Knitting needles on airplanes?

[uniquelydarcy]

I'm taking a long flight tomorrow and I'd like to bring my knitting to work on.  Do you know if airport security will allow a #10 circular needle (the tips are metal) on to the plane?

Please help.

Thank you.

[Mojo]

I was able to bring my circulars on board a flight without encountering any problems with security.  Scissors, however, may be an issue.

[MamaKitty]

I looked this up myself a while ago The FAA has a list of items allowed, and knitting nedles are OK. You can't have pointy scissors, though.

Here's the link I got it from....
http://www.tsa.gov/interweb/assetlibrary/Permitted_Prohibited_12_18_2003.pdf

[indiaromeo]

I've flown several times with knitting needles in my carry-on bag, and I've never gotten hassled. Just to be safe, I always pack them with my knitting project, so if my bag gets searched, I can say, "See, these are my knitting needles, and this is the knitting project I'm working on." I read somewhere that it is recommended to carry a self-addressed, stamped envelope with you - that way, if security starts giving you a hard time, you can find a post office drop box at the airport and stick the needles in the package and mail 'em back home to yourself.

Here's a link to a CNN.com article that lists knitting needles as being an ok carry-on item: http://www.cnn.com/2004/TRAVEL/01/15/airline.security.ap/

Hope that helps!

[uniquelydarcy]

That's great -- thanks for letting me know.

Good thing you mentioned the scissor part -- I would have forgotten about them and put them in the same bag as the yarn.  Guess I'll put them in the check-on bag.

Thanks again.

[indiaromeo]

You can take scissors with you, just so long as they're not pointy. I keep a pair of plastic kid's rounded-tip safety scissors in my knitting bag, and they've made it on the plane with no problems.

[lizajane73]

When I fly, I take a printout of the FAA list with me, just in case. (I've never had a problem - never even had to use it.)

I have heard however, on another knitting board, that they can refuse to let you take the needles on if they get a feeling like it isn't right, they're in a hightened state of security, basically for any reason they want. So I would just suggest not taking your best or most expensive needles on a plane...

[jpants]

http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEwinter03/FEATwin03TK.html

Here is a really great article from Knitty about traveling with needles, scissors, etc.  i think her best idea is to carry a self addressed stamped envelope with you, so that if the security folks say know, you don't lose your stuff.  check it out.

[indiaromeo]

Knitty! That's where I'd seen that article. I mentioned that idea of carrying a self-addressed envelope earlier in this thread and knew I'd read it somewhere, but couldn't remember where. Of course it was Knitty! Thanks for the reminder, jpants!

[Mayviss]

I would assume it isn't a problem but thought I'd ask - has anyone had any trouble bringing their knitting needles through airport security?