My family is traveling with a pair of ice skates. Will the TSA give them a hard time? They checked on AA and on the TSA and there was nothing about ice skates.

Chainsaws are probably not in the lists either, but that doesn't mean you can take them as carry-ons.

Seriously, and I own a pair of Bauers, check them. Don't chance it or waste your time.

it used to be that ice skates were on the prohibited items list but not any more. i'd print out a copy and bring it with you in case any of the screeners have issues

I checked in Grand Rapids a couple of years ago and was told ice skates were OK to bring on board. My daughter needed them for the Nationals and didn't want to risk they got lost in the checked baggage.

They've always been just ducky here in HSV, too. Not a problem at all.

No mention here:

http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtrav...rial_1038.shtm

Hmmm. I travel to international (Olympic-style) figure skating competitions, at it isn't at all unusual (perhaps eight or ten times a year that I hear of) for a competitor to be unable to practice because their luggage, including skates, didn't show up on time. Pre-9/11 skaters always brought their skates as carry-on luggage, but since then it has usually been required that they be checked.

Given how very sharp the blades are, I can understand why they weren't allowed in the cabin. Even the current US Figure Skating Team Handbook (for international athletes) explicitly states that skates are prohibited in carry-on luggage.
http://www.usfigureskating.org/content/teamhandbook.pdf
(details on page 7)

TSA is nothing if not erratic, so it is entirely possible that they get through one place and not another, but if US Figure Skating had documentation from TSA that explicitly allowed skates to be brought in the cabin, I think they'd be shouting it from the Zamboni.

You are very understanding. I, on the other hand, find the use of ice skates as weapons quite implausible, and a ban to be the result of the covering of bureaucratic rear-ends.

• Given how sharp broken glass can be, I can understand why glass, including the wine bottles served in first class and the glass in computer screens (liquid crystal displays) is not allowed in the cabin.
• Given how sharp sharpened credit cards can be, I can understand why credit cards are not allowed in the cabin.
• Given how sharp the metal inside notebook computers can be, I can understand why notebook computers are not allowed in the cabin.
• Given how sharp and deadly tweezers can be, I can understand why they are allowed in the cabin.
• And so on.

Are you sure about ice skating shoes is okay with you onboard the aircraft? I am not sure if TSA isn't letting bring the ice skating shoes through checkpoint. I will find out if I will asked someone who knows about ice skating shoes isn't prohibited.

I have heard of people "skating through" security, but I doubt they did it with sharp, 15 cm metal blades on their feet!

That's the 2004 printing and back then it was not allowed. I know of several skaters who brought them on-board for the 2006 competitions.

From this morning's reports from Cup of Russia: "Rachael Flatt (one of the US ladies medalists and current World Junior Champion) arrived without her skates. She hopes to receive them this afternoon (Thursday)"

I don't believe that Flatt would have checked her skates if there had been any opportunity to bring them as carry-on luggage. You can get by using someone else's costume, but you can't compete without your own skates.

I will be traveling from the L.A. are to MSP with newly purchased, and quite expensive, ice skates in a couple of weeks. Can I carry them on? If not, I might wait to have the blades mounted when I get home, carry the boots and check the blades.

Any insight would be appreciated.

They're not specifically banned on the TSA website, but it's very easy to see a TSO deciding "they're shoes with knives on the bottom" and rejecting them. Personally, I'd check 'em, and not take the risk.

While not specifically banned, and despite being told repeatedly it is up to the airline, I've never been allowed to carry on my skates. It's not the airlines making the decision - it's always the TSA that stops me. I figure skate, and travel to Sun Valley by air for workshops, lessons, etc. My skates are custom made and costly, and frankly, I hate being forced to check or ship my equipment. After my bag was delayed for 24 hours a couple years ago, costing me a day's worth of lessons/workshops, I now ship my skates ahead for such trips/competitions.

There are plenty of horror stories out there about elite skaters' skates being lost in transit. Brent Bommentre, an U.S. ice dancer, lost his skates on his way to the 2008 World Figure Skating Championships. In 2006, Canadian pair champions Anabelle Langlois and Cody Hay withdrew from Cup of Russia when Langlois' baggage was lost. Jordan Noelle McCreary was competing in the 2011 National Solo Dance Championships. Delta Airlines lost her skates, but she competed anyway in rental skates! Elite skaters pretty much know the TSA/CATSA will not let their equipment through. That doesn't give much hope to us non-elite skaters if Michelle Kwan can't even carry her skates.

There are a few decent tips and alternatives listed here: http://www.sk8stuff.com/f_basic_ref/...ith_skates.htm

But I think your idea to wait to mount the blades until you get home and carry your boots as a carryon, is your best bet.

Good luck!