found a way to fly with my Leatherman
 

No, I'm not talking about a way to sneak something on board. I read the list of TSA-approved items, and everything on my Leatherman multi-tool would pass muster except for the knife blade. I didn't want to deface my Leatherman, so I took a cheap knock-off copy that had a promotional logo on it, broke the knife blade off at the base, and have flown with it several times know.

I usually put it in the bin with my shoes, and it gets extra attention, but have had screeners accept it once they verify the knife blade is missing. That way I have my pliers & screwdriver in case I need to MacGuyver my way through swapping a hard drive or opening non-twistoff beer bottle caps.

After having my Leatherman stolen from checked baggage recently I was looking at the model they sell without a knife for this purpose or thinking about doing what you did.

I was concerned it would still be taken away due to some random rule created as they so often are. I have had EMS style safety shears taken away after multiple passages when that 'one' special TSO decides to play games.

Glad to hear it is working for you so far. I may give it a shot with a cheap one just in case.

There was a very unhappy chappie on the forum at equipped to survive who had had his Knifeless Fuse taken from him by the TSA, so don't count on it!

Mine was lost in PEK. :(

I never had problems with the TSA, though-- they would always (though often reticently) let it go after explanation/examination.

The best was at the FCT in FRA when I began to explain it to the screener but was interrupted by the PA saying that they are familiar with the tool. It took the screener all of five seconds to clear it.

After getting a pair of scissors approved for ages 3 & up taken from me at NRT I've started to fly with the absolute cheapest possible scissors I can find. If you need to travel with a bottle opener I'd just surf S.P.A.M. until you find an offer for a free corkscrew and pack that. That way if it gets stolen by a screener needing one himself you're not out something nice.

I wouldn't try to take any tools. The rules can change at any moment. I recently lost a very small adjustment screwdriver at SYD because they said no tools were allowed. I pointed out the idiocy of this and the screener and supervisor agreed. The supervisor then pointed at the cameras and said that since it was all on tape he couldn't give it back to me even if he wanted to. They X-rayed my bag at least 5 times while finding it. :confused:

He had no problem stealing from you on tape however.

Seems like a good way for them to justify taking what they want, and then pointing to the rules, even though, by all rules and regulations, you should be able to take them with you.

"Oooh, Chanel perfume! Well, now that I've taken it, I cannot give it back, even if I wanted to."

Yeah, good luck with that, Mr. TSO.

I may try the knifeless Leatherman trick. I think I have a knock off around here someplace....

I have been flown with a Swiss Utili-Key a couple of times since right after 9/11. I don't usually drive myself to the airport, but sometimes I have to, and then the car keys have to go with me.

http://www.swisstechtools.com/produc...D=VZ75GDTdP68A

Just got my Leatherman micro-tool confiscated at SEA in November. :mad:

Forgot it was in my bag. I asked to be escorted back out so I could throw it away in a non-TSA trash can (just on principle). I just don't like the ideaof it ending up on e-Bay or falling in a screener's pocket where it could cause injury. I didn't have time to mail it or check it; lot of sentimental value. I thought about breaking the blade but didn't have any way of accomplishing it.

I was on a flight from AGP (Malaga, Spain) to FRA. Reached into my laptop bag and felt my Leatherman Wave. No idea how it got through security. I left it in there the rest of the flight. I can't remember if I checked it in FRA for the rest of the itinerary. I don't think I did and there were no more problems.

Yeah 1217's experience is what makes me sick about this whole circus...I too have flown with items left alone for many legs and suddenly declared a threat...known AND unknown prohibited things.

I lost the Leatherman I had had over a decade because it was stolen out of CHECKED luggage...and when I was filing the complaint I was told it it was important to me I should have had it WITH me not checked...I just looked at the guy and couldn't think what to say to that :mad:

On the car keys note I used to have a HUGE key that was more of a weapon that a tiny Swiss Army pen knife and nobody ever blinked an eye at that one.

And the game keeps on being played....

Right after 9/11 I was told I couldn't fly with my grandpa's fountain pen. It was a huge, heavy, metal monster with a giant nib. Yeah, it would make a great weapon, but.... I left the line and fedexed it back to myself.

Be very careful flying with that - British Customs consider it to be a disguised knife which is an offensive weapon per se.

I have been wondering...You know how some guys hook their wallets to their pants with a long chain that's attached to the wallet on one end and a belt loop on the other?

I wonder if it would help if I could figure out a way to secure something like my replacement leatherman to my checked bag (inside) the same way. It wouldn't be foolproof, but when TSA opened my bag, it might make it a bit inconvenient if they had to break/cut a chain and lock to take my tool. They'd still be able to 'inspect' it, just not 'lose' it.

Good grief, I can't believe I'm reduced to pondering actions like this...

Now if I can only find a similar way to secure my camera batteries (spares). Maybe inside a pacsafe mesh locked/chained to the inside of my bag?