I have to fly down to Washington DC from Hartford, CT for a few days, and don't think I will make it thru without any knitting to do.

I haven't been on a plane for quite a while. Does anyone know what the knitting needle carry-on story is (if any). Probably bamboo double points, either sock needles (aka toothpicks) or #5 6" that I'm using for my swatches. Or both.

It's US Air if that makes any difference. I couldn't find any specifics on their web site.

If you couldn't find anything on the web site, I would call either the airport or the airline. I've heard stories where someone would leave their home airport and have no problems, but on the return flight they would, and it depended on the airport, not the airline.

You really shouldn't have nay problems at all. You can call and check but I find if you use wooden needles it is fine. I just flew back up to Alaska and had metal and wooden needles and no problems at all.

Knitting needles have been on the allowed list in the US since early 2002. You can go to the TSA site and look it up, print a copy & carry with you, but I have taken over 80 domestic flights since then with no problem. The big problem is flying overseas. You can take them out of the US on flights, but most other countries won't allow them. It always is up to the individual airport, airline & pilot, but my Addi Turbos have had more xrays in their life than me!

Here's a link to the TSA website re knitting needles and needlepoint:
http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/a.../editorial_1252.shtm

I've been on a few flights lately, and haven't had any problems with metal needles

Thanks for the link, Louise C!

I'm flying tomorrow, after a long hiatus, too.

Thanks so much for all the help. I just found out that I have a triple coworker babby shower coming up in November, or quadruple if you count that one of the babies has for parents both my clinical director and my supervising PT. So I need all the knitting time I can get.

And one of them is getting an entrelac baby cap. I just started it tonight . . .

Louise C. I just checked the web site you offered - I printed ithe page out to crrry with me. It says it all.

Metal sharps of any kind are not allowed into or out of any UK airports, so that means no metal knitting needles.My metal Parker ballpoint pen is far more dangerous, but that gets through.

However, I have been knitting on flights using bamboo circulars right from when the ban came in, with no problems. I did ask the cabin staff the first time, and their attitude was indifference - if it got through the x-ray scan it was all right with them. Actually the first young woman I asked didn't even know what knitting was.

I feel comfortable with circulars because the solid part is only 5 or 6 inches and my neighbours are not going to think I have brought on anything in the least threatening.

Happy flying and knitting, John

I always look askance at circulars, myself. They'd be perfect for garrotting someone.:-)

Peggy,

That is just too funny! But don't let someone from the airlines read this, they might take it seriously.

It's lucky for me that I rarely fly, then:-)

Well, they do "suggest" that circs be less than 31" long. My KnitPicks circs are 32", so into the checked bags they go! I brought projects that fit on 16"-ers: a hat and a doll-size sweater. No problems. They did open and inspect my checked bag, though, according to the little insert the inspector left behind. I wonder if that was because they scanned it and saw all those points and cables in it? Or if it was just random.

I took metal dpns through Heathrow in 2005. There had been a ban on all knitting needles, and it was lifted 3 days before I left Boston. I've never been stopped going thru security because of needles. My 1.5" long Swiss Army Knife, that's another story...

Thanks for all this input, a while back. I just got back from DC, and had no trouble either direction with my plastic circular, bamboo double points, plastic tapestry needle or even my 2" blade scissors. I had all the knitting stuff in the latest security fad container, the plastic quart sized ziplock.

They also didn't mind my drop spindle.

I knit 1/2 a baby sweater and 1.5 booties in between the funeral at Arlington, visits to various memorials, and a great boat ride down the Potomac to Alexandria. It was a nice trip.

But its great to get home.