Swiss army knife as hand luggage

bobblebob

Was flying with a mate the other week and after getting through security, he noticed he had Swiss army knife in his hand luggage that he forgot was in there. Its one with a blade, corkscrew on etc.

Are these allowed as hand luggage as we both found it odd he wasnt stopped? Reading online seems it depends on the size of the blade, but seems odd any blades are allowed onto a plane no matter what the size. Never measured this knife but it look like it could do some damage

Rambosmum

I've been through with one, as a genuine mistake, and got away with it once and once it was binned, so I don't know, but I try and remember to take it off my keys!

sgun

You aren't allowed to carry them, security just didn't notice. One year I made 9 flights around Europe before Dublin security noticed a knife buried deep in my bag that had been there since camping the year before. They took it away :-( but quite rightly.

The number of things I have got through Newcastle airport security over the years is quite scary - never intentionally though! Where would I definitely make sure my bags are correctly packed? Russia for sure, also the army types in Poland get a bit cross when you have bottles of beer in your bag and you are adamant that you haven't. Yes, I am a disorganised packer.

Doshwaster

sgun wrote: »

You aren't allowed to carry them, security just didn't notice. One year I made 9 flights around Europe before Dublin security noticed a knife buried deep in my bag that had been there since camping the year before. They took it away :-( but quite rightly.

The same happened to me a few years ago. A Swiss Army Knife had got lost in the inside lining of my rucksack but it went through 4 or 5 security scans before anyone noticed it. I was mortified when they found it as it made me look like I was deliberately hiding it, but it was just thrown away - which was a fair cop.

It did make me wonder about how much actually gets though security and how boring it must be to look at those X Ray screens all day.

InsideInsurance

To the best of my knowledge and looking at http://www.heathrowairport.com/heathrow-airport-guide/heathrow-security/hand-baggage you can have a pen knife with you as long as the blades are all under 6cm in length.

Banned Items
Sharp items
This includes knives (with blades over 6cm), razor blades, box cutters, scissors (with blades over 6cm from fulcrum), axes, hatchets, cleavers, ice axes, ice picks, swords, sabres and sharp or pointed martial arts equipment.

joerugby

I checked in at BHX with a swiss army knife in my briefcase as usual on September 12, 2001. The security lady spotted it and said no. She gave me a jiffy bag to post it home (how things have changed!). I've never carried it since.

benjus

I've made it through security with one a couple of years ago (and the security guy did see it). IIRC he measured the blade and said it was OK - but I think it's a bit over 6cm. Can't remember what country that was though.

I wouldn't recommend trying it unless you don't really care about losing it.

The only time I got relieved of it was when I took my ex-tenant to court, and court security confiscated it. I had to write them a nice letter to ask them to post it to me... it's easy to forget you're carrying a knife on your keyring.

Backbiter

I got through the security scanners at Birmingham airport with a Swiss Army knife in my jeans pocket. I was shocked to discover it and worried at the thought of being caught in possession of it, so I bought a Jiffy bag at WH Smiths and posted it to myself.

Poppie68

Blimey you can get through with a Swiss army knife or a blade 6cm or smaller but try and get through with a pair of tweezers!!....it's like your the devil incarnate...

slinga

We used to carry a Swiss army knife in our checked in luggage and then carry it around the country were in in case we needed a knife for cutting fruit or buttering bread while out during the day.
In fact never used it at all in 6 or 7 years.
Then 2 years ago in Barcelona airport I was stopped because it showed up on the X ray of hand luggage, my missus forgot to transfer it back into the check in bag.
Anyway they confiscated it which I didn't mind as I thought they might take the incident further.

But it does surprise me about this not allowing blades etc. OK Economy has plastic cutlery but Business Class has the usual steel knives and forks.
Don't hijackers etc not travel in Business Class?

Laz123

slinga wrote: »

Don't hijackers etc not travel in Business Class?

Only if they're funded by rich Al-Qaeda.

I lost a much loved Swiss Army knife at Nairobi airport security which I'd forgotten to put in the hold luggage.