whomever you are banking with. You are likely only limited to $600 due to default constraints on the account.

That's my .02

[Bubu]

Funny, I had the same questions. I called the Wynn, Mirage and maybe the Bellagio (? don't remember). Anyway, these are my discoveries.

1) Some (most?) banks don't allow you to increase the ATM max withdrawal. Chase has 1k daily limit, others are $600.

2) Wire the money to the bellagio. You will have to make a players account there and sign some papers. Its like a personal money account at the casino - you can deposit your winnings there and the casino will wire it back to your bank.
A wire is about $30. The casino will pay the wire back to your bank (though your bank may charge you about $10 for receving it). Technically this money is only available for gaming purposes (ie a casino is not licensed as a bank). I think they will make an allowance of about $600/day that you can withdraw for personal expenses. I think its more of a disclaimer a there is no way they can tell where this money is going (ie cash out from your account and then you can cash the chips for cash at the cage). There is no minimum for wiring

3) Safe deposit boxes are only available if you have a room at the casino.

I don't know if I would feel comfortable travelling with more than $10k. Is it some sort of felony ? In international flights you have to declare monies over $10k. I guess its all about laundering and that jazz.

[Jeffage]

Ok, I think I will do one of the following:

1) Wire money to Bellagio

2) Take a few grand in cash and a few grand in traveller's checks. Having that much to start plus my two ATM cards (1200 a day) should be more than enough. I've never used traveller's checks but apparently the rake is $1 per 100 and all casinos will change them to cash at the cage.

Thanks for all the tips,
Jeff

[AviD]

[ QUOTE ]
I don't know if I would feel comfortable travelling with more than $10k. Is it some sort of felony ? In international flights you have to declare monies over $10k. I guess its all about laundering and that jazz.


[/ QUOTE ]

From what I understand, anything exceeding $10K can be confiscated and you will not get it back. That's just a "law" I've heard about and as a result have never carried more than $10K.

Of course, I'm poor...so carrying more than $10 is probably a stretch on any given day. Thank some god for food stamps and welfare.

[felson]

You could also set up a credit line at Bellagio. Usually people do this so they can play table games, but once you have the chips in hand you could use them for poker instead. This way, no fees.

[Bubu]

Another idea is to open a line of credit with the casino.
The applications are on the websites. Don't know what the juice is on it.

Good luck on your trip ! And don't forget trip report later.

[Jeffage]

Actually, this is incorrect. It's not illegal to carry ANY amount of cash within the United States. Amounts over $10,000 must be declared when entering the country. Of course, large amounts of cash can be seized by police if they believe it to be drug related, etc. Then it's up to you to prove the money is legit (bank receipts, a casino you won it at backing you up, etc.). Of course, you don't want to be in this situation in the first place. Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe this is right.

Jeff

[Jeffage]

There is no juice on casino credit if it's paid back within 30 days. After that (I assume) APR kicks in. This is just from friends I know that have it, I never have. In AC, credit can't be used for poker (I believe you can actually have credit suspended if they catch you doing this). Not sure how it works in AC.

Jeff

[peachy]

[ QUOTE ]
Actually, this is incorrect. It's not illegal to carry ANY amount of cash within the United States. Amounts over $10,000 must be declared when entering the country. Of course, large amounts of cash can be seized by police if they believe it to be drug related, etc. Then it's up to you to prove the money is legit (bank receipts, a casino you won it at backing you up, etc.). Of course, you don't want to be in this situation in the first place. Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe this is right.

Jeff

[/ QUOTE ]

it IS against the law to carry over 10k in cash on u and it can be taken and held and the majority of the time it is not given back b/c u have to document where and how u got it and come in with a laywer...best thing is to send it through a credit line

And im not talking customs claiming here...im talkin every day travel within the US


The reason its so hard to get it back is b/c they claim coke residue is present on ur money....when if u had a lawyer or knew anything about these situation ud know that about 95% of circulating money in the US has coke on it cause it stays on money

Best option is to not even push carrying a large sum of money on u...if the cops dont take it someone else might...its just not safe in my opinion

[felson]

[ QUOTE ]
In AC, credit can't be used for poker (I believe you can actually have credit suspended if they catch you doing this). Not sure how it works in AC.

[/ QUOTE ]

Whoops. Thanks for the tip.

[afish]

You are correct. There is no law against carrying any amount of cash in this country. In fact, I believe I read that the winner of the Foxwoods WPT tournament took a bag of cash (over $1 million) back to LA on the airplane.

As someone else posted, putting cash in a carry-on is a bad idea. Use a money belt. If you use a money belt, the cash probably wouldn't even turn up in a secondary search.

The federal asset forfeiture laws were modified in 2000. I believe the horror stories of cash seizures largely relate to the time before the laws were changed.