PSA about air travel

[Carriemel]

Hi, all. Friendly neighborhood TSA officer here.

This is just a friendly lil PSA reminder-type-thingy...if you are traveling this holiday season with gifts for family members, please, please, please remember NOT to wrap them until you arrive at your destination. If we need to open your bag to look at something, we WILL open the wrapped gift.

Do take tape, small scissors and wrapping paper with you - in your checked bag is fine - and wrap once you arrive.

 

[goofy4tink]

Thanks for the reminder. What about foodstuffs? If someone is bringing a food gift with them. Not wrapped but in tins or wrapped in foil.

 

[PrincessJo]

You can take small scissors with you in your checked baggage? I thought we weren't even allowed to have nail clippers

 

[Betty Rohrer]

key word: checked. not in carryon

 

[wiigirl]

key word: checked. not in carryon

 

[Lewisc]

I've read you can take small scissors, with round--not pointed tips. Be prepared to ditch the scissors if the TSA agent doesn't agree.

Easy solution. Use gift bags. Alternate solution. Pre cut the paper. You can wrap the gifts just don't tape the paper. You could even tape the paper on a couple of sides, as long as it's easy to take the paper off without ripping it.

 

[bumbershoot]

From the cute little "can I bring" app on tsa.gov:

In general, you are prohibited from traveling with sharp objects in your carry-on baggage; please pack these items in your checked baggage. Scissors with blades smaller than 4 inches, small needles carried for special medical needs, and other sharp objects that do not contain a blade may be placed in carry-on baggage.

Any sharp objects placed in carry-on or checked baggage should be properly sheathed or securely wrapped to prevent injury to TSOs and baggage handlers.

Even if an item is generally permitted, it may be subject to additional screening or not allowed through the checkpoint if it triggers an alarm during the screening process, appears to have been tampered with, or poses other security concerns. The final decision rests with TSA on whether to allow any items on the plane.

So...maybe small scissors can go in carryon, maybe they can't. Helpful.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

You can take small scissors with you in your checked baggage? I thought we weren't even allowed to have nail clippers

You can bring large shears, meat cleavers, ices axes, butcher knives, and brass knuckles, among other things, in your checked baggage -- but, of course, none of these are allowed in your carry-on bags.

Small scissors (blades shorter than 4 inches), nail clippers, knitting needles, and Disney pins are allowed in checked and carry-on bags (even though some people think they aren't allowed).

Although TSA agents are empowered to use judgement if an item poses a security concern, there should be no problem if an item is normally allowed and has not been modified in some way.

 

[goofy4tink]

I have a pair of fold-up scissors that I carry in my carry on bag. The blades are about 2" when unfolded. I have never had them questioned at security.

 

[lylone]

I second the folded up 2in scissors in a carry on. Never had it questioned even when going to Mexico. They did pull out a blunt ended nail file...go figure.

 

[aubriee]

I have a pair of fold-up scissors that I carry in my carry on bag. The blades are about 2" when unfolded. I have never had them questioned at security.

I second the folded up 2in scissors in a carry on. Never had it questioned even when going to Mexico. They did pull out a blunt ended nail file...go figure.

I have a pair of blunt tipped children's scissors (blades less than 4") that stay in my carry on all the time. I have never had them even questioned.

 

[NotUrsula]

I have medical scissors that I carry for this purpose; they come in handy for clipping loose threads on clothing without stabbing yourself, and the angle of the handle and the rounded bottom blade makes them great for gift wrapping.

Since I need to get to the airport and my gate rather early, for holiday travel I often I use the time waiting at the gate to gift-wrap any small items that I haven't shipped ahead to my destination. I pre-cut the wrapping paper for ease of handling, not because the scissors are an issue (it's just less trouble not having to deal with wrapping material scraps.)

I would recommend not taking most gifts along with you at all (unless they are small items with very high value, such as jewelry or small electronics); pack wrapped toys, sweaters, etc. in a larger box with padding on the inside, and ship them to get there a few days before you do. It is not expensive if you do it early enough for ground-shipping, and refrain from gifting really heavy, bulky things. (If I need to gift something like that, I have it shipped directly from the merchant to the recipient.) Shipping 25 lbs via FedEx ground from the midwest to Florida last year only cost me $20; about the same as a fast-food meal for two -- and I consider it worth EVERY PENNY for the convenience.

BTW, when I shipped wrapped packages I leave off most ribbon trim so that it will not get crushed. I just put ribbon and tape in the box and add those at my destination.