Flying Kilted

[staticsan]

I flew Sydney to Seoul and then to JFK. I wore my Neokilt and it's buckles never set off any detectors. Got a nice comment from one of the Customs officers at JFK, too!

Wade.

[Verlyn]

Neither my buckles nor my kilt pin have ever set off the detectors and I thought they would. At one airport, it was slow and the TSA guy was more interested in asking about the tartan than anything else. A guy in a kilt does NOT blend into the crowd and anyone up to something does not want to be noticed.

[Nervous Jock]

I think folk are getting a bit excited about setting the detectors off. Changing buckles and doing velcro seems all very very excessive.

(I flew about 20 times in my kilt last year)

[Hamish]

Over the past 8 or 9 years I have flown many times, both internationally and internally in the USA, and I have always been kilted. It is almost impossible, and unnecessary, to rid yourself of all metal fitments, but it is best to be aware of where and what they are.

Buckles and snaps are perhaps the most difficult to dispense with, without going to extraordinary lengths so, prior to stepping through the security archway, I indicate them to the official standing nearby - no problems. Yes, sometimes the snaps will set the bells a'ringin', but a quick wanding never hurt anyone (and can be quite fun when kilted!)

For comfort as much as anything, I invariably fly in a Utilikilt. Several yards of pleated tartan are almost impossible to 'sweep' in aircraft seats and are not the most comfortable to sit on hour after hour. If the Utilikilt is creased on arrival, a quick once-over with the iron soon puts matters right.

All unnecessary metal (kilt pin, sgian dubh, etc) gets packed in my suitcase and travels as checked-in luggage.

Footwear: I always wear slip-on shoes, or maybe sandals with velcro fastenings, when flying. One is not always requested to remove footwear, but when one is, it is so much easier to deal with if there are no buckles, laces, etc.

Finally, to make things easier for myself at security, I take a small transparent plastic bag and put all my coins, watch, etc. into that just before going through. Much more convenient, and quicker, than trying to scoop loose change from those little plastic trays they provide.

I hope my experiences will be of interest, and help.