Hi! I am flying from Paris Orly to EZE with Iberia via Madrid and for obvious reason I want to try to not check my backpack. I just can't afford to have my bag lost as I have another connecting flight in Argentina the next day to Patagonia. Plus, Iberia informed me I can bring 10kg on board which is plenty.

Question is what do I do with some trekking equipment which may be seen as 'dangerous': swiss army knife, hiking pole, tent poles & pegs...

Can I just stuff it in and hope it will pass? Worse come to worse can you give it to the airline crew to hold for me?

How strict is Iberia or Orly/Madrid airports?

Thanks!

I think you will end up having to check the "dangerous" stuff. If you want to chance it, put the questionable stuff in a separate smaller bag inside the bigger one so you can check it if need be. Still a bit risky I think. What happens if you slide all the way to boarding time at the gate and they stiff arm you there? Will they check it at that point or just confiscate it? I dont know. I would check just the questionable items.

Your Swiss Army Knife & pegs won't get through security, let alone to the gate.

The various poles may also cause a few problems.

Your biggest problem however may be convincing the security folk that your backpack is carry on size. If it's too big, it's going to be checked.

If they see it you will almost certainly have your Swiss Army knife confiscated, and probably tent poles, pegs, etc.

I have had a corkscrew removed from my hand luggage at MAD before August 11th -- all very polite but security agent explained "this could be a weapon."

So, as Muddy advises, I would check all this stuff. If you are flying direct MAD - EZE and not going via North America, there is no secondary screening.

Well, I just read on various forums that Iberia is notorious for losing luggage. I land at night (not a direct flight, ORY-MAD-EZE) and the next day I have a flight from AEP to FTE, so I don't want to chance it. I don't plan to bring so much stuff as I plan to do lots of trekking and hence carrying most of my stuff on my back. I figured if I wear all my bulky clothes, my backpack will be half empty and then for sure they will let me bring it on board. That's not the problem, I have seen other people bring in mountains on board!

Another issue is the swiss army knife, which I will never see again if I check it in separately (been there, it's my third knife!). My boyfriend once forgot to check it in and they let him give it to the cabin crew to hold for him for the duration of the flight. Sometimes, they scan things but let things slide, depending on the airport, and the person doing the checking. I can recall times when I 'smuggled' such dangerous things aboard as: tweezers, fork, lighter...

I suppose it is just a russian roulette either way. Flying today is just such a nightmare- expensive, huge ordeal, under inhumane conditions with those tiny seats, but no choice :-(

I get the feeling that OnTheMo is going to meet MrRubberGlove.

and you think that MrRubberGlove is going to find the Swiss Army Knife? (ouch!)

you guys are sick! I am not going to be butt searched damn it! I just want to get to my holiday destination on time with all my gear in tact. Anyway, I read on LP forums regarding Iberia, that if you ask very nicely they let you get away with lots of reasonable requests. It's not the US or the UK :-) So I will just bat my eyelashes that day and hope that works.

seriously, OnTheMo, I would be shocked if you get on any flight on your route with a knife. Have a back-up plan (be ready to check it if need be).

Might be worth a bit of research to see if you can get into hot water for a concealed weapon in any of the places your going.

Good Luck!!!