Kilt Pin and Airplane Security

[krooks]

I will be flying to Chicago this weekend. Thinking of making the trip kilted. Will a Kilt pin make it through Security Checkpoint? Would hate to no be allowed on plan because of the sharp point.

[GlassMan]

When I flew out of Dulles they didn't give me any trouble. But on a return flight to DC from San Francisco, the TSA screener started to give me trouble with my kilt pin. Thankfully a supervisor walked by and told him that it was jewelry and that clasp backed jewelry is allowed.

[Kilted KT]

hmm...maybe I'll have to get a clasp put on the back of a dirk, and wear it as a kilt pin!!!

[bubba]

Sadly, much of what is allowed or not is up to the individual screener and often these people are very poorly trained.

[auld argonian]

I'd suggest putting your pin in checked luggage and finding a temporary substitute to wear during the flight...I have a nice big White Sox button that looks great on the kilt and that seems to elicit smiles from just about everybody...except Cubs fans...or Angels fans...or....

Take Bubba's comment about the average screener as the truth...it seems like most of the folks doing this aren't all that perceptive and they treat anything longer than it is wide as a security threat.

My pin is a sword with a targe that has the Horses of Inverurie on it...I do have a larger version of the targe made by the same jeweler that will work as a round kilt pin when the need arises...I guess having an auxilliary pin that's round is the best bet...otherwise you'll be mailing your kilt pin back to yourself from the airport.

Best

AA

[Livingston]

I had mine in my carry on from Colorado Springs to Houston and back. No questions at all. But they did look a long time when leaving Colorado Springs.

[Riverkilt]

For sure it depends on the individual TSA screener. AND THEY ARE NEVER WRONG! Questioning their decision, if you are confronted, will only make things worse.

The solution for me is to fly in my Utilikilt Survival II. Love it. No kilt pin to sweat. The narrow apron is more comfortable when seated and falls into place automatically.

I put all my "stuff" in the cargo pockets and - as you gentlemen of this board have trained me - unsnap the pockets to run through X Ray. Clean, simple, easy. I usually carry a Lands End cloth briefcase as my carry on and I toss the cargo pockets in the brief case to board.

The Survival II stays up with no problem if I have to pull my belt off to go through the detector thing. Since we all have to get dressed again after its just one more thing in addition to putting our shoes back on.

Once aboard, if I think I'll need anything from the cargo pocket it goes in front of me in that seat pouch thingy. I leave the pockets off for the sardine seat flight. Its easy to snap them on when its time to deplane.

Its a great system. Worst that happens is, depending on the setting of the detector, the snaps may set off the beeper. The wanding is fast and easy if TSA decides to do it.

I'm surprised UK doesn't advertise in those in-flight shopping magazines pointing out the virtures of wearing a Survival II to fly in.

Never had anything but compliments on my intelligence for flying kilted.

Ron

[Hamish]

For sure it depends on the individual TSA screener. AND THEY ARE NEVER WRONG! Questioning their decision, if you are confronted, will only make things worse.

The solution for me is to fly in my Utilikilt Survival II. Love it. No kilt pin to sweat. The narrow apron is more comfortable when seated and falls into place automatically.

I put all my "stuff" in the cargo pockets and - as you gentlemen of this board have trained me - unsnap the pockets to run through X Ray. Clean, simple, easy. I usually carry a Lands End cloth briefcase as my carry on and I toss the cargo pockets in the brief case to board.

The Survival II stays up with no problem if I have to pull my belt off to go through the detector thing. Since we all have to get dressed again after its just one more thing in addition to putting our shoes back on.

Once aboard, if I think I'll need anything from the cargo pocket it goes in front of me in that seat pouch thingy. I leave the pockets off for the sardine seat flight. Its easy to snap them on when its time to deplane.

Its a great system. Worst that happens is, depending on the setting of the detector, the snaps may set off the beeper. The wanding is fast and easy if TSA decides to do it.

I'm surprised UK doesn't advertise in those in-flight shopping magazines pointing out the virtures of wearing a Survival II to fly in.

Never had anything but compliments on my intelligence for flying kilted.

Ron

So many pearls of wisdom, Ron! I agree wholeheartedly - Utilikilts were built for air travel! However, if one has to travel in a traditional kilt, simply remove the pin, pack in your checked-in luggage and re-pin it to the kilt on arrival once clear of the airport. Why tempt fate? If the pin, sgian dubh or whatever is confiscated by the Authorities, chances are you've lost it for good!!

[andyfg]

We had a discussion recently about this. See thread:
Kilt pin discussion

[Riverkilt]

I thought so.

Thanks for rooting it out Andy.

Sometimes my besotted brain can't remember my own name...but that's another story.

Ron