Do wrapped presents really get unwrapped?
 

It would be so much easier for me if I could wrap my presents before I leave for my Christmas night flight. It's a redeye so I basically go straight into Christmas #2. Is there any real reason they say not to do this? I don't understand how the machines can see through suitcases but not through a piece of paper.

The only catch is that I'd like to carry some on with me (too valuable to check), and check the unbreakable/bulky presents. Do they really unwrap everything or just if something is suspicious? I've got my dad a GPS unit that I'm not going to wrap because I figure that could look funny on an x-ray, but things like shirts and books seem ridiculous not to wrap ahead of time.

Please continue to follow this thread in the Travel Safety/Security Forum.
Thanks..
Obscure2k
TravelBuzz Moderator

Pre 9/11, when security was less uptight, I saw pax have to unwrap wrapped presents to send them through the x-ray machine. I can't imagine that it would be any easier today. If I were you, I'd ship the wrapped packages, rather than carrying them on.

No guarantee one way or the other. They don't have to unwrap them to get them through the x-ray and "see" what's inside. But if they decide it needs further examination then the wrapping will come off.

I've flown from Toronto to the Philippines via Hong Kong in October or November every year since 2003 and have always taken a suitcase full of wrapped presents. I've never had any problems and never been asked to unwrap them.

As with anything security related these days, YMMV and this is only my experience.

Derek

Simple solution: bring the gifts in its form through security without wrappers, but bring a roll of wrappers in your carry on... once past security, wrap your presents. That should work perfectly.

What about the scissors????? :p

We've been doing that for several years now.

Wrapped them, shipped them FedEx Ground and they are already at my sister's house in the BWI area.

No hassle and no overweight luggage issue for us when we hit the airways this weekend.

Plus it forces us to get the Christmas shopping done early rather than procrastinate.

That's actually a good idea...maybe I could precut the paper too so I'm not having this huge roll of paper and the scissors problem is avoided. Better than sitting in SFO where there is nothing to do except hope to steal internet from somewhere!

However, I think my brother's 3 pound stick of beef is going to get checked and will have to wait to get wrapped!

*gasp* I forgot about that! Hmm, like the OP mentioned in the post above, he can pre-cut it. Kinda a pain, but better than nothing.

Wrapping? Use gift bags. Wrapping is a waste of time. It settles your unwrap dilemma here as well. ;)

Up to 4 inch scissors are legit now. No problem at all.

Why not use gift bags? Then you don't have to worry about paper, and the item can be taken out of the bag for screening, then put back in the bag after screening.

I once fedexed several carefully and beautifully wrapped, and carefully packed presents to a friend in the USA by Fedex and they arrived having been unwrapped and then the paper just sort of crumpled back around them. You would think these cretins would have heard of x ray by now.

At security: "Um, sorry, but that tasty-looking 3lb of beef looks like it could be used as a weapon. And it's also a liquid if you put it in a blender. I'm afraid we're going to have to confiscate it. Oh, and we're gonna have to confiscate those paper plates and plastic knives, too."

:)

Mike