Airline Travel w/ Kilt Pin

**GlassMan** · 13th February 06, 11:23 PM

Last April I flew to San Francisco and back for a wedding and was kilted both times. On the flight from DC to San Franciso didn't have a problem at all.

But when I went through security at San Francisco the guy started to give me a hard time about my sword shaped kilt pin. Now, he was having to do a special search on me anyway because I was in a wheel chair (the distances in an airport are just too much for my bad leg to handle) and he'd already patted down my kilt and had to help me with my leg. So he starts to ponder outloud if someone might mistake my kilt pin for a weapon or if it would be possible for me to threaten someone with it. Thankfully a supervisor was in earshot when I said "You really think a cripple who can't walk on his own is going to try something on a plane? I can't even get to the bathroom without help from the stewardess." The supervisor walked over, saw the tiny kilt pin and my shriveled up bad leg and told the screener to send me through and stop bothering me. Her rational was that the kilt pin was (a) jewelry and (b) too short anyway.

**UmAnOnion** · 14th February 06, 08:16 AM

Originally Posted by GlassMan

...The supervisor walked over, saw the tiny kilt pin and my shriveled up bad leg and told the screener to send me through and stop bothering me. Her rational was that the kilt pin was (a) jewelry and (b) too short anyway.

This is a rare example of a GOOD time to be told something was too short...

Sorry couldnt resist - going back to sit in the Time Out Corner now ...

**Shay** · 14th February 06, 09:18 AM

I just flew with six inch double-pointed knitting needles with no problem- also a small knife in my wallet somehow that I forgot was there. (It did go through the xray, so I assume it was okay)

Of course, the easier thing to do would be to use a different kilt pin- they don't have to be swords!

**Livingston** · 14th February 06, 11:06 AM

Originally Posted by Shay

I just flew with six inch double-pointed knitting needles with no problem- also a small knife in my wallet somehow that I forgot was there. (It did go through the xray, so I assume it was okay)

Of course, the easier thing to do would be to use a different kilt pin- they don't have to be swords!

You sure got lucky!

**Pleater** · 14th February 06, 11:51 AM

Originally Posted by Shay

I just flew with six inch double-pointed knitting needles with no problem- also a small knife in my wallet somehow that I forgot was there. (It did go through the xray, so I assume it was okay)

Socks?

Or should I say kilt hose here?

There has been great wailing and gnashing of teeth over confiscated exotic (expensive) wooden sock needles on the knitting lists - but they will keep trying to take them aboard aircraft even when the airline puts them on their 'no way' list.

**Shay** · 14th February 06, 12:28 PM

Huh? Knitting needles are on the approved list. No matter what they're made of. And mine were wooden- with no problem. (I was finishing a glove, I don't do socks.)

Now, I'm not allowed to bring my crochet hooks... because I might make an Afghan... hardy har har...

**Mr. Kilt** · 14th February 06, 01:42 PM

Originally Posted by Shay

Now, I'm not allowed to bring my crochet hooks... because I might make an Afghan... hardy har har...

Thank you, Shay. Wanna pass the screen cleaner this way? :razz:

**dmbellboy** · 14th February 06, 01:54 PM

Being that the kilt pin is metal, just take it off and put it in your carry on bag.

I was doing this for the past few years while the security was high. I'd take off my belt, (I have an all plastic cloths pin to put on the waist so the kilt won't fall off), take off the kilt pin and all of my jewelry. I put it in my carry on. After it went through the Xray machine, I'd put it all back on. It took all of 3 minutes.

Now that things are a little more relaxed at the check point, there should be no worries.

Cheers...David