Knitting needles allowed on planes?

I already posted this on the crafts forum, but I thought I may get an answer quicker here. Does anyone know if knitting needles are allowed on planes in this post-9/11 world? I'd like to take my project, but maybe I should just stick to my books. If anyone knows, please let me know!

Thanks,
DanaK

No they are not. Well, at least, I had to turn mine over once but I have heard of one person who saw them on board a flight. Not worth the risk of losing good needles to security guys who would just trash them!!!

Not to mention that my project is attached to them! Right, not worth the risk. It will be a good chance to catch up on my reading. Thanks for the heads-up!

--Dana

ohhhh that would be a nightmare trying to re-attach!!!

A friend of mine said you are able to take the short bamboo type. I would definitely keep my project on one of those big knitting safety pin type things to be safe.

Edited for spelling...

This message was edited Nov 5, 2004 10:41 PM

This message was edited Nov 5, 2004 10:40 PM

I got busted for having a combo folding nail file, manicure scissors that are maybe 3 inches long that I always carry in my purse. I'm like, right, I'm sure I can hijack a 747 by holding 500 passengers at nail point! They said lose the clippers lady or ya ain't getting on that plane!

airport folks'lld be afraid you'd knit an Afgan

HEEEEEHEEEEHEEE. Funny, and this reminds me....

Being a lady house painter, I carry several items in my purse to work every day, tools. Putty knife, multiple-bit screw driver, breakaway blades, paint can openers, etc.

My memory being what it is, I forget to clean the tools out. Had to throw away my blades on occasion when making a trip by air.

I would personally be afraid of having a crochet hook confiscated by security.

And I won't even tell you about the time I tried to visit someone in jail after work one day............................

Molly
:^)))))

danak - I've done a LOT of post 9-11 flying. I did a bunch within months of the attacks, and then a bunch more recently.

I'd suggest if you're really itching to take that project with you, check it with your luggage at the check-in counter. Carry-on more passenger-friendly items such as a good book, magazine, or headset radio.

I've seen folks knitting & crocheting in larger airports such as Atlanta or Cincinnati. Still, from the point of view of somebody who doesn't enjoy standing in the lines, check those items. In the event your airport security decides your needles are a threat, someone like me could be standing in line behind you, annoyed while they decide if you're allowed to have them or not. If they're in your checked bags, they will be gladly accepted. If you'd like to take the chance, bring along a padded USPS envelope, addressed, and postage-paid. Then if they say "these aren't allowed on-flight", you can stick them in the envelope and say "please drop this in the mail for me." Then you won't lose your needles.

HTH, & fly safe with your eyes wide open,
-Jennifer

PVille - you're right- Those items are certainly unacceptable. No nail files, no nail clippers, no tweezers, and certainly no pointed scissors. And it doesn't matter what you look like. I'd rather they take all of those items rather than risk the chance of the items ending up in the wrong hands.

I coulda done way more damage with my finger nails that I coulda with those little manicure scissors.

My mother & sister just returned from a trip to Israel. El Al always had lots of security, even before 9/11.

My sister knits & said she has a set of needles that are allowed on planes. She had no problem with them. She is also in the middle of a project that she needed regular needles. She packed them in her checked luggage & worked on that project in the hotel.

If you check in your local craft/needlework store, they may be able to advise you.

Nancy

You can take nail clippers if you break the nail-file (the 1" nail file) off, then put it in the open tray so they can see no file... that they let me do even 2 months after 9/11. They actually let me take the tweezers that time, too, because they had rounded points... but they had to see them, and at the time, if they looked at one thing they insisted on going through the whole bag, to the bottom -- so there went my plastic knitting needles.

The 'one-suspect-thing, search-the-whole-bag' wasn't true this last trip: he said, "There's something that looks like clippers in here." So I quick opened it and pulled out a hole-punch (rounded ends) and he said, "Oh that's fine."

~'spin!~

Well, I decided to take the safe route and check the knitting needles. I got to read a good book on the plane and knit in my spare time in the hotel room. Needless to say, I had no problems whatsoever doing it that way. I like to avoid the hassle! Thanks everyone for your advice!

So how is the knitting going?!!

I found a little book I would send you if I had your snail address...

~'spin!~

Guess what I just found-- a list of items that are allowed and banned on planes. Knitting and crochet needles are allowed! This list is on the Transportation Security Admission's website: http://www.tsa.gov/interweb/assetlibrary/Prohibited_English_4-1-2005_v2.pdf