Normal steam iron in BA hand luggage

thrifty_pete

Sounds weird I know, but is a steam iron (with the water drained out) likely to get through security? I'm flying British Airways if that is relevant.
It is fairly heavy so I don't want to send it in the post if I can avoid it.

zagfles

Wouldn't have thought so - it'd make a good weapon and would be easy to hide a blade in the metal. Why are you taking an iron? Have you looked into the rating of adapter plugs if you're going to use one? Or are you fitting it with a new plug?

thrifty_pete

zagfles wrote: »

Wouldn't have thought so - it'd make a good weapon and would be easy to hide a blade in the metal. Why are you taking an iron?

I've heard travel irons are OK, I should think a steel blade would show up against the aluminim plate of the iron quite well.

zagfles wrote: »

Why are you taking an iron? Have you looked into the rating of adapter plugs if you're going to use one? Or are you fitting it with a new plug?

I want to bring it home, I've been using it abroad quite happily - I think sockets here are rated at 16 amp rather than 13 although I've not quite understood why the kettles in mainland Europe are lower rated than UK ones despite this.
To send it in the post would cost as much as it is worth, so I might just risk it and if it has to stay behind, so be it. Just wondering if someone had experience with irons on board!

bspm1

thrifty_pete wrote: »

Sounds weird I know, but is a steam iron (with the water drained out) likely to get through security? I'm flying British Airways if that is relevant.
It is fairly heavy so I don't want to send it in the post if I can avoid it.

Like you have said travel irons are permissible but I have no idea whether a normal iron is, can you not check it in or have you not paid for any checked in luggage?

Failing that call British Airways because I am sure you will have many differing answers on here which will not put your mind at rest.

zagfles

thrifty_pete wrote: »

I want to bring it home, I've been using it abroad quite happily - I think sockets here are rated at 16 amp rather than 13 although I've not quite understood why the kettles in mainland Europe are lower rated than UK ones despite this.

It was using it via an adapter plug I was concerned about - all the adapters I have seem to be 7.5 amp rated which is likely to be too low for an iron. But I guess you'll wire a proper UK plug to it if you're bringing it home permanently.

thrifty_pete

zagfles wrote: »

It was using it via an adapter plug I was concerned about - all the adapters I have seem to be 7.5 amp rated which is likely to be too low for an iron. But I guess you'll wire a proper UK plug to it if you're bringing it home permanently.

I once plugged it into a socket below the light switch - it was fine although the lights dimmed a bit when the iron thermostat turned on an off :rotfl:. It is funny how there doesn't seem to be a differnce between lighting cicuits and socket circuits in some countries.

Gloomendoom

zagfles wrote: »

It was using it via an adapter plug I was concerned about - all the adapters I have seem to be 7.5 amp rated which is likely to be too low for an iron. But I guess you'll wire a proper UK plug to it if you're bringing it home permanently.

You can get BS approved 13 amp adaptors...

https://cpc.farnell.com/pro-elec/9680/schuko-to-uk-plug-travel-adaptor/dp/PL01350

Swapping plugs would seem to be the best option though.

budgetflyer

iv had an iron in hand luggage, no hassle

eDicky

Can't be totally sure, but it's unlikely to be prohibited if its not the UK you are departing from.

thrifty_pete

OK, thanks for all the replies. I would like to take my Bialetti Moka pot on board too
https://www.bialetti.com/coffee/stovetop/moka-express-c-1_7_22.html
I'll let you know how I get on!

Gloomendoom

You won't really know for certain until you are passing through security.

I have a mini tripod for my camera that, for the last 20 years, has been passing through airport security all over the world without any problems at all. Returning from Cyprus last week it got flagged up for special attention. It took around 15 minutes for me to persuade a string of officials, each increasing in seniority, that it wasn't a risk and I should be allowed to keep it.