Kilted at the security checkpoint

**Oddern** · 30th March 10, 11:26 AM

I was on a trip to Scotland recently and I went, of course, kilted. I have read about several here on the forum who have had bad experience with the security check at the airport. My kilt has 3 large buckles and on the way to Scotland the metal detector went off like crazy, and I got the full treatment.

On the way home from Scotland I had the best advice ever from one of the guards at the security checkpoint. He said I had to turn the kilt 90 degrees so that I had the buckles on my stomach and in the back. In fact, this worked perfectly and I could go on without being "molested"

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So remember this trick next time you're out flying.
Skål!

**McFarkus** · 30th March 10, 11:32 AM

That's bizarre!

**wildrover** · 30th March 10, 11:36 AM

It's so all the metal doesn't go through the detector at once.

Dropping the unnecessary buckle would help as well.

**Tobus** · 30th March 10, 07:21 PM

It's so all the metal doesn't go through the detector at once.

Ahh, that makes sense. I'd probably rather just walk through the metal detector sideways than twist my kilt around. But it's good to know!

**McClef** · 31st March 10, 02:35 AM

Edinburgh is one airport where my buckles have never set off the alarm in any case!

**Lallans** · 31st March 10, 06:47 AM

I'm guessing that turning the kilt 90 degrees also places the buckles where the security folks are used to finding metal, ie, in the middle of the abdominal area as seen on regular hold-up-the-pants belt buckles. Once things become common they are no longer even seen, which would be why real spies don't look like Roger Moore.

**Jaggy thistle** · 31st March 10, 07:09 AM

Thanks for that ! I will test this idea shortly I have had bad experiences with getting felt by over enthusiastic security personel never nice females which would have made it a pleasure !!

**Ancienne Alliance** · 31st March 10, 11:13 AM

Thank you.

Good advice.

Best,

Robert

**DeWayne Ross** · 31st March 10, 05:39 PM

It could just be the amount of metal detected at a particular instant. Turning it sideways would bring the amount down and make it two hits of a smaller amount.

**Geoff Withnell** · 31st March 10, 06:25 PM

Please don't throw rocks at me, but I was the lead Quality Engineer on the re-design of the US airport security checkpoints after 9-11. So I know more about how the machines work than I ever wanted to. Having the buckles go through separately is what makes turning the kilt work. That said, it will not always work, because the sensitivity of the machines varies considerably, due to such things as rebar under the floor etc. I do NOT recommend twisting as you go through, that will alert the agents that you are trying to get something metal through, and they may decide to give you the full treatment. Myself, I wear a USAK casual with a sporran on sporran hangers and the belt not through the loops. I just undo the belt buckle, and drop belt, hangers sporran and all on the xray machine belt and walk through with the only metal on me my wedding ring and medic alert neck medallion. In the US at least, I advise against wearing a "Sgian Don't" or Sgian Brew" as fake weapons are also verboten, and the agent you deal with may feel the need to confiscate it. I have traveled kilted by air many times and have never had a real issue.

Geoff Withnell