Community
Wiki Posts
Search

Round-tipped scissors ok to fly?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Oct 4, 2011 | 4:24 pm
  #1  
Original Poster
FlyerTalk Evangelist
40 Countries Visited
All eyes on you!
20 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 38,543
Round-tipped scissors ok to fly?

I'm talking little things with a cutting surface less than an inch long.

Look at the image here. What I'm actually talking about are smaller and far more sanely priced, this was just the first image I found that illustrates basically what I'm talking about.

http://www.amazon.com/Pfeilring-Scis...7766902&sr=8-1
Loren Pechtel is offline  
Old Oct 4, 2011 | 4:42 pm
  #2  
In Memoriam
 
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Easton, CT, USA
Programs: ua prem exec, Former hilton diamond
Posts: 31,801
Scissors - metal with pointed tips and blades shorter than four inches

are allowed, so one inch rounded should be fine
cordelli is offline  
Old Oct 5, 2011 | 6:07 am
  #3  
10 Countries Visited
20 Countries Visited
30 Countries Visited
15 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: NYC
Programs: DL PM, Marriott Gold, Hertz PC, National Exec
Posts: 6,736
Small scissors are fine. Do me a favor, though, and don't point out to the TSA that a pair of scissors with four inch blades is two four inch knives bolted together, and would be prohibited if separated into two pieces. Cognitive dissonance, don't you know.
cestmoi123 is offline  
Old Oct 5, 2011 | 6:45 am
  #4  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: west of DFW airport
Programs: AA LT Gold 1.9 MM flying my way to LT PLAT
Posts: 11,074
I buy round tip 'kindergarden' scissors by the dozen and have given up having one in my carry on bag after loosing some to the TSA.

It just isn't worth arguing about.
oldpenny16 is offline  
Old Oct 5, 2011 | 8:34 am
  #5  
20 Countries Visited
All eyes on you!
15 Years on Site
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: CT
Programs: AA EXP, UA Plat, Marriott Ambassador, Hyatt Diamond, National Executive Elite
Posts: 350
Originally Posted by cordelli
Scissors - metal with pointed tips and blades shorter than four inches

are allowed, so one inch rounded should be fine
One silly suggestion: pack a ruler, or bring scissors with built-in ruler on the blade.

About a year ago, I had a delay (about 15 minutes) while traveling with 1.5" inch scissors while waiting for the TSO to find a ruler to verify that the blades were smaller than 4 inches. On a future trip, when I had scissors with a ruler on the blade, it was much easier. (Granted, I can tell by looking that 1-2" scissors are not 4", but I guess this is not part of TSO training school)
Sam I Am is offline  
Old Oct 5, 2011 | 8:38 am
  #6  
20 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Scottsdale, AZ
Programs: AA 2MM - UA 1P / Hyatt Diamond - SPG Plat / Hertz 5* - Avis 1st
Posts: 3,933
Don't try and transit NRT with any kind of scissors, even the round-end type - weeping children in my family can attest to this truth.
Wilbur is offline  
Old Oct 5, 2011 | 9:45 am
  #7  
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: MSY
Programs: NW Gold and now Delta Gold
Posts: 3,072
We've had them taken too. We've had the tiny one inch foil cutter on a fine corkscrew broken off too. It doesn't matter what it says is officially "allowed" on a TSA website. If a TSA officer says it isn't flying, it isn't flying. Their on the spot decision trumps a website.
peachfront is offline  
Old Oct 5, 2011 | 10:02 am
  #8  
Moderator: Smoking Lounge; FlyerTalk Evangelist
10 Countries Visited
1M
20 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: SFO
Programs: Lifetime (for now) Gold MM, HH Gold, Giving Tootsie Pops to UA employees, & a retired hockey goalie
Posts: 29,078
Originally Posted by cordelli
Scissors - metal with pointed tips and blades shorter than four inches

are allowed, so one inch rounded should be fine
Are allowed, yes but will they be allowed.....ymmv
goalie is offline  
Old Oct 5, 2011 | 11:53 am
  #9  
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: SEA, OGG(I wish)
Programs: was UA 1K now Gold, cuz UA 1.3 MM; HA,DL,AS (no status in these), Marriott Gold
Posts: 1,238
Originally Posted by Wilbur
Don't try and transit NRT with any kind of scissors, even the round-end type
Likewise HKG
BH62 is offline  
Old Oct 5, 2011 | 12:37 pm
  #10  
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Wonderful Weald of kent
Programs: BAEC Bronze
Posts: 989
Likewise Belfast International - they toook a tiny pair of scissors (about 2" long and with square ended blades) from me - they wouldn't cut butter - and were only just capable of snipping thread!
CarolynUK is offline  
Old Oct 5, 2011 | 6:15 pm
  #11  
Moderator: Hilton Honors, Practical Travel Safety Issues, Information Desk & San Francisco
10 Countries Visited
All eyes on you!
25 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: San Francisco CA
Programs: UA, Hilton, Priceline, AirBnB
Posts: 11,319
I have had much more trouble in Europe

with items like this than the US ,EXCEPT for IAD which
is much tougher.
squeakr is offline  
Old Oct 5, 2011 | 8:18 pm
  #12  
Original Poster
FlyerTalk Evangelist
40 Countries Visited
All eyes on you!
20 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 38,543
Originally Posted by squeakr
with items like this than the US ,EXCEPT for IAD which
is much tougher.
The return flight boards in PVG. My impression has been their security is much more aimed at being effective than US nonsense.
Loren Pechtel is offline  
Old Oct 6, 2011 | 7:22 am
  #13  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
All eyes on you!
15 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: From ORK, live LCY
Programs: BA Silver, M&M*G, HH Gold, ABP, Seigneur des Horaires des Mucci
Posts: 14,919
The European limit is 6cm (2.4 inches) if memory serves me.
stifle is online now  
Old Oct 29, 2011 | 11:37 pm
  #14  
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: SFO/SJC
Posts: 226
Originally Posted by BH62
Likewise HKG
Ditto ICN.
They x-rayed my backpack twice, let me go, then while I was waiting to pass immigration (to exit the country) they called me back and x-rayed my bag a third time. Then they removed my toiletry bag and other items from my pack and x-rayed those separately. Finally the agent opened the toiletry bag. I was worried about my newly bought Solingen nail scissors, but she ignored this and went for a tiny sewing kit that had a pathetic 1-inch blade with rounded tips. She held it up, smiled at me and asked "Throw away? Not allowed on plane."
Really weird, I've flown with this kit for years without ever having a problem.
Daggett76 is offline  
Old Oct 30, 2011 | 11:25 am
  #15  
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: BLI or CLT
Programs: The usual suspects
Posts: 2,090
Originally Posted by oldpenny16
I buy round tip 'kindergarden' scissors by the dozen and have given up having one in my carry on bag after loosing some to the TSA.

It just isn't worth arguing about.
Not by the dozen, but when I buy them, I buy several from the section at Target where they have all the other harmless kindergarden items - fat crayons and pencils as well as round tip, dull-bladed plastic-handled scissors.

Though they are not usually "voluntarily surrendered" in the US, I too have encountered problems in Europe. So I just have spares at home to replace the ones taken, as they are not expensive but they are useful to have. And yes, I have a tape measure in the same kit as the scissors just in case someone wants to argue about whether the scissors are longer than 2 inches or 4 inches. Also tiny nail clippers that will do to trim a loose thread when the scissors have been taken.
onlyairfare is offline  


Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

This site is owned, operated, and maintained by MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. Copyright © 2026 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Designated trademarks are the property of their respective owners.