Security Theater

[cdave]

XKCD on airport security.

I once failed to convince an airport security guard to let me keep my 150ml deodorant, as it was an aerosol containing gas and fine particles, but no liquids.

I also failed to convince them to let me keep plastic knitting needles by arguing that the pencils I had with me were far harder and pointier. They let me keep the pencils.

Comments

[gaspodia.livejournal.com]

What you need to do is source pencils that are the same size as your knitting needles and transfer the knitting to pencils for the duration of the flight :)

[cdave]

I thought about it, but transferring is a little risky, and I crochet more than knit these days anyway.

I've come to the conclusion, that plane time, is reading, and writing, and doodling time. Not crafting time.

[bohemiancoast.livejournal.com]

Knitting needles should be fine now, though people still occasionally have trouble with the biggest sort. I've never had a problem with tiny bamboo sock needles, that don't show up on x-rays and don't look remotely threatening. Various people say that crochet needles are often still an issue, and weirdly, that the smaller ones excite more comment than the bigger ones. I store my crochet needle inside an empty Muji pen with my other pens when flying.

[cdave]

Shh! This is an unlocked post. Don't admit to breaking their rules, or they'll come round your house, and replace all your scissors with plastic blunt tipped ones.

[hawkida.livejournal.com]

You seem to have linked to the comic next to the one you wanted. Unless you see riding dinosaurs as a comment on airports.

[cdave]

Ooh, ta.

[jon-a-five.livejournal.com]

My mate flew bakh to Israel yesterday and smuggled on a small needle to do crochet!

[feorag.livejournal.com]

When we arrived in Montreal the other month, I discovered a pair of scissors in my carry-on bag that had got through security in both Edinburgh and Paris. I hadn't realised they were there at all.

[lebeautemps.livejournal.com]

They let me through with a large cream cake recently, but not my chum with a jar of jam. Now, if I were a bomb maker, I'm sure I could engineer something the consistency of whipped cream that could explode. Or maybe just assault the Captain with it.

[cdave]

Slowly build up his cholesterol levels. They'll never suspect a thing!

[purplecthulhu.livejournal.com]

Mid-air custard pie attacks - the future of terrorism!

[mokatiki.livejournal.com]

Hmm, they are normaly ok with wooden knitting needles.

Althoug saying that last time I flew I have something on metal needles in my bag I had fogotten about, and they didn't notice!

they where circs, and I had a bunch of wires in the same bag, so I think they just thought they where more wires...

[cdave]

Um. A bunch of wires is quite suspicious `:|

Were you also carrying an old fashioned alarm clock, and several red tubes taped together?

[sarahdotcom.livejournal.com]

What airline and where were you flying? I've never had a problem with plastic before.