Airport security, knives

Pierre19

Hi all,

We are flying to Spain soon.

I see that you can fly with a knife blade less than 6cms, I have a small Swiss Army knife on my house keys. Where does the measurement start from ...???

Ta

Pete

waamo

Why not just take it off?

Doshwaster

Personally, I wouldn't risk it. Even if it is technically within the limits it isn't worth an encounter with a jobsworth at security who decides on their own interpretation of the rules. For longer trips I take a Swiss Army knife in my checked luggage but when flying with just hand luggage I leave it at home.

liviboy

A Swiss Army Knife will not be allowed through regardless of size due to other component parts. It was a regular argument when I worked in airport security.

eDicky

I had one of those little miniature 'Swiss army' knives in my carry on bag for years, passing through countless airports with it including Thailand, until a 'jobsworth' at Bangkok airport took it from me one day. It cost me 1€ in Spain, maybe would be 2€ now. If you value yours, take it off your keyring before going and buy one there.

NoodleDoodleMan

Where does the measurement start from ...???

We used to take small scissors in hand luggage to cut off cable ties used to secure the eyes on suitcase zips during transit - stopped using padlocks years ago.

Now we use small nail cutters, ideal for the job, and well within rules for carry on cases.

The length of blade allowed was no more than 4 inches from the fulcrum (swivel) pin. I assume it'll be the same rules for a folding knife ? Didn't know the length allowed was now 6 inches.

I would always pack a knife in hold luggage.

eDicky

NoodleDoodleMan wrote: »

Didn't know the length allowed was now 6 inches.

It's not inches but cm, I had the idea that the limit is 5cm but not sure...

LABMAN

I'm 66 and never ever have had a need to carry a knife never mind take it on holiday with me.

EssexExile

LABMAN wrote: »

I'm 66 and never ever have had a need to carry a knife never mind take it on holiday with me.

I'm 67 and always carry my swiss army knife. It has a corkscrew & a thing to get boy scouts out of girls guides on it.

Gloomendoom

LABMAN wrote: »

I'm 66 and never ever have had a need to carry a knife never mind take it on holiday with me.

I only carry a knife when I think I'm going to need it.

For years I took a multi tool type knife on flights in my hand luggage with no problems. However, I think that was just luck and it gets packed in my hold luggage now.

Doshwaster

I once lost a Swiss Army knife on holiday (it's not essential but useful as a bottle opener and corkscrew). I didn't think too much about it and then took a number of flights over the next few months until by carry-on bag was taken aside at an airport where security had found it hidden in a tear of the inside lining. I was mortified as it looked as if I had deliberately hidden it there.

Makes you think that if someone really wanted to get a knife or other weapon through security then they would have a fairly good chance of doing so.