Can you bring a license plate through security?
Oct 3, 2015, 11:09 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Xiamen
Programs: UA Gold
Posts: 81
Can you bring a license plate through security?
On my way to Budapest I will be stopping in Frankfurt for a few hours and visiting a friend. I want to give her one of my old license plates (Texas changed designs a few years ago and didn't ask for them back) because she'd be thrilled by something like that - but since our checked bags won't be accessible, I would need to carry it on. Would the TSA give me any grief if I had it in a small carry-on bag? I don't think the edges constitute anything close to "knife-like" but since it's a cornered piece of thin aluminum I didn't know what they would do.
Thank you!
Thank you!
Oct 3, 2015, 12:19 pm
#2
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Tumi
Programs: DL DM
Posts: 473
Why not ship it? There is a chance that you might meet a TSA officer that feels the need to impose his badge. Then again you might get a officer that is a car nut and want's to talk about cars. Shipping won't be too expensive.
Oct 3, 2015, 1:44 pm
#3
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Happily living in Frenaros Cyprus having escaped the near-death experience called Sofia Bulgaria
Programs: Etihad Guest Gold, DL FO and 1MM, and a bunch of others at a low level
Posts: 2,052
License plates are not a TSA-prohibited item. I'd put it in my carry-on.
Oct 3, 2015, 9:35 pm
#8
Senior Moderator
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: San Francisco, CA
Programs: UA Plat/2MM [23-yr. 1K, now emeritus] clawing way back to WN-A List; MR LT Titanium; HY Whateverist.
Posts: 12,396
For more discussion, please follow the thread as it moves to the apt travel safety/security forum. Ocn Vw 1K, Moderator, TravelBuzz.
Oct 4, 2015, 1:33 pm
#10
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Catania, Sicily/South Jersey (PHL)/Houston, Texas/Red Stick/airborne in-between
Programs: United Global Svs, AA PlatPro, WN RR, AZ/ITA Freccia, Hilton Diam, Bonvoy Gold, Hertz Prez, IHG
Posts: 3,541
I do it often enough and never had an issue save one feckless yahoo TSA clerk at ABQ circa 2003 think he was Kojak. I've done it at least two dozen times in the last ten years or so. Actually good money in selling plates from certain parts of the world 
^
^
Oct 7, 2015, 9:32 pm
#11
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 4,735
My first thought was who the heck travels with a license plate?
I was startled to see so many posts by people who travel with license plates.
But this is FlyerTalk. If there's some unusual or quirky about travel, you'll find it here. And find 5 new friends who do the same thing. 
I was startled to see so many posts by people who travel with license plates.
But this is FlyerTalk. If there's some unusual or quirky about travel, you'll find it here.
And find 5 new friends who do the same thing.