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Clare Churnside |
Airport Security! |
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So there we are, with 9 of our friends, going through security at Luton Airport on our way to sunny France. I was happy and calm. I wasn't at all worried,
after all, I had asked my hubby if he had packed my cross stitch in the luggage to be checked in and not in the hand luggage (he finished the last bits of
packing), and all was apparently in it's correct place. I waltzed through the x-ray machine tralalala. Then.... my friend tapped me on the shoulder, and I
turned to see my DH called over to the desk, and his hand-luggage was opened and they pulled out my cross stitch! HORROR! They confiscated my scissors of
course - fortunately not expensive ones, and I checked to make sure everything else was ok and not damaged, as the guy wasn't gentle or careful in his
handling at all. I then yelled a bit at my husband, to the amusement of our friends, then calmed down when my friend offered me her nail scissors for the week.
So - next time - I will double check to make sure my cross stitch is in the correct luggage, and NOT leave it to my hubby. Bless him - all is forgiven now -
but my heart really did sink when they pulled out my precious stitching!
WIPS: TW's Castle Sampler; TW's Stretch; Michael Powell's Spanish Hill Town 1; HAED Celestial
Companions (Harrison); Country Pig Sampler; HAED QS Bubble Fairy Cat Face (Hawks).
Completed TW's: The Castle, The Fantasy Sampler. |
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j39jones |
#1 | |||
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What size were your scissors? I have traveled from US to UK, and all over US and have never had my scissors confiscated! Nor have they ever looked twice at
my carry on luggage with them in it! That is so weird.
I would suggest one of those thread cutting pendants. I used that when NO scissors of any kind were allowed on board and it worked out very well. Also makes a nice necklace! I got loads of comments on my "beautiful" necklace when I had the cutter dangling from a chain around my neck
Jean in WV (which is a desert of xs supplies!)
Finishes: Over the Rainbow by Passione Ricamo StitchersHeaven My Blogging Space!
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littlewarsgirl |
#2 | |||
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Just a tip with the thread cutters, they're actually not allowed on flights in the US. Scissors are if the blades are less than 4", though you can
check out all the rules at the TSA website. They may not have taken the thread cutter, but it was an oversight, they probably just didn't notice. The
reasoning is that the blade could be made into a weapon.
Amy |
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Clare Churnside |
#3 | |||
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It's all a bit bizarre really! The regulations seem to change depending on the airline, or the country. My scissors were only small - the blades were
definitely less than 4". Oh well. That's a mistake I won't be making again!
WIPS: TW's Castle Sampler; TW's Stretch; Michael Powell's Spanish Hill Town 1; HAED Celestial
Companions (Harrison); Country Pig Sampler; HAED QS Bubble Fairy Cat Face (Hawks).
Completed TW's: The Castle, The Fantasy Sampler. |
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Patlynn316 |
#4 | |||
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I didn't know that the pendants aren't allowed. I have heard people use tooth floss boxes.. for working on planes.
Pattilynn wips: Noahs Ark, Father Winter Ornie |
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ripplemis |
#5 | |||
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I didn't know pendant cutter was not allowed either. I carried it onto the plain with me without any trouble last month.
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puffthelacedragon |
#6 | |||
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It's all to do with the country of origin - no scissors (or needles in fact - I've asked) at all when flying from a UK airport. Too much of a terrorist
risk. I'm not going to comment on the liklihood of hijacking a plane with a blunt needle. Scissors are allowed on flights that originate in the US - last
time I flew over I put my scissors and needle in a easliy accessible bit of my hold luggage for the flight from Manchester to Chicago. At Chicago I did a quick
swap - gin for scissors (no duty free bottles allowed on internal flights due to the liquid restrictions). I think I looked a little odd...
I flew back all the way to Manchester with scissors and needle So, for all you US ladies who may fly though the UK - we have different hand baggage restrictions (which currently vary depending on airport following the security scares last year - some airports don't yet have the capacity to scan as much hand luggage, so you can take 1 item, rather than 1 bag plus 1 personal item - but most now allow 2 items through security)... Check the guidelines for the specific airports before you fly!!! I'd not heard about the thread cutters being a problem, so will have to check next time I fly. I'm not keen on mine as I seem to have to tug the needlework a bit too hard to get a neat cut.
Jo (Yorkshire, UK)
My Blog WIP: Assisi knot garden, Fantasy Triptych, Wild Fairy Light, Benjamin Bunny Sampler Completed in 2007: 12 projects. Completed in 2008: Bob the Builder birth sampler, TW Above the Clouds, Piglet bookmark, Pooh Calendar, Dragon's treasure 10 Project challenge: Finished 12th April 2008 |
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Clare Churnside |
#7 | |||
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The guy didn't seem worried about my needle! Now THAT would have upset me!
WIPS: TW's Castle Sampler; TW's Stretch; Michael Powell's Spanish Hill Town 1; HAED Celestial
Companions (Harrison); Country Pig Sampler; HAED QS Bubble Fairy Cat Face (Hawks).
Completed TW's: The Castle, The Fantasy Sampler. |
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Nicola K |
#8 | |||
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I've had no trouble with thread cutter pendants in the UK or various parts of Europe (including Luton last week). I've also used a safety razor to cut
thread before I got my pendant, but it's tricky so I think the tooth floss box is a much better idea.
Thanks for the heads-up about scissors vs thread cutters in the US. On the subject of needles... I heard of one stitcher who got them confiscated. He's a columnist for one of the UK stitching magazines, and we were chatting at Stitch & Craft in Olympia this year. Apparently he was concerned they may not allow his needles, so he demonstrated prodding his hand with them to show they were blunt. He poked the back of his hand instead of his palm, and being fairly old his skin was fragile, and he stuck a tapestry needle into his hand... The moral of the story is: if you draw attention to something they'll get worried about it. I've never seen anything in the UK rules banning sewing needles from hand baggage. As a general rule if you ask they'll say no to err on the side of caution. Nicola |
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MMMcCloud |
#9 | |||
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I've never had a problem with needles or the Clover cutter. I make sure to not bring any scissors.
Susan in Northern California
The only thing constant in life - is change. Blog WIP's: Castle Sampler, Celtic Inspiration Band Sampler and Castle Ridge. |
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jlynn1 |
#10 | |||
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(Wow. My username and password are still recognized...)
I buy a brand-new set of grade school scissors (you know, the type with the rounded ends) before I travel on a plane, no matter what craft I'm carrying. Those scissors don't have great edges, but new ones aren't bad, and I've never had them taken away. And if they were, they probably cost less than a dollar in the first place. ;)
<Br><i>"Maturity is a high price to pay for growing up."--Tom Stoppard</i>
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YoliF |
#11 | |||
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The surefire not to be confiscated thread cutter is a dental floss container. I use it on planes all the time and they don't think anything of it..
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Clare Churnside |
#12 | |||
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ooo good tip!
WIPS: TW's Castle Sampler; TW's Stretch; Michael Powell's Spanish Hill Town 1; HAED Celestial
Companions (Harrison); Country Pig Sampler; HAED QS Bubble Fairy Cat Face (Hawks), Harvey Bear.
Completed TW's: The Castle, The Fantasy Sampler. |
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terrapin719 |
#13 | |||
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I would be annoyed at the rough handling of my stuff though! Thank goodness you hadn't packed expensive scissors. I think I'd cry if my good scissors
were taken away.
Loretta
Stitching the Night Away ~ Free cross stitch patterns, round robins, message board and lots of fun! *My Stitching and Pics (flickr account) *Just Not Martha ~ perfect is boring |
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cforber |
#14 | |||
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Baby nail scissors are pretty good. Quite sharp and VERY blunt tips.
I've found that Toronto Pearson airport to be one of the stickiest with respect to scissors. Doesn't matter how short the blades are, if the scissors have a sharp point, they don't allow them in carry-on baggage. I've had tiny folding scissors confiscated along with others with very short blades. I now just travel with some baby nail scissors and they seem to be ok. Never had problems with needles in Canada, US, Germany (Frankfurt) and Italy (Venice). |
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cebmd |
#15 | |||
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They were very fussy at Pearson on my way back from Creativ Festival. I had a pair of blunt scissors in my backpack (having carefully put the good ones in my
checked luggage), but they couldn't tell they were blunt on the x-ray, and searched my bag (pulling everything out in the process
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