TSA Carry On Question

[Tistal]

This question may be better asked on a cosplay board, but I figured I'd start here.

I'm traveling down for the 24 hour party, and I'm going as a Wilderness Explorer. As part of my costume, I've made a flag on a wooden dowel that will be jammed down into my backpack and sticking out of the top. The wooden dowel is 39 inches long and 5/8 inches in diameter. Both ends are blunt. The flag is secured to the dowel via 4 staples (just normal from a staple gun staples...nothing super heavy duty). Does anyone know if I can carry this on or will it need to be checked? As billiard cues and hockey sticks are allowed in carry on bags, I'm assuming that this would be allowed under those rules. Any advice (thanks in advance)?

 

[purple figment]

According to the TSA website, hockey sticks and pool cues are NOT allowed in carry on luggage:
http://www.tsa.gov/traveler-information/prohibited-items

 

[maxiesmom]

I'm trying to figure out where you would stow it on the aircraft. It would either have to fit in the overhead, or totally under the seat in front of you.

 

[chartle]

I would think it falls into the night stick category. I would say mail it ahead of time but isn't the event this week end? But if you could you could maybe just toss it after the party and not worry about bringing it back.

 

[siskaren]

How do you plan on getting on rides with a 39" wooden dowel? I can't imagine a ride where that would be allowed.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

First, TSA doesn't set the size rules for carry-on size, the airlines do.

Thirty-nine inches is too long for a carry on item, even if this is allowed through security, which it shouldn't be. You'll have to check it. That actually sounds far too long to fit in a backpack.
Twelve inches would be long enough.

 

[chartle]

That actually sounds far too long to fit in a backpack. A Twelve inches would be long enough.

Not really its meant to look like this.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

I see. Maybe you could attach it to something like a balloon stick when you get there.

 

[purple figment]

If you are dressing up like Russell and the flag is going to be in the backpack, I think you can get by with something a lot shorter than 39". Have only the flag show above the edge of the backpack.

 

[chartle]

How about a two piece stick with a coupler. Also its more likely not to be an issue if you make it thin or maybe from 1/2 in pvc.

So two hunks of pvc painted beige with a short dowel as a coupler.

 

[charmed59]

Or cut the dowel just below what will be sticking out of the back pack (20") and use a 5inch piece of PVC as the coupler for the two pieces of dowel, it should be hidden inside the back pack. This means you will have a piece of dowel of about 15 inches sticking out of the back pack.

That said, I don't know how crowded this party is, but it is not rare for people to forget how big backpacks are and hit people and things with them when they turn. I suspect this adorable flag can cause all sorts of damage. It might really be in your best interest to have one that you can break down and put away if it looks like it will cause problems.