Kilt at an airport

[Ronninfernum]

Ok I'm new here and know the question has been asked before but I'm heading to Disney World in September and I want to wear my Gunn tartaned utilikilt style kilt for when I travel through the airport for convenience and comfort as well as I don't get to wear it in public so often. I'm just wearing a tshirt the kilt with a sporon and sandles(and boxers). Should I have any trouble at the airport?

[Steve Ashton]

I have found that the determining factor is how much metal is on the kilt. Utilikilts have dozens of metal snaps and the metal detectors hate them. You are almost assured of being wanded.

If your kilt has the straps and buckles like a traditional kilt you can often turn the kilt 90 degrees so one strap is in front and one or two in the back. This seems to keep the metal detectors happy.

Other than that everything is much the same.

[Andrew Breecher]

I've had trouble with the buckles setting off the metal detector, but other than a short personal session with security and a wand it was no big deal. I left off a kilt pin, and probably gave security something to talk about for a while. I have a couple of P/V kilts which fasten with velcro, and have never had any problems with them.

[Mike in Dayton]

It is all about the metal content as Steve indicated. For my last airline trip I wore a USA Kilts casual that has no metal. Fastening is all Velcro. I took off the belt and sporran as I approached the checkpoint. Put the sporran in the carry-on luggage, belt on the conveyer with shoes. No issues. Got a few comments from TSA asking in more of a joking way if I had the "little knife" in my sock. At least they knew of the sgian-dubh as it applies to kilts. So the USA Casual kilt is my choice when dealing with airports. It is also light and not bulky when sitting in those little airplane seats.

Mike

[CeilidhDoc]

I would also say that when going through an airport with your kilt (either worn or in carry-on bags) the most important thing is to remember that the sgian dubh cannot be brought on the aircraft at all in the passenger compartment.

Many people have a kilt bag they keep their kit in for travelling and it is easy to have a sgian in the bag from the last time you travelled or be packing for a trip and trying to avoid baggage fees by having all of your bags with you in the passenger compartment. If this is so, you have to leave the sgian at home or you will lose it at security, plus have the hassle of explaining why you were trying to get on the plane with a knife. Security tends to not like that very much.

Slàinte
and
Happy travels!

[John_Carrick]

The security people probably see them quite often. I don't generally find it too much of a bother and I have never had a problem with a kilt pin in my spectacle case when I don't have checked luggage.
One obviously new security guy once spent ages feeling under my garter ties but perhaps he had issues.

[CeilidhDoc]

In the USA I would venture to say they see them quite rarely. I have witnessed security go ballistic on seemingly innocent oversights (IMHO as a 3rd party observer) here in the states, FWIW.

Slàinte

[Kiltboy]

If you are flying out of DF/W airport, let me give some personal tips. Go for the full body wave scanner line. The TSA folks will appreciate you for doing so. It saves them a lot of wanding if you go through the standard arch metal detector. Even though you don't wear a "little knife", they will still pat down the top of the sock, out of routine. And always pat down the buckle area. Yes, wear appropriate undergarments, as some of the DF/W TSA agents have been a bit hands-on with my screenings. They are getting better over the years scanning a man in a kilt. 5 years ago.... not so much. Go and have fun on your vacation.

[Liam]

I have found that the determining factor is how much metal is on the kilt. Utilikilts have dozens of metal snaps and the metal detectors hate them. You are almost assured of being wanded.

If your kilt has the straps and buckles like a traditional kilt you can often turn the kilt 90 degrees so one strap is in front and one or two in the back. This seems to keep the metal detectors happy.

Other than that everything is much the same.

I have used the "90 degree" method and it does seem to work. I actually asked the security folks about this last week after successfully using it and they were surprised.

[vmac3205]

I've had trouble with the buckles setting off the metal detector, but other than a short personal session with security and a wand it was no big deal. I left off a kilt pin, and probably gave security something to talk about for a while. I have a couple of P/V kilts which fasten with velcro, and have never had any problems with them.

I'm curious as to why leaving off the kilt pin would give the security folks something to talk about. Please tell me you don't actually pin the apron of the kilt to the kilt.