What was the weirdest thing you took aboard as a carry-on?
Apr 28, 2013, 11:32 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Virginia City Highlands
Programs: Nothing anymore after 20 years
Posts: 6,900
What was the weirdest thing you took aboard as a carry-on?
OK, here is the question in subj. Please share your stories.
I will start with myself - just arrived SFO-NRT-SIN carrying.... sewing machine which my wife packed in my carry-on suitcase.
Granted, this is Bernina with the Embroidery Module and this is an expensive piece of machinery, and no I would not put it in checked luggage.
But still... coming on a plane with sewing machine was kinda weird. And this device caused minor traffic jam at NRT's international transfer security checkpoint and caused cognitive dissonance among female security officers. Their curiosity was way above ordinary business level.
Your turn.
I will start with myself - just arrived SFO-NRT-SIN carrying.... sewing machine which my wife packed in my carry-on suitcase.
Granted, this is Bernina with the Embroidery Module and this is an expensive piece of machinery, and no I would not put it in checked luggage.
But still... coming on a plane with sewing machine was kinda weird. And this device caused minor traffic jam at NRT's international transfer security checkpoint and caused cognitive dissonance among female security officers. Their curiosity was way above ordinary business level.
Your turn.
Apr 28, 2013, 11:37 am
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: LGA/JFK/EWR
Programs: UA 1K1.75MM, Hyatt Globalist, abandoned Marriott LTT (RIP SPG), Hertz PC
Posts: 21,168
A bag full of chocolate candy (like, a hundred of the exact same type) to do consumer taste testing in Mexico City. Luckily evaded MEX customs somehow 
Apr 28, 2013, 11:39 am
#4
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: NJ, USA
Posts: 2,837
A three foot tall Viking nut cracker with real fur cape, a Viking helmet with horns and a shield. Husband does wood carving and he made this for our daughter in Tampa took on an ewr tapma flight
Actually he first put in overhead then took down and put next to wall (window seat) covered with a blanket as he didn't want it to get damaged in overhead
Actually he first put in overhead then took down and put next to wall (window seat) covered with a blanket as he didn't want it to get damaged in overhead
Apr 28, 2013, 11:50 am
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Virginia City Highlands
Programs: Nothing anymore after 20 years
Posts: 6,900
Apr 28, 2013, 11:53 am
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Ewa Beach, Hawaii
Posts: 10,909
A small Oscilloscope. Amsterdam security grilled me about it. Did not have the test leads with it. They had no idea what it was or what it was for. After 15 minutes they handed it back to me and said have a nice day.
Apr 28, 2013, 11:59 am
#8
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: between SFO & SJC
Programs: UA 1MM (and no longer flying much)
Posts: 777
Three cats, one each for myself, my wife, and my daughter SFO-DEN.
Over the years we've paid UA a couple thousand $ in pet fees. What amazes me is that TSA agents don't understand how to deal with pets. One offered to carry a cat through the metal detector for us, and it took us a while to convince him that this would just result in his uniform being shredded.
Edit: good point that others raised re: Travelbuzz being the appropriate forum.
Over the years we've paid UA a couple thousand $ in pet fees. What amazes me is that TSA agents don't understand how to deal with pets. One offered to carry a cat through the metal detector for us, and it took us a while to convince him that this would just result in his uniform being shredded.
Edit: good point that others raised re: Travelbuzz being the appropriate forum.
Apr 28, 2013, 12:00 pm
#10
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Colorado
Programs: UA Gold 1MM, Marriott Gold
Posts: 1,158
Two wooden toy katana samurai swords bought in Kyoto. They wouldn't fit in luggage so I put them in my backpack sticking out the top like a ninja turtle.
Security objected so I had to improvise packaging using shopping bags and checked them.
Security objected so I had to improvise packaging using shopping bags and checked them.
Apr 28, 2013, 12:10 pm
#12
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.995MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,850
waveguide / coaxial segments -- hollow rectangular segments 25-100 cm in length, roughly 2x3 cm cross section and smaller. Some contained carbon pyramid structure. Did this post 9/11 to Europe, Asia, ...
Always created concerns at the X-ray check of carry-on.
Had literature explaining use but still took a bit of explaining a few times.
Always created concerns at the X-ray check of carry-on.
Had literature explaining use but still took a bit of explaining a few times.
Apr 28, 2013, 12:51 pm
#15
Join Date: Jan 2012
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