http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/prohibited/permitted-prohibited-items.shtm

That's a link to the TSA's website showing what can be taken carryon, in a checked bag or not at all. You may put a corkscrew in your checked bag, but please wrap it up a bit or make sure that the pointy end is covered in some fashion so that if someone searches your bag they don't get stabbed (also so that it doesn't snag on anything).


You don't have to justify taking checked bags, each traveler can choose what works best for them. For some people and trips carryon only is best, for others checking a bag is best.

When you pack, put anything you can't easily replace in your carryon(s). Often it's easiest to take two smaller/lighter bags than one full one btw. Cameras, battery chargers, medications, glasses/contacts, a change or two of clothes, etc. Anything that you can't just go to the local department store and pick up easily or that you would be upset if it was lost forever, should go in your carryon.

There is no issue with anything you mention in a *checked-thru* bag. A corkscrew, knife, bottle opener, etc. are all OK in a checked suitcase. Same with normal silverware (if for some reason you didn't want only plastic).

Checked bags always work better for me, since I'm only a little over 5 feet tall, and while I have a fair amount of upper body strength for a woman my size, I've had to just about climb INTO the overhead bins to get things in and out. That said, many people on this board are strongly in favor of carry-on only, and I always feel a little bit defensive about my preference for checking baggage.

Your "what to go in the carryon" advice is excellent, and is the philosphy I usually follow. I am thinking that the corkscrew may not need to travel with us, however. IF we buy a bottle of wine and need one, they can't be that expensive, and I'd be surprised if a 5-star hotel couldn't find us one, particularly if we made that request at a decent hour.

I always check my bag. I always pack my carryon with anything valuable, hard to replace, or an emergency nature (meds, glasses, etc.) I always pack a corkscrew.

Yes a hotel will loan you a corkscrew (even if it isn't a 5-star) but I prefer not to have to ask. It's truly not an issue in checked luggage. I'm not sure why you are feeling tentative about this. Sure you can buy one, or borrow one, but you can also save yourself the trouble and pack one.

Heck - the things you asked about are allowed even in carry on bags. Of course they'd be fine in checked luggage.

One thing you might want to consider though: Do you ALL need to check bags? 3 large suitcases and 3 carry ons is a lot of luggage for many rental cars. You want all bags stowed out of sight in the trunk or under the tonneau. Maybe only check 1 or 2 bags (I'm one of the 'carry-on-only' fans - but I'm not a nazi about it )

Or check one bag, have 3 carry-on's and take an empty fold up duffle/satchel in case you lose all sales resistance. You can check the suitcase and duffle on the trip home.

DH was very sure that we would be opening up ourselves to be interrogated for hours, having all our bags searched, etc. I thought this was extremely unlikely (and did think a corkscrew was a fairly normal thing to travel with), but was kind of leaning towards not getting him upset, and I would not like a TSA agent to accindentally poke him or herself on my corkscrew. It does sound like it is really not a weird thing to bring, though.

It'll be one carry-on (which DH can wrestle into the overhead bin) and three checked suitcases, possibly with a shopper or duffel folded into one, so that some of the shopping can be a carry-on for the way back if I don't want to check it.

Oh! And no rental car!

3 suitcases plus 1 carryon is a lot of luggage for a short trip. The corkscrew will be the least of your problems (just kidding you a little here).

I guess there's no sense upsetting your husband if he's really fixated that this could be a problem... but I can pretty much guarantee TSA will NOT batt an eye at a corkscrew in a checked bag.

What kind of corkscrew do you have that anyone would be 'poked'? Mine folds up like a Swiss Army knife.

OK - the car won't be a problem? But are you staying in one hotel room -- or renting a flat?

If it is one triple room - 4 suitcases will take up about half the available space. That does seem an awful lot of luggage - corkscrew or no corkscrew.

It is one triple, so we may be a little squishy, but I'm sure we can manage. My usual corkscrew does not fold up. It's the old-fashioned kind that is really just a large, pointy metal coil on a wooden handle.

Buy a new corkscrew? Either in Dublin and bring it home as a souvenier? Or buy a new one at home? Get the kind waiters use in restaurants, they work soooo much better.

A trick that some families use that might work for you since you're taking the 3 large suitcases, is to mix up the stuff. Don't have 1-person pack in 1-suitcase each, rather mix things up so if one bag goes missing, everyone still has some clothes and shoes.

There is no problem with a corkscrew in checked luggage. None. Basically, as long as it can't explode, it is fine in checked luggage.

Now, a corkscrew in your carry-on might draw unwanted attention. I mean, I have had small, blunt-tipped scissors confiscated. A corkscrew like you describe is a veritable eye-poking device.

FWIW, I usually check luggage for any trip over a few days, as does my wife.

We were definitely planning to do that, too. It's really not that I trust Aer Lingus not to lose anything, as that the convenience of checking bags outweighs the risk of not having them arrive at the same time we do. As long as we pack in such a manner that a lost suitcase (or three) is not likely to ruin the trip, I'd rather bring everything I think I might want instead of paring down to the minimum.