When I was working I took my pipes with me, always in a hard case. Going through security can sometimes be a hassle. The nearest I came to loosing my pipes was in Hong Kong. I had just arrived and went to the office. There was a problem in a factory in a nearby city in mainland China. So I left my pipes and suitcase at the office while I went to see what the problem was. While I was there a fire broke out at the office. When I got back my pipes were gone my suitcase was there, it was soaking wet. Fortunately one of the office staff had grabbed my pipe case on her way out. So my pipes were safe. By the time I got to my suitcase everything inside was covered in mould and ruined, had to trash everything including the suitcase.9