And you thought that knitting needles are not allowed on a plane? Wrong
 

Two weeks ago we flew from Newark to Burlington, VT and a middle-aged woman sitting just across an isle took her needles out and started to knitt. I am talking about very short flight (no longer than 1 hour). I looked around and other passangers seemed surprised too. I asked a flight attendent what is a story with knitting needles telling her that I thought they were not allowed. She looked at me, then a woman with knitting needles and stated that they don't look that sharp and besides they passed security. Suddenely I became enemy of a group of passangers who told me I'm being paranoid. Well, maybe if someone was paranoid on September 11th some of the tragedy wouldn't happened. Anyway would you report this to the airline? <BR>How would you feel if someone next to you had knitting needles and use them so close to your face?

Little old ladies with knitting needles always frighten me too, especially when they start moving them around and around really fast. I get the shivers just thinking about it!

Yes, you are paranoid. She could have just as easily stabbed you with a ballpoint pen and done just as much damage as knitting needles. Should pens be banned too? If she wanted to she could have pulled out a shoelace from her tennies and wrapped it around your throat or even the pilot's throat and threatened to strangle him if he didn't fly the plane into a nuclear power plant.

I wouldn't be comfrotable. But before 9/11 I wouldn't care less

Clickety-clack, clickety-clack...Now there's an opening for a James Bond movie!<BR><BR>You're seriously paranoid if you're worried about little old ladies knitting. Suggest you go back to driving.

Actually, if she was across an isle, she was pretty far away from you. What were you worried about? Was it one of the British Isles, or a different one?

As an avid knitter,I can tell you that I am much less dangerous on a flight while occupied with knitting needles and yarn. That being said, I wouldn't walk through security with 13" long metal needles but short circular bamboo needles are not terribly threatening.

It depends on who is doing the knitting. I wouldn't be concerned about a middle-aged woman. But if the knitter was a Middle-eastern looking man with a beard wearing a Kafiya and a nametag saying "hello, my name is Abdullah" I might be concerned.

Security will never be 100 percent. And this new push for security checks is a joke. A man could choke a person to death with his belt. You don't see them banning belts. The only way to be safe is to put a steel door at the cockpit.

The think the point here is that the FAA and other security officials have tried to make new policies, aimed at making flying safer for everyone. Whatever the policies are (knitting needles or not), they should be carried through by EVERY flight, regardless of the destination, duration or who is carrying the "contraband". Yes, the new rules are a pain, but if they prevent another 9-11 tragedy....it's worth it.

Isn't ANYONE going to bring up the old joke about "What if she tries to knit an AFGHAN!"?

Ellen<BR><BR>HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA good one.<BR><BR>The only way we can be really safe is to have everyone be naked before going through security, search all body cavities, xray and scan each body for ingested bombs, allow no luggage of any kind, seal the cockpit, strap and lock everyone in their seat, and then allow the plane to fly...even then there is still a risk.

I would be more scared (grossed out actually) having to alongside naked versions of the people I see these days on planes.<BR>Ewwwwww!

I think that we should be allowed to bring our guns on the plane. You never know when you might need to protect yourself from some crazy terrorist.

The US knows that this new safety is a joke. They'll pull a pair of tweezers out of your shaving kit, but after you walk past security you can buy all of the glass bottles you want from vendors and duty free shops. Can you think of a better weapon than a shattered bottle whiskey bottle? Far more dangerous than a box cutter.

Please, at least drink all the good booze before you break the bottle!

But seriously, folks...<BR>I am not that old, but pre-9/11, I always took my knitting on flights with me. I've flown a few times since, and have left my needles and yarn home, thinking they wouldn't pass security. I am actually curious if anyone has actually had their needles confiscated. I usually take scissors, too, but I know I'd be pushing my luck there.

Forget the glass bottles - I saw pocket knives for sale in the airport gift shop!! And this was past the security check point! I felt so secure getting on the plane after that.

My best friend had her knitting needles taken away.

It's not just the old ladies with knitting needles that frighten me, but it's clowns too. The ones with the sad eyes are especially terrifying...