Carry on luggage for international flight?
Jan 17th, 2005, 06:21 AM
#1
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Carry on luggage for international flight?
Our family is packing light for a one week trip to Italy next month, and I was wondering if anyone had problems with carry on. I have always done carry on in the past, but haven't post 9/11. There are four of us altogether traveling. My husband and I are each bringing a small suitcase (carry on size) and the kids are each taking a small backpack (school size). I'll probably have an extra backpack. I keep nailclippers and tweezers in my bag. Would any of this be a problem? Would a corkscrew be a problem? We're flying on Lufthansa if that makes a difference.
Thanks!
Thanks!
Jan 17th, 2005, 06:53 AM
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My daughter flew all over Europe and back to the U.S. with a corkscrew in her backpack. Even with all the rules, sometimes it just seems to depend on who is doing the checking. Another daughter had to give up a Ralph Nader political pin. Go figure! I suspect the checker just wanted it for himself. I have been in lines where I have had to take off my watch and shoes and lines where I didn't even have to remove my coat. Just be prepared to give them up and buy new ones when you arrive.
Jan 17th, 2005, 07:32 AM
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I believe corkscrews are OK now if they don't have the small blade at one end. I had mine confiscated several months ago and was told because of the knife at the other end of the opener that cuts the capsule. 
Jan 17th, 2005, 07:45 AM
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Check Lufthansa's website about the maximum weight for carry on. Wear the heaviest clothes (layer). Instead of nailclippers, bring along one of those heavy duty emory boards. And my experience with cork screws is they're okay as long as they don't have the little blade. If you're kids are old enough to handle they're own carry-on, that would be a help, and still bring their backpack with things to amuse them during the flight. Sounds like a wonderful adventure. Happy travels!
Jan 17th, 2005, 07:54 AM
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Nail clippers, corkscrews, and tweezers are all OK. As mentioned above, a corkscrew with a knife would not be OK.
Complete listing:
http://www.tsa.gov/public/display?theme=177
Complete listing:
http://www.tsa.gov/public/display?theme=177
Jan 17th, 2005, 08:17 AM
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I know the corkscrew controversy is crazy. I found some airlines had their own policy concerning them, so even though the TSA may say one thing and allow them, the individual airline may choose to interpret it differently. BTW, death or disfigurement by corkscrew sounds horrific, but even a pen can be used as a weapon.
Jan 17th, 2005, 08:29 AM
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As previously said - nail clippers, corkscrews and tweezers are all now allowed. But even so, individual screeners might reject them. I wouldn't worry about it - just take inexpensive ones and if they are confiscated - no big deal.
Knitting needles, blunt scissors, etc are also not a problem.
But a new change starting in feb - butane lighters are no longer allowed in checked or carry on bags.
Knitting needles, blunt scissors, etc are also not a problem.
But a new change starting in feb - butane lighters are no longer allowed in checked or carry on bags.
Jan 17th, 2005, 08:49 AM
#11
As one poster mentioned above, check the WEIGHT limit for carryon bags. I can easily pack in a 22" roller that fits the dimensional requirements, but I can't get it light enough to be allowed on board (this is for British Air and their 13 lb. maximum).
Jan 17th, 2005, 09:56 AM
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Just a point on tweezers. They are not 100% sure. My mom this past September on NWA from London back to U.S. had her carryon hand searched at the gate as part of a random check and they took her tweezers, the "slanty" kind, not the "pointy" kind. Who knows why but you can't exactly argue on the spot, and at the gate no option to check the item or purchase an envelope to mail it home.
Jan 17th, 2005, 10:59 AM
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Thanks for all the information. If I can do carry on, I will bring an emory board, non-knife corksrew and tweezers I wouldn't mind parting with. There is a point to be made about the weight requirements. I wouldn't have thought of that. (I don't know why that would matter if I'm willing to lift it?)Since some of the kids' clothing will undoubtedly be in our suitcases, they are bound to weigh more than 13 pounds each. It's nice to do carry on when you can, but at least I'll know ahead of time...
Jan 17th, 2005, 11:01 AM
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I have been to Europe twice in 2004 with only carryon. No one took my:
tweezers(slanted tip)
nailclippers(w/tiny file)
metal nailfile (3-4 inches)
corkscrew(no blade)
Recently read that now one cannot carryon a disposable lighter, which is a change since we went in October.
tweezers(slanted tip)
nailclippers(w/tiny file)
metal nailfile (3-4 inches)
corkscrew(no blade)
Recently read that now one cannot carryon a disposable lighter, which is a change since we went in October.
Jan 17th, 2005, 11:12 AM
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There's an odd assumption in many of the answers to this thread that America's TSA has anything to do with this problem.
If you're flying Lufthansa to Italy, you - and your luggage - go through German security at your transit airport. On your return you go through Italian and German security. These operations are subject to the rules their governments lay down.
However lax about tweezers etc the Americans might be, don't assume the rules are the same here. You need to ask Lufthansa, or people who have recently gone through the airport you'll be using.
If you're flying Lufthansa to Italy, you - and your luggage - go through German security at your transit airport. On your return you go through Italian and German security. These operations are subject to the rules their governments lay down.
However lax about tweezers etc the Americans might be, don't assume the rules are the same here. You need to ask Lufthansa, or people who have recently gone through the airport you'll be using.
Jan 17th, 2005, 11:16 AM
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Our family of four flew Lufthansa. We packed everything for 14 days in carry-on only. Lufthansa definitely has a weight limit, check their website. They also have a size limit with a box at check-in that your bag must fit in.
We had packed the kids carry-ons lighter than my husband's and mine. The check-in clerk added all the bags together to check the weight limit, which was nice. My husbands was over the individual limit, but our family total was less than the individual limit x 4. We weighted our bags at home, so we knew his was overweight. We were prepared to shift items, if needed, to accomodate the limits.
Once on board, there was plenty of room in the overhead compartments (unlike domestic flts) for our carry ons.
BTW we really liked Lufthansa! Have a great trip!
We had packed the kids carry-ons lighter than my husband's and mine. The check-in clerk added all the bags together to check the weight limit, which was nice. My husbands was over the individual limit, but our family total was less than the individual limit x 4. We weighted our bags at home, so we knew his was overweight. We were prepared to shift items, if needed, to accomodate the limits.
Once on board, there was plenty of room in the overhead compartments (unlike domestic flts) for our carry ons.
BTW we really liked Lufthansa! Have a great trip!
Jan 17th, 2005, 11:24 AM
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Be careful with the weight restrictions. Some airlines seem to allow varying weight suitcases as long as the total weight does not exceed the limits. Others will make you repack until each suitcase falls within the limits. Better be safe!
Jan 17th, 2005, 01:16 PM
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When I went to France, I checked the rules and a corkscrew was permitted. So I took one with me and had no problem... until I returned. The security at Charles De Gaul wold not allow it.
The woman that took it, liked it. I bet she kept it. Though I don't think that is why she took it away.
Keith
The woman that took it, liked it. I bet she kept it. Though I don't think that is why she took it away.
Keith
Jan 17th, 2005, 01:17 PM
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I fly overseas weekly for work and have found that for some reason,England is the pickiest on what they will let go through and what doesn't.They have taken cuticle clippers,corkscrew,etc. in the past months even though they made it through the TSA screening here. Last week in Paris, the screener wanted to take my eyelash curler-go figure? Just be prepared to give up anything you have in question so be pleasantly surprised if you can keep it!
