Small scissors allowed on plane? **Thread contains link to TSA banned items list**

[Snurk71]

I have a small (2-inch when folded, maybe 3 inches unfolded) pair of sewing scissors that I usually take on trips in case I ever need scissors for something. Usually I pack them in the checked luggage so there's no problem, but this time I'm only doing carry-on. Will I be able to take them? Does anyone have the site where you can check whether or not items like this are allowed? Thanks for any help!

 

[Sammy]

I have a small cosmetic case that I keep packed all the time for traveling and forgot I had a small pair of folding scissors in there. I threw the case into my backpack and when I went through airport security, they told me the saw "something" on the Xray. I had absolutely NO idea what they could have possibly seen, and they rummaged through my entire bag.....until they came up with the scissors. Had to hand them over right then and there. They were a really nice pair that I haven't been able to replace yet!

 

[safetymom]

I take a small pair of scissors in my carry on but they are like the kids scissors that are plastic. When once I forgot and had a pair of metal scissors and they took them.

 

[fac]

I suggest not to bring it.

Last month we went to WDW with DD4 and DD6, I let them pack their carry-on, they mainly put their toys, books etc. I checked DD6's carry-on and found a pair of scissors, pulled it out but made the mistake of not checking DD4's carry-on. When they checked the carry-on in the airport, they have to scan DD4's carry-on three times and open her backpack, then found a pair of scissors . It was a 3 to 4 inches scissors that DD4 uses to cut paper. It is not sharp. I won't go into what happened later, but only comment that they handle it quite nicely. But the point is that it generates alert.

I also think that they had posted that scissors are not allowed.

 

[LisaS]

Scissors with blunt tips are OK, scissors with pointed tips are not OK in your carry on bag. Here is the official list of prohibited items:
http://www.tsa.gov/interweb/assetlibrary/Prohibited_English_4-1-2005_v2.pdf

 

[Hopefully]

I had a small pair of folding scissors in my First Aid kit (for moleskin, if needed). On our last trip I forgot about them and at the last minute threw the First Aid kit in the packback my DH was carrying! Oh- Oh!!!! They scanned it over and over, as he got madder and madder. I couldn't think of what was in it. They finally found the scissors and took them. I still hear about it!

 

[SueM in MN]

There was a news story recently about a man who forgot he had his Swiss army knife in his shaving kit. It got confiscated, which he said, he deserved. But, after he returned home, he had a citation and a fine for $250!
Here's a link to the story.

 

[localdriver]

Scissors with blunt tips are OK, scissors with pointed tips are not OK in your carry on bag. Here is the official list of prohibited items:
http://www.tsa.gov/interweb/assetlibrary/Prohibited_English_4-1-2005_v2.pdf

Wow, this website would be a good sticky for infrequent flyers. I don't fly frequently and would not have given a thought to many items on that list.

"For those folks flying"

Mods, what do you think??

 

[dreams91]

Scissors with blunt tips are OK, scissors with pointed tips are not OK in your carry on bag. Here is the official list of prohibited items:
http://www.tsa.gov/interweb/assetlibrary/Prohibited_English_4-1-2005_v2.pdf

Yep, I took blunt tip scissors on the plane in carry on for a craft to do. No probs.

 

[cdrn1]

I had a pair of nurse's blunt-tip bandage scissors (specifically designed NOT to cut people!) in DGD's diaper bag, and they pulled my DD aside after X-ray at MCO and asked her to get them out. She didn't know they were in there and told them she didn't have any and they were getting kind of testy with her until I made it through and told her where they were! She was pretty embarassed. They didn't take them after they saw what they were. Oops.

 

[Snurk71]

Thanks for all the help. Maybe I'll just either take my dd's blunt ones, or just buy some at my destination if I wind up needing them.

 

[JoeCathyAngelina]

Cigarette lighters and matches are another problem. I had a cigarette lighter and matches in a cigar case that I put in my carry on bag at the Boston terminal. I passed through the metal detector, went to the gate and got on the plane; No Problem. In Orlando I put the Cigar case with the cigarette lighter and matches in my check-in luggage. At MCO they stopped the luggage check-in, pulled my suitcase aside, took my key, opened the suitcase and rummaged through my clothes until they found the cigar case and cigarette lighter. They confiscated the lighter and matches. Not a pleasant expierience.

 

[siobhan1997]

husbands swiss army knife that he carries in his carryon shaving kit has yet to be detected by any security. Just returned from London and also went up to scotland. Nothing. Last march US and Canada security nothing. He keeps it in a pouch made of ordinary material. But I will definetly tell him about the $250 fine.

 

[georgina]

I take my fingernail scissors with rounded tips all the time in carry-on, but I do put it in a tray separately for security so they don't have to rummage through my bag to see what it is. I use it to cut my cross-stitch threads on the plane.

 

[Obi-Wan Pinobi]

Wow, this website would be a good sticky for infrequent flyers. I don't fly frequently and would not have given a thought to many items on that list.

"For those folks flying"

Mods, what do you think??

Very good idea. The TSA link is especially helpful. I'm going to stick this to the top and edit the title slightly so people will know about the link.

 

[Donnask8pro]

I had 2 pairs in cosmetic bag in Jan. 1 sharp and 1 blunt. They made me take them out. They did take the sharp ones but let me keep the blunt ones. I had forgotten they were in there. The worst part is they pull you aside to open your luggage.

 

[elf]

My 2 DD's tried to bring on the plastic swords they bought from Pirates of the Carribean, they wouldn't let us. Good thing we were early we had to pack them up to luggage area.
Also one time they took out my tweezers and toe nail clippers from toiletry bag and made us throw them out (no time to check in). I guess they were nervous that day. I think that was the time they used the wand on dd (was 5 at the time) she got a little upset, til I made a game out of it. I guess we looked like a bunch of vagabonds so early in the am.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

I was too paranoid to put DS's blunt tip scissors in the carry on, even though I wanted to! We wanted them for moleskin (of course) but I went ahead and put them in my checked bag since scissors seem to be such a problem.

I would be furious if they took my tweezers and fingernail clippers!!

 

[seashoreCM]

In addition to items on the TSA's forbidden list, any item (such as a cheese grater) that should be "kept out of the reach of children" stands a good chance of being confiscated at the security checkpoint.

Disney hints:
http://membes.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

 

[donaldbuzz&minnie]

I saw a really good suggestion in "Hints to Heloise". Someone wrote in and said that she always keeps a self-addressed padded envelope that is stamped for priority mail (so she doesn't have to worry about weight) in the pocket of her carry-on bag. If she forgets that she's carrying her scissors, she can just mail them back to herself. I've now done that, and so just replaced a pair of good folding scissors like the ones that TSA had to take from me a year or so ago when I forgot I had them in my purse.