kilts and airport security

[David Dubh]

Looking to find out if anyone out their has worn their kilt on a flight? Any advice for going through airport security specifically with the amount of metal on the kilt and accessories. Besides the obvious no sgian dubh. I have travelled with mine always carry on never trust airports and luggage. The kilt pin has caused a problem occaisionally just 'till I unroll and they can see it. I have never actually flown in the kilt, who has??????

[ccga3359]

I've never flown kilted but I do recall some threads about it. Pack sgian and pin in your check in luggage lest they be confiscated. If you travel frequently you might consider a contemperary kilt with pockets and plastic buckles. Explosive sniffing devices shouldn't be a problem even without a kilt pin, as I understand it it's just a small puff of air out of the less than barely enough to ruffle your pleats.

[McClef]

I have flown kilted several times.

There are other threads around already with lots of detail on this subject - do a search using key words like "airport" "security" and "kilts" and you will find them.

[ChattanCat]

Yup, last time I flew I was given the royal treatment. I took off my belt, sparron, and shoes. I took my laptop out of the bag and placed it in the tub. I then went thru the metal detector where you have a 50-50 chance to set it off depending on the earth's magnetic field (why else would I set it off going one way but did not set off the detector on the return trip?) So I get pulled aside and given special treatment, ya know like royalty. Then a discussion ensues between my two, yes two, personal security detachment. It seems that one or maybe both have never done a kilted one before. So they start the normal wanding but hesitate at the waist. I can see their thought process, what do I do with that skirt? I pipe in "I am usually asked to pose in a lunge position. My personal security detachment needed some time to discuss it. Upon their decision I was asked to lunge with my left, then lunge to the right (sounds like aerobics). Anyway, pleasant time held by all even though my personal security detachment wasn't allowed to smile while on duty.

[BEEDEE]

I've flown kilted several times in the past year. No problems at security - I just remove the kilt pin and place it in the sporran, put sporran and belt through the scanner. I am always wanded because of a large lump of metal in my leg. The TSA people seem to be trained to handle kilts, using the 'lunge' technique ChattanCat descibed.

Brian

[Snowbear]

I never had any serious problem with my kilt while flying. The only reminder might be that they oculd take your pin if there's young persons in the security. According to Brittish law kilt pins are allowed. Otherwise you could just take my personal excuse: "Without the pin my kilt will fly up. And you don't want me to show off?" It's not all true, but there is a root of truth in it.

[turpin]

I never set things off when in my UK, Mocker, but always if in a trad with buckles. Just leave enough time to allow for being wanded and searched if it happens, so it can be a relaxed event instead of anxiety that you will miss your plane.

[MartinGrenoble]

Rather than trying to work out which bit of me was setting off the alarms, I once found it quicker and simpler to take the kilt off too.

I have never had any bother at that airport since.

Actually, I have now made myself a buckle-less, metal-less kilt, so I am able to remain dressed when flying.

Martin

[parpin]

Hi all,

I was kilted for the first time to go to Russia in summer 2008.
I took the precaution not to wear the kilt pin and the sgian dhub.
I had only problems with an arrogant security officer back in the USA at JFK when I had to do gymnastics for him. :-(

Nobody in the plane said something. It's not more different to see a kilted guy or a member of any ethnic group wearing its native dress.

[Mr. Woolery]

I wore a twill casual kilt when flying from California back to Alaska last summer. No issues with the kilt at all. The only issue was the TSA guy taking my smallpipe case and wanting to mess around with it with me not present. I don't go for that. Replacement value of what's in there is in the neighborhood of a thousand bucks! So, he threatened to call the police because I was being obstructive. I told him I was not, I just required him to wait until I was present. So, he claimed he could have me arrested for my attitude. Since his supervisor was no better, I assume that San Francisco just isn't a friendly airport. I'll avoid flying through there if I have a choice in the future.

Otherwise, no troubles. All my junk was in my fanny pack and I just sent that through the x-ray.

-Patrick