getting an engagement ring through airport security
 

I'm sure this has been asked and answered. But I couldn't find a thread. So, I'll "pop the question" again. . . my brother-in-law is planning to propose to his girlfriend in AZ this weekend. He's nervous about getting the ring through airport security without her noticing. I don't think he should pack the ring in his checked luggage. What would you experienced travelers advise he should do to get the ring through security safely and secretly????

Thanks!

My jewelry always goes with me as a carryon. Never a problem thru security-they have never stopped me to search it.

Keep it in his pocket.

Your BIL should have his own carry on (luggage, backpack, etc) and he should hide the ring in there.

Unless his girlfriend is looking at the x-ray machine screen and notices a small bright object he should be fine...assuming he hides it well enough.

Don't bring a wrapped box - might make him open it.

Why would they make him open it? Never heard of such a thing. It's a ring, not a swiss army knife or an alarm clock with wires running to a chunk of peanut butter.

Just put in carryon as saps suggests. If he puts it in his pocket it won't set off the metal detector, but the 'bulge' might look suspicious to TSA agent.

Definitely in his carryon, not his pocket. Pockets must be emptied of all metalic objects. Carryons just go on the conveyor belt to get scanned. I always put my jewelry in my carryon and it has never been a problem. If he carryon gets searched (mine does occasionally), he will be pulled aside with his luggage. He can tell the TSA agent about the ring and I am sure he or she will be discrete about it.

Tell him to conceal the ring in a tobacco pouch, no bride will think of looking inside :))

If he puts the ring in a small pouch by itself rather than in the ring box while travelling, then even if they do a physical search, it won't look like a ring to his girlfriend. If it's by itself in the pouch, then they will be able to tell exactly what it is from the xray and won't bother opening the pouch. He can then put the box in his checked and replace the ring when he gets there.

Swallow it!

I'd put the box inside a sock in the checked bag, but not the ring. Valuables have been known to disappear from checked luggage!

Then put the ring between two pieces of cardboard and seal it in an envelope. Write something on the outside like "hotel tickets" or such, and keep it in the carryon bag, or camera bag, or similar. That way it's safe and even on the off chance his carryon stuff gets a second look, girlfriend won't see the ring!

Nice plan! I like the detail. . .

Stick the ring into the barrell of a shotgun...those things always get through.

Or there's that. . . .

Slip is on his toe (and wash it later)....

To answer J62's question - if a box is wrapped as a gift the TSA screeners can, and sometimes do, ask you to unwrap it so that they can verify it's content regardless of what it may be. It all depends on how the package in question shows up on the x-ray machine. This happens more often around the Christmas holidays. The ultimate decision is, of course, left to the TSA agent doing the screening.

I would put the ring in a padded envelope. A small one. And put the box in the checked luggage. The point is for the envelped to be too big to be "lost" but small enough as to not be discovered

He should just propose in the security line so he won't have to hassle with all this.

Whatever he does, he should not carry the ring in a box and leave it in his pocket and walk thru security. That is what my soon-to-be son-in-law did when he flew with my daughter who did not know about the ring at that time. The metal hinge on the ring box caused a search. After he explained, the security personnel were very understanding and cooperative about keeping the box out of my daughter's sight. One of them volunteered to chat with her and distract her while they completed the inspection.

Don't put it in checked luggage. He should put it in his carry-on bag.

Geez, put it on his pinkie finger and wear gloves. They never make me take my wedding ring off. Then, when the plane takes off and it it safe to move about the cabin, just go to the loo with a ditty bag and stow it. Or, better het, surreptitiously take it off with his glove and put both in his carryon after going through security.