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Old Oct 23, 2012 | 8:39 am
  #40  
volo
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 18
I flew to Canada in early October with a newly bought Leatherman Style PS clipped inside my carry-on. it was completely unremarkable to TSA, but CATSA apparently had never seen one before. Did Leatherman forget to test it in Canada?

"Tested throughout the United States, Europe, Asia, Australia and South Africa..."
http://www.leatherman.com/about/release?id=38

BOS Terminal B TSA to 3 Air Canada gates: WTMD only, shoes off sign. (I don't automatically take off shoes or belt before passing through the WTMD or going to a patdown unless I see a sign stating it is required or am politely (no barking) asked.) Bags passed through, off to gate, no issues.

YYZ, not sure which terminal, going to YVR: mainly WTMDs, MMWs present, not sure if in use. No need to remove shoes or belt. CATSA noticed the Leatherman Style PS and considered whether or not to confiscate it. CATSA agents took it out of the bag and opened up the tools to determine that there was no knife. The scissors on the multitool have a blade length well below CATSA's limit. A CATSA screener left the line to bring the multitool over to show to a supervisor (in a suit, vs. in a uniform). Their words and actions led me to believe it was the first time they'd ever seen one of these.
This model of Leatherman came out in 2011.

YVR Domestic Terminal, going to YUL: mainly WTMDs, MMWs present, not sure if in use. No need to remove shoes or belts (despite what a clump of suited USA male business-attired travelers in front of me appeared to believe—they took the time to remove their shoes and belts in addition to the required liquids baggies and laptops; baa humbug, IMHO). Similar reaction to the Leatherman Style PS as in YYZ. CATSA noticed it. I told the CATSA agent where it was in the bag and suggested she open up the tools and check that it is knifeless. She did. She also brought it over to a suited supervisor to show him. Her words and actions also suggested to me that she had never seen such an object before, and that she, in particular, was unfamiliar with and might have been somewhat intimidated by the brand name, "Leatherman".

YUL, after a long brisk walk to transfer for a tight connection to flight to the USA: TSA, I assume. WTMD. In a hurry, don't remember if shoes & belt off or not. Luggage through without delay, operators continued talking amongst themselves.
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