TSA seems to have issues with knives in checked luggage
Jan 12, 2008, 9:00 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Sydney, Australia
Programs: UA, QF, VS, AA, US, HH, SPG
Posts: 974
TSA seems to have issues with knives in checked luggage
Whenever I've travelled with kitchen knives in my checked luggage I seem to end up with one of those friendly notes saying my bag has been searched. Not really an issue in itself but I've also noticed this seems to correspond with times when my bag come out last in spite of priority tags.
Why kitchen knives you ask - well we like to stay at condominiums when staying in a place for more than a couple of days and as everyone knows no matter how high end the condo they NEVER have decent SHARP knives.
Why kitchen knives you ask - well we like to stay at condominiums when staying in a place for more than a couple of days and as everyone knows no matter how high end the condo they NEVER have decent SHARP knives.
Jan 12, 2008, 9:42 pm
#2
Senior Moderator
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: San Francisco, CA
Programs: UA Plat/2MM [23-yr. 1K, now emeritus] clawing way back to WN-A List; MR LT Titanium; HY Whateverist.
Posts: 12,396
Please continue to follow in our Travel Safety/Security forum. Ocn Vw 1K, Moderator, TravelBuzz.
Jan 12, 2008, 10:18 pm
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: SJC, SFO, YYC
Programs: AA-EXP, AA-0.41MM, UA-Gold, Ex UA-1K (2006 thru 2015), PMUA-0.95MM, COUA-1.5MM-lite, AF-Silver
Posts: 13,437
At least the TSA left your knives in your checked luggage. I was on a LH flight from FRA to DEN, and sitting across the aisle from two empty seats on an otherwise full flight. Unfortunately the couple eventually boarded and took the seats. During the flight, the gentleman who boarded late explained his delay. He'd bought some swords and placed them in his checked baggage. FRA security x-rayed the bags, and paged him after he cleared the security check point. He came back back landside, and was screamed at and told that his swords would be confiscated. He could have called his relatives that saw him off at FRA, but that was unacceptable to FRA security.
Jan 12, 2008, 11:21 pm
#5
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Gotham City
Programs: Rapid Rewards, Skymiles, HHonors, Amex MR; Browns, Cavs, Indians, and Buckeyes Season Ticket Holder
Posts: 2,027
just a thought
Jan 13, 2008, 1:36 am
#6
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: MUC (home), DUS (office), XXX (customer)
Programs: LH, AB, SPG, CC, Sixt, EC
Posts: 6,334
Same thing here. I traveled EWR-MDW_DCA ( I know, weird routing but somebody else got the ticket for me ) and had checked luggage as I was traveling back to Germany after a year in the US. Had a kitchen knife and other supply in my bags. It took forever to get the luggage and it was of course searched. On my flight home IAD-FRA-QKL, nobody did secondary screening to the "knife suitcase", at least there was no note and it was not such a mess like the first time. Will try again in a little bit 
Jan 13, 2008, 9:50 am
#8
Moderator, Omni, Omni/PR, Omni/Games, FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Between DCA and IAD
Programs: UA 1K MM; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 67,145
Jan 13, 2008, 12:16 pm
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: SJC, SFO, YYC
Programs: AA-EXP, AA-0.41MM, UA-Gold, Ex UA-1K (2006 thru 2015), PMUA-0.95MM, COUA-1.5MM-lite, AF-Silver
Posts: 13,437
Jan 13, 2008, 1:17 pm
#10
Join Date: Dec 2007
Programs: SPG Gold; UA 2P
Posts: 238
I've flown with a set of kitchen knives checked on two occasions, and have yet to receive a bag search notification.
I wrap the knives individually in a thin sheet of plastic and then bundle them together in a small container, rather than shipping them in a block or the like. Perhaps this makes them appear less visually distinct on an x-ray inspection?
I wrap the knives individually in a thin sheet of plastic and then bundle them together in a small container, rather than shipping them in a block or the like. Perhaps this makes them appear less visually distinct on an x-ray inspection?
Jan 13, 2008, 4:25 pm
#11
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: MUC (home), DUS (office), XXX (customer)
Programs: LH, AB, SPG, CC, Sixt, EC
Posts: 6,334
Jan 13, 2008, 5:31 pm
#12
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Australia
Posts: 6,338
Oh godohgodohgod.....
Planning to try to get to a European target shooting championships next year... and will probably need to transit through FRA.....
Oh dear..... Still.. mre5765.. you DID crack me up with that description! Thanks for the laugh!
Planning to try to get to a European target shooting championships next year... and will probably need to transit through FRA.....
Oh dear..... Still.. mre5765.. you DID crack me up with that description! Thanks for the laugh!
Jan 13, 2008, 6:39 pm
#14
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Under an ORD approach path
Programs: DL PM, MM. Coffee isn't a drug, it's a vitamin.
Posts: 12,935
FRA has a long history of stupid behavior. 20+ years ago I was passing through there, the security screener insisted I take a photo with my camera to prove it was a real camera. (after a long trip, I only had two shots left- remember "film"; and I hated wasting one.)
Of course, being a smart *ss at that younger age, I pointed the camera at her and started to snap the photo. She grabbed the lens, pointed it at the ground, and ordered me to photograph the floor.
Of course, being a smart *ss at that younger age, I pointed the camera at her and started to snap the photo. She grabbed the lens, pointed it at the ground, and ordered me to photograph the floor.
Jan 13, 2008, 8:32 pm
#15
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Chicago
Posts: 11,513
And of course, the security folks in the FCT are always on their best behavior.