Airport security

[kibitz]

I am flying to Amsterdam next week. Do you think that A Crawdaddy on my keychain will be a problem?

[reinman60]

Not sure, as I don't fly all that much. But my experience has been that what's a problem and what isn't varies a lot from airport to airport, and even among different security checkpoints at the same airport.

Whenever I have any doubt at all, and I want to bring it, I put it in my checked baggage. Better than having it confiscated.

[kibitz]

I am not checking anything this time so might be best to leave it at home. I am sure that I will be ok with a keychain edition Prybaby.

[reinman60]

Don't think anybody will give you a problem about that. Small, light, no sharp edges.

[wcy]

Unless it's metric, you won't find much use for it over there.
Everything else is guesswork, so you may as well keep it someplace safe 'til you get back.
I would imagine if a screener stopped the bag it would be more out of curiosity than concern.
That has happened a bunch of times with me, for items other than my Prybaby.
Most recently the screener stopped my carry-on for a plastic toy dragon that showed up on the x-ray screener.
"That's pretty cool!" No crush at that time, so they had the time to be curious.
But I digress...
Have a safe flight kibitz!

Will
P.S.: Shucks, Kibitz, you're in Bucks County. I moved from Warminster coming up on 3 years, lived in Bucks for 30 years. Enjoy the crowds!

[gizzyeq]

Yeah the crawdaddy isn't sharp or anything and these days they are allowing small non point tools on the plane but as someone said the rules are different in each country...and unfortunately here in the US the application of those rules are totally arbitrary...plenty of reports coming in of some people being allowed on with certain things while others have to check or toss the same item :brickwall:

To be absolutely on the safe side if your not checking anything in(and if you have em)...I'd recommend a keyton, whistle, bugbite...
BUT you could always carry a SASE(self addressed stamped env) and worst case scenario and they say you can't bring it in...you could mail it back to yourself(would be lil more annoying if you get hassled on the way back)

Good luck, have fun, have a safe trip and report back to us if all went well(or not)

[celler]

Do not underestimate the idiots that work for the TSA. :lolhammer: You are at their mercy . No arguments. No appeal. Do yourself a favor and either put it in checked luggage or leave it at home. Doesn't matter if its not sharp. Doesn't matter if its under three inches. They make their own rules up as they go and interpret them as they see fit. Argue with them and they will make sure you miss your flight. Just take the path of least resistance.

Craig.

[VT-aroo]

I must agree, risk a 6 dollar mini pry bar maybe, risk an Atwood not likely. "you see this fits the door bolts of your aircraft- CONFISCATED!!"

[kibitz]

Wow, you all raise good points. Maybe I will just take a mini Keyton and leave it at that.
I will let you know what happens.

[ranger]

kibitz, you said no check on, i am guessing just carry on?

TSA see's that as a red flag. be prepared to be pinched, probed and violated.... o.k., just kidding about that part, but it will bring some attention to you. so get to the airport early so you don't miss the flight while they check your shorts... :luck:

ranger

[Onedzguy]

Here is THE LIST from TSA's web site.

http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/prohibited/permitted-prohibited-items.shtm

[Mark123]

I have to agree with the earlier posts. Don't underestimate the paranoia of the TSA. I say this after having a pair of nailclippers and 1" can opener confiscated at LAX. I certainly wouldn't risk losing a $39 Atwood Prybaby.

From the mentally ill man who was shot down after running off an airplane in Miami, to the MIT student who was arrested for being stupid enough to wear a shirt with a circuit board and battery (it was a joke about an electronics course at MIT), 6 years after 9/11 it seems people are still as jumpy as ever.

I hate this, because it makes us Americans look like a bunch of pu**ies. Compare that to the Londoners who were riding the Tube the day after the attack-figuratively sticking a middle finger at the perpetrators.

Sorry for the rant.

[kibitz]

Thanks for the TSA link. Very interesting.
I did ship a package to myself at the hotel with some meds and a pocket knife. I thought for sure that I could just carry my Prybaby or Keyton but now believe that I should have shipped them too.
Next time I guess.
I am going to visit a Knife shop in Amsterdam called The Old Man. I now have an excuse to buy a pocket tool there and then ship it back to myself after my stay there.

[kibitz]

Just back from Amsterdam. Very cool city ! I took a bug bite with me without a problem.

[Gatsby]

There are some odd components to the TSA list - you can have metal scissors with a pointed tip and less than 4" blade - which for a pair of kitchen shears or similar can then be taken into two pieces producing two 4" knives ... but no knives of any length. Always interesting.

[BSBG]

kibitz, you said no check on, i am guessing just carry on?

TSA see's that as a red flag. be prepared to be pinched, probed and violated.... o.k., just kidding about that part, but it will bring some attention to you. so get to the airport early so you don't miss the flight while they check your shorts... :luck:

ranger


The screeners have no way of knowing whether you checked a bag or not, so why would that be a problem?

Thousands of people fly every day with no checked bags - after wasting hours in the airport, the 30 minutes you save waiting for your bag (which may not arrive) is better spent at the bar in your hotel :evilgrin:

[temujin]

kibitz, you said no check on, i am guessing just carry on?

TSA see's that as a red flag. be prepared to be pinched, probed and violated...


As noted, TSA screeners have no clue as to whether you've checked bags or not. (I won't comment on what else they are clueless about.) But no bags at all -- now that is a red flag to them.