Italy - Knitting Needles in Milan

Does anyone know if knitting needles are allowed onboard at the Milan airport (MXP)? I know that they're fine in the US at all airports but am not quite clear on what the restrictions are overseas as I've had variable success in the past but haven't tried in the last year or so. Any help would be appreciated!

Crochet needles were OK in Rome and Milan several times in the past few years for the wife (they didn't even ask about them) so I'm assuming it's OK.

Huge deal about them in SFO Monday though, eventually after much discussion where the wife kept saying "Just keep the needle if you want, I've got more home" over and over again they let her keep it.

In london though they are prohibited, so I'm not saying they are OK everywhere.

If it's important check out the travel knitting needles some companies make, ucually a flexible shaft and a tip in different sizes out of plastic, and there are needles entirely out of plastic which they probably won't see on the screening.

Huge deal about them in SFO Monday though, eventually after much discussion where the wife kept saying "Just keep the needle if you want, I've got more home" over and over again they let her keep it.

My knitting (on a bamboo circular needle) and I went through SFO on Sunday okay. Sometimes, I notice my bag gets a closer stare as it's going through the xray thing, which could simply be that they see bundles of yarn which could look like wires?

I have traveled with metal circular needles, but prefer to knit with wooden needles. This time, I also had a metal crochet hook mixed in with my skein and there wasn't any issue.

Hopefully it's knitting's okay in Europe. I'd rather knit on board than read if possible.

The crochet hook, by the way, is smaller then a pen, it's a 0 or 00 or so, she crochets in thread. Yet metal pens they don't care. :rolleyes:

I think it was also training day there, which didn't help.

Huge deal about them in SFO Monday though, eventually after much discussion where the wife kept saying "Just keep the needle if you want, I've got more home" over and over again they let her keep it.


Thanks for the advice! I do think knitting needles are a bit more of a problem but I think I'll go ahead and try anyway. I did once have them confiscated on a BA flight (I'd transited through LHR) but at least they were given back when the flight landed. :)

I do know, though, that they are allowed in the US as I've checked multiple times, taken them through many airports (including LAX and JFK), and seen flight attendants knitting on board. But I guess there's not that much you can argue with when the TSA agents are difficult....

For even more help to the OP, let me move this to our Travel->Italy forum. Ocn Vw 1K, Moderator, TravelBuzz

Does anyone know if knitting needles are allowed onboard at the Milan airport (MXP)? I know that they're fine in the US at all airports but am not quite clear on what the restrictions are overseas as I've had variable success in the past but haven't tried in the last year or so. Any help would be appreciated!

I don't have any anecdotal information but here's the English version of MXP's website:

http://www.sea-aeroportimilano.it/en/

And google found this, a news release from 2004:

http://www.eurunion.org/News/press/2004/2004008.htm

I can't find mention anywhere of knitting needles....