eunclejack

Will be flying Aer Lingus in January to Ireland. To pass the time on the plane would like to do some embroidary or knitting. Are knitting needles and/or sewing needles allowed on an international flight?

MarthaStewart

No, they are not allowed. You'll have to figure out a way to do glue-gun projects on board, I'm afraid. Knitting and emroidery needles will be confiscated.

Andrea

I wouldn't listen to Martha - they don't allow sewing needles where she's going, either.<BR><BR>Seriously, though, my advice is to bring a pair (set?) that you don't mind losing, and plan an alternative to keep you busy in case they are confiscated.<BR><BR>Even if a given airline tells you that they would be allowed, it's at the discretion of the security agents at the various airports you'll be passing through. And even if knitting/sewing needles are NOT on any forbidden items list, if the security agent deems them a risk, they'll take them.<BR><BR>So, you may as well go ahead and try, but only bring ones you wouldn't mind losing, and have a back-up plan!

O.T.

even if you manage to get the sewing needles onboard, your scissors will be taken away. Happened to me years ago, I had a 4 hr waiting time in London which I had planned to do some embroidery but they took the scissors of me on the first flight.

Tangata

Rather odd isn’t it when they will sell you a bottle of booze on board? Knock the end off that and you have a weapon a bit more serious than embroidery scissors!

Linda

I imagine it depends on which airport you use, but we flew from Frankfurt to Vancouver in June and had no problem with my son's little craft scissors (blunt ends). I even took them out of his bag to show the security at both airports and they said they were fine. Mind you, those things are next to impossible to cut yourself with but work surprisingly well on paper and yarn.

amy

My daughter's blunt end scissors were ok'ed for the US to Europe flight but were rather dramatically confiscated for the Paris/US flight. I didn't argue...just thought, &quot;Wow, you guys need some real action.&quot;

Suzanne

I have successfully brought both sewing needles (not many) and plastic circular knitting needles on a flight on 2 overseas trips: one in April and one in August. They were never even looked at. As for scissors, that's another issue. I used a pair or nail clippers instead.<BR>

Rich

I don't know if they were plastic or metal, but an elderly passnger on Lufthansa was passing the time by knitting. <BR><BR>Just an aside, it's ironic that the airports are so diligent with their security, but why aren't train stations being secured also?

Andrea

I think an important thing to remember is that there is not a lot of consistency in the enforcement of security issues right now. One person could bring something like that on 30 flights and not have a problem, and another could have them confiscated in the first airport they enter. <BR><BR>A few weeks ago there was a big fuss because boomarang players were having their competition boomarangs confiscated. Not all of them, just some (different airports, all traveling for a competition).

roco

That's most interesting that Rich saw a woman knitting on Lufthansa......<BR>I will be flying Sunday to Europe on Lufthansa so I called the airline to ask. I was told NO! The person was extremely sympathetic because she, also, is a knitter so I was sure she had the right answer. <BR><BR>I now plan on surviving the 14 hours someother way, like kicking the seats in front of me and watching the heads pop up. My knitting is now packed in outside pocket (or will be when I START the knitting) of my checked suitcase and I will remove it for 4 hour ride from Rome to our hotel. <BR>I feel that circular needles are too expensive to &quot;throw away&quot; at the mercy of some overzealous security person.<BR><BR>BTH, the knitting store I called, said: &quot;go for it!&quot;. She thinks that I will be back there to buy NEW needles.....surprise, I would buy them in Italy!<BR><BR>I have read a thread by Elvira where she talked about bringing her needlepoint and working on it.'<BR><BR>In Michaels, they have a ring-type cutter with an invisible cutting edge designed to cut thread/yarn.<BR><BR>Let us know what you finally do!

kam

Just traveled back from Chicago to San Jose on UAL with my needlepoint. Almost all needlepont stores now carry airlines approve thread cutters which tie onto your canvas. You couldnt possibly do anything but cut thread with them. Don't know about knitting needles, at one point they too were banned. Call airlines to ask, but as above be prepared to have things taken.

jkalos

i checked with the airline that i will be flying overseas with in march and they sent me back this government website link. according to this, knitting needles are allowed, but then again, so are corkscrews<BR><BR>http://www.tsa.gov/public/interapp/t...olicy_0010.xml.

moonbeam

TSA may allow it...but I saw a lady's corkscrew being confiscated at heathrow and she had to step aside to be questioned!