Kilt at an airport

**Ronninfernum** · 18th August 14, 11:27 AM

Ok I'm new here and know the question has been asked before but I'm heading to Disney World in September and I want to wear my Gunn tartaned utilikilt style kilt for when I travel through the airport for convenience and comfort as well as I don't get to wear it in public so often. I'm just wearing a tshirt the kilt with a sporon and sandles(and boxers). Should I have any trouble at the airport?

**Steve Ashton** · 18th August 14, 12:10 PM

I have found that the determining factor is how much metal is on the kilt. Utilikilts have dozens of metal snaps and the metal detectors hate them. You are almost assured of being wanded.

If your kilt has the straps and buckles like a traditional kilt you can often turn the kilt 90 degrees so one strap is in front and one or two in the back. This seems to keep the metal detectors happy.

Other than that everything is much the same.

**Andrew Breecher** · 18th August 14, 12:26 PM

I've had trouble with the buckles setting off the metal detector, but other than a short personal session with security and a wand it was no big deal. I left off a kilt pin, and probably gave security something to talk about for a while. I have a couple of P/V kilts which fasten with velcro, and have never had any problems with them.

**Mike in Dayton** · 18th August 14, 01:21 PM

It is all about the metal content as Steve indicated. For my last airline trip I wore a USA Kilts casual that has no metal. Fastening is all Velcro. I took off the belt and sporran as I approached the checkpoint. Put the sporran in the carry-on luggage, belt on the conveyer with shoes. No issues. Got a few comments from TSA asking in more of a joking way if I had the "little knife" in my sock. At least they knew of the sgian-dubh as it applies to kilts. So the USA Casual kilt is my choice when dealing with airports. It is also light and not bulky when sitting in those little airplane seats.

Mike

**CeilidhDoc** · 18th August 14, 02:49 PM

I would also say that when going through an airport with your kilt (either worn or in carry-on bags) the most important thing is to remember that the sgian dubh cannot be brought on the aircraft at all in the passenger compartment.

Many people have a kilt bag they keep their kit in for travelling and it is easy to have a sgian in the bag from the last time you travelled or be packing for a trip and trying to avoid baggage fees by having all of your bags with you in the passenger compartment. If this is so, you have to leave the sgian at home or you will lose it at security, plus have the hassle of explaining why you were trying to get on the plane with a knife. Security tends to not like that very much.

Slàinte
and
Happy travels!

**John_Carrick** · 18th August 14, 02:52 PM

The security people probably see them quite often. I don't generally find it too much of a bother and I have never had a problem with a kilt pin in my spectacle case when I don't have checked luggage.
One obviously new security guy once spent ages feeling under my garter ties but perhaps he had issues.

**CeilidhDoc** · 18th August 14, 03:04 PM

In the USA I would venture to say they see them quite rarely. I have witnessed security go ballistic on seemingly innocent oversights (IMHO as a 3rd party observer) here in the states, FWIW.

Slàinte

**vmac3205** · 19th August 14, 07:53 AM

Originally Posted by Andrew Breecher

I've had trouble with the buckles setting off the metal detector, but other than a short personal session with security and a wand it was no big deal. I left off a kilt pin, and probably gave security something to talk about for a while. I have a couple of P/V kilts which fasten with velcro, and have never had any problems with them.

I'm curious as to why leaving off the kilt pin would give the security folks something to talk about. Please tell me you don't actually pin the apron of the kilt to the kilt.

**Andrew Breecher** · 19th August 14, 07:58 AM

Originally Posted by vmac3205

I'm curious as to why leaving off the kilt pin would give the security folks something to talk about. Please tell me you don't actually pin the apron of the kilt to the kilt.

I meant the kilt in general gave them something to talk about. I left off the kilt pin because it's just one more thing to set off the metal detector.

**vmac3205** · 19th August 14, 08:21 AM

AH!! Thanks for the clarification. You should have seen the airport security when Captmac took his feather bonnet and mace to South Carolina for drum major competition. They called the other folks over to look. They had a problem with the "mace" until we called it a baton. Then it went right through. It's all in the name.