Air travel to Boston kilt advice

**brewerpaul** · 2nd May 12, 02:18 PM

Greetings all,
This coming Monday I plan to fly SW airlines from St Louis to Boston and return the next day. Plans are to wear my Stillwater economy wool Blackwatch kilt on the plane with kilt hose, wingtips, nice shirt, sporran and sans the Sgian Dubh for obvious reasons. Bringing another kilt for the night spent hopefully in a good pub and again wearing the Stillwater for a conference on pacemakers and the return trip.

My question is basically one of what are peoples experience while traveling by air. Any help will be appreciated. Any topic from going with or without the boxer briefs on to how easy is it to sit in a plane seat kilted. Once in Boston I have no problems, it is just the air travel that will be new to me. I dont want to jeans up to travel, Id rather travel in comfort. Share your pitfalls with me, though there is no better teacher than personal experience. Many thanks in advance.....

**Dale Seago** · 2nd May 12, 02:42 PM

I flew kilted to Denver and back last summer; no problems. Be aware that the buckles on your kilt might set off the magnetometer if you go through one of those.

Adding: Just be sure and sweep the pleats as you sit down and you should be good for even a long flight without getting them messed up.

**unixken** · 2nd May 12, 03:27 PM

Be mindful of the "TSA Grope", if they should lift the kilt a bit higher than you might otherwise be comfortable with, in public. You might end up giving the ladies a thrill... and the children an unintended lesson in anatomy. (Reason to consider boxers/briefs, at least for the flight.)

**Dale Seago** · 2nd May 12, 03:34 PM

I'm inclined to see that as TSA's problem, not that of the kilted passenger they exposed. I don't have a problem with their security folks (and I work in the security field myself); and my dealings with TSA screeners have all been thoroughly professional. But I think such an incident would be pure anti-TSA publicity gold.

**unixken** · 2nd May 12, 03:38 PM

Originally Posted by Dale Seago

I'm inclined to see that as TSA's problem, not that of the kilted passenger they exposed.

My compassion is for the four year old little girl standing right behind the kilted man, at the airport. To her, it matters not whether it's the TSA's problem. She's going to be standing at just the right height to get an eye-full. That's all I'm saying.

**seanachie** · 3rd May 12, 08:04 AM

Dale:
Interesting comment, because I have had issues with the TSA at SFO (I am in LA). Flying in and out of SFO I have been stopped and required to go through secondary screening when kilted. Asking questions on this I have received answers that were inconsistent and wrong "it's the rules if you have a kilt on for one." My last trip I had my wife observe as I passed through and they seemed to be itching for me to be confrontational. When doing the secondary screeing the TSA employee was heckled and did a substandard check as a result. (I too have security experience)

**brewerpaul** · 2nd May 12, 03:57 PM

Thanks for the responses, Ive considered the boxer briefs though the sacrifice in comfort may change my mind. I could always get past the TSA in them then head to the first mens room to lose the drawers so to speak. What they dont know wont hurt them or the upbringing of any young children.

**unixken** · 2nd May 12, 04:13 PM

Originally Posted by brewerpaul

I could always get past the TSA in them then head to the first mens room to lose the drawers so to speak.

Sounds like a socially prudent thing to do, for any kids in the terminal.

Was just a concern I had, given the likelihood that your "different" style of dress is likely to draw attention (and potentially additional "interest") to yourself, from the TSA.

If grannies with walkers get additional scrutiny, the kilt just goes without saying. TSA will want to know "what's under the kilt?"

**Geoff Withnell** · 2nd May 12, 04:24 PM

I have found that by a large, the TSA has treated me no differently in a kilt than if I was in trousers. BTW, if you don't use the belt loops for your sporran strap, you can just drop the sporran and belt in one motion into the bucket to go through the machine, and it is MUCH easier than dealing with pockets.

**Dale Seago** · 2nd May 12, 04:27 PM

Originally Posted by Geoff Withnell

I have found that by a large, the TSA has treated me no differently in a kilt than if I was in trousers.

Same here.

BTW, if you don't use the belt loops for your sporran strap, you can just drop the sporran and belt in one motion into the bucket to go through the machine, and it is MUCH easier than dealing with pockets.

That's how I do it.