Anyone actually had a problem taking a kilt pin through securtiy?

**Nighthawk** · 17th June 09, 01:06 PM

Originally Posted by Spartan

That does give a new meaning to "kilt check."

IMO that guy was out of line!!

I agree. But if I wanted to go home... Oh well. Some people.

**Foosinho** · 17th June 09, 02:03 PM

I've never traveled with a kilt pin, but I have been traveling quite a bit, and it seems like every airport interprets the rules differently. The small regional airports are easily the strictest; I suspect it's because the TSA agents have the time to go over everyone with a fine-toothed comb.

I actually had a P-38 can opener confiscated as a "blade" at Yuma's airport; I bet they would have taken a kilt pin too. They also took some waterproof matches (they claimed were "strike anywhere" - they weren't) and ran just about every item I put on the belt thru twice.

My guess is that in a major airport you'd probably be OK, but the smaller the airport the bigger the risk.

**twinkletowz** · 17th June 09, 02:10 PM

I have flown Kilted a couple of times and have never had a problem with kilt pins. I just made sure that my sgian was packed in my luggage and through I went!

**twinkletowz** · 17th June 09, 02:14 PM

Originally Posted by Foosinho

I actually had a P-38 can opener confiscated as a "blade" at Yuma's airport; I bet they would have taken a kilt pin too. They also took some waterproof matches (they claimed were "strike anywhere" - they weren't) and ran just about every item I put on the belt thru twice.

I can see the can opener and matches being taken... that thing looks evil

and matches should have been a no brainer. Kilt pins however are accessories/jewelery and really should be a non issue. Next thing they will be taking tie clips!!

**drobin** · 17th June 09, 03:23 PM

On my resent trip to Vegas, the Kilt pins got extra attention both ways. The first time I was Kilted & got the twice over (they had a trainee there so I was the 'volunteer' for the day) and then flying back I had the Kilt packed on my carry-on (the only luggage I had), well that got unpacked and inspected, but the security manager said "Its a Kilt pin? Its ok." Thats why I want to find a non-metal kilt pin for those situations.

**Spartan** · 17th June 09, 04:28 PM

Originally Posted by drobin

On my resent trip to Vegas, the Kilt pins got extra attention both ways. The first time I was Kilted & got the twice over (they had a trainee there so I was the 'volunteer' for the day) and then flying back I had the Kilt packed on my carry-on (the only luggage I had), well that got unpacked and inspected, but the security manager said "Its a Kilt pin? Its ok." Thats why I want to find a non-metal kilt pin for those situations.

When I put my kilt pin in the sporran to go through the x-ray, that's what happened to me. They took it out to look at it and run the sporran through the x-ray without the kilt pin. The next time I just threw it loose in the bin with my belt and there were no questions.

This seems to be the experience of others. If it's packed in a carry-on, they will want to take it out and look at it. Doesn't seem to be a problem if it's loose in a bin.

**Foosinho** · 19th June 09, 05:05 PM

Originally Posted by twinkletowz

I can see the can opener and matches being taken... that thing looks evil

It's tiny. The "blade" is 5mm long. You'd have to be a heck of a bad-*** ninja to inflict any damage with it.

Originally Posted by twinkletowz

and matches should have been a no brainer.

TSA regs say that matches are OK - they just can't be "strike-anywhere", and my matches weren't. In fact, they can be quite difficult to strike (they just happen to still work when wet). I wasn't about to try and put up a fight.

Originally Posted by twinkletowz

Kilt pins however are accessories/jewelery and really should be a non issue. Next thing they will be taking tie clips!!

I guarantee you that I could do more damage with a kilt pin than a P-38 can opener. TSA agents at small airports have very little to do. I've flown tons of times with the can opener and matches without issue, but it's the small airports where they are aggressive about confiscation.

Just understand that while kilt pins shouldn't be an issue, and most likely won't be, at small airports you may well lose it. And by "small" I mean the kind of places with 3 gates and that only run turboprops.