Go Back  FlyerTalk Forums > Travel&Dining > Travel Safety/Security > Practical Travel Safety and Security Issues
Reload this Page >

Electronic Scale in Carry On Baggage -- Will TSA Care?

Electronic Scale in Carry On Baggage -- Will TSA Care?

Old Apr 1, 13, 7:09 pm
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: 8 Minutes from LGA
Programs: DL PM, Marriott Plat
Posts: 59
Question Electronic Scale in Carry On Baggage -- Will TSA Care?

Howdy all.

I like to weigh myself every morning, in the privacy of my room. It's a weight management tool I have used effectively for years. No, I don't like the Gym scale at the hotel, thanks for asking .

Now that I have to travel for work, I have not been able to weigh myself. I avoid taking my scale with me in my carry-on because I'd rather not deal with a checkpoint goon. It's a standard electronic body scale I bought in a pharmacy.

Are my fears founded? Do you think this is the kind of thing I would get a lot of questions about, since it is not often traveled with?

Thanks for any input.
citationneeded is offline  
Old Apr 1, 13, 7:10 pm
  #2  
Suspended
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,268
April Fool!
Often1 is offline  
Old Apr 1, 13, 7:16 pm
  #3  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: 8 Minutes from LGA
Programs: DL PM, Marriott Plat
Posts: 59
Originally Posted by Often1
April Fool!
I promise you it's not. Though I guess it's a bit of a stupid question.
citationneeded is offline  
Old Apr 1, 13, 7:51 pm
  #4  
 
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: BOS and vicinity
Programs: Former UA 1P
Posts: 3,721
Originally Posted by citationneeded
I avoid taking my scale with me in my carry-on because I'd rather not deal with a checkpoint goon.
Unlikely to cause any issues. A lot of us have traveled with much "weirder" items (think custom electronics a lay person wouldn't recognize, or worse, home-built custom electronics) and not had problems. Of course, some people have had problems with very common items (e.g., Macbook Air).

It's a roll of the dice, but I doubt a scale would raise eyebrows. Any screener who causes problems over this would likely find some excuse to harass you regardless of what you were carrying.

If you're concerned, the first few times you travel with it, consider putting the scale, contained in some sort of cloth bag or even an opaque plastic bag, in a plastic bin by itself. That way nobody but the x-ray viewer "sees" the scale, but if TSA freaks out they can secondary-screen the scale without messing with your main bag. That's what I do with my own weird (home-built custom electronics) stuff.

If someone questions you about the scale and you don't want to tell the truth, tell them you use it to weigh your luggage. Seriously. It's totally plausible.

Welcome to FT.
studentff is offline  
Old Apr 1, 13, 8:05 pm
  #5  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: 8 Minutes from LGA
Programs: DL PM, Marriott Plat
Posts: 59
Originally Posted by studentff

If you're concerned, the first few times you travel with it, consider putting the scale, contained in some sort of cloth bag or even an opaque plastic bag, in a plastic bin by itself. That way nobody but the x-ray viewer "sees" the scale, but if TSA freaks out they can secondary-screen the scale without messing with your main bag. That's what I do with my own weird (home-built custom electronics) stuff.
That's great advice, I appreciate it.

And thanks for the welcome.
citationneeded is offline  
Old Apr 1, 13, 8:15 pm
  #6  
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Nashville, TN
Programs: WN Nothing and spending the half million points from too many flights, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 8,044
Cue Ink and his carry on contents:



Yes, I carry this on in a Pelican 1510. They usually swab it, and should. I don't think your scale will be a problem.
InkUnderNails is offline  
Old Apr 2, 13, 3:43 pm
  #7  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 37,756
The last few trips we have had an electronic luggage scale in a carryon. It's never been looked at except as an item in the way when other things were being looked at.
Loren Pechtel is offline  

Thread Tools
Search this Thread