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Jeff, since I seem to be the only one up this late, and to thank you 
for the great laugh:
While the regs do require pressure tanks to be empty, chances are that a
small pony buried in your checked luggage will not even be looked at.
(Sorry, now Murphy will have to prove me wrong :>)
Valves normally have some flats on the boss at the base which goes next 
to the tank. The preferred tool for removal is usually a big crescent wrench.
In a pinch, or for valves without the wrench flats, padded water-pump-type
pliers could be Carefully used on the strongest part of the valve.
 
If you are worried about having to remove the valve, I would suggest
draining, lossening it, and re-securing it lighlty hand-tight.
Then it can be easily inspected without tools. Don't worry about 
exposing your tank to the atmosphere for a rew minutes, it won't hurt a 
thing as long as you don't spill something in there. (When a tank is 
hydro'd it is filled with water and then thoroughly dried. FunFact #42 ).

Before filling, remove valve and make sure the threads are clean, have a
new lightly-greased o-ring to put in. Everyone I know likes to install
them as tight as possible by hand, or very lightly persuade them with a
wrench. The idea is to not over-tighten so it will be easy to take apart
later. Some like to put a little silicone grease on the threads to 
prevent corrosion, but not if elevated O2 is used. Hopefully whoever
fills your tank will be competent enough to check it out for you before
filling. 
 
Horse should be sufficiently beaten now, have a great trip, Paul

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