jerry90210

Hey all. I travel internationally quite a bit from the US to other countries and vice versa. I recently bought myself a fedora hat where its kind of big and not the smaller ones. I am bringing it on my trip since where im going, its hot and lot of sun. I never carried a hat/cap when flying ever. The thing is my check in luggage is pretty packed so i could put it inside but it would be squished. The other thing is i know there are instructions on how to pack a hat like this but my issue is i don't have much space in my luggage, but also i don't want tor risk the hat breaking/damaging losing its shape.



When i go to the US airport, would you suggest i just wear the hat and then when going through security where i have to take out all my things and then...



1. Put the hat on the basket? I do not want to do this because i know there is lot of germs/dirt on those things. But if i do that, flip it the other side so it doesn't touch the inside of it.


2. Put it in a plastic bag and in a separate basket? I don't want it to get dirty.


3. Am i allowed to walk through the scanner with the hat? Or me just walking through it while im carrying the hat? I assume the 2nd part i cannot do. But no matter what, TSA would have to examine my hat right if this was even allowed? Im a germaphobe and I dont want to wash this hat because i dont want to risk damaging it.



Now when i get through security, im not sure i want to wear the hat on the flight because its a bigger fedora than normal and.it would be way too close to whoever i sit next to so they might get annoyed.. But do most ppl put it in the compartment bins? Am i allowed to just put it on my lap the entire time? I had noticed i seen ppl wearing fedoras on the flight but usually when we are getting off so i wonder do ppl leave it in compartment bin or wear it entire time or just leave it on their lap?



Also when you go through immigration to which ever country you go to, you always have to take off whatever hat/cap you are wearing right? I never worn a hat/cap before but when im waiting in immigration when going to countries, i notice some ppl when they wear hats, either they remove it or i think the immigration agent ask them to remove it. I also think seen ppl not ask to remove their caps/hats.

thebigben

You'll have to take off your hat going through security. Jews who travel with their traditional hats seem to have cases for them, that seems like a decent idea. In a pinch, there would be no problem using a plastic bag for it, except that you'd have to wear it for takeoff and landing, or put it under the seat in front of you, which seems impractical. (Definitely don't want to get it squished in the overhead containers!)

Having it on your lap may or may not be allowed because loose items are not supposed to be left in the cabin for takeoff and landing. No problem for the rest of the flight, though. It's also best to remove it for immigration so that they can recognize you from your passport.

jerry90210

Hi there. Well i don't want to buy a case for this... seems foolish since its a hat but its a hat i like. I mean i would only wear it when its hot and lot of sun etc.


Yea i thought plastic bag is fine for putting it in the bin when checkpoint.


Okay so on the flight, which do others here suggest then? The thing is i will be carrying a messenger bag as my carry on and also have like a fanny pack. I always put my messenger bag in the overhead container and keep my fanny pack with me. So with the fedora, if i don't put it in the overhead bin, i have to wear it at takeoff and when landing. But just the flight, where you suggest me put it? I wouldnt like wearing it for many hours and also because it might bump the other person because its not a small hat. I mean keep it in the plastic bag and then put it under the other persons chair or something? Well i do have a bag so it won't make it dirty. I thought maybe just have it on the desk when they are not serving the food? Also if you put it in overhead compartment, is it pretty high percentage it gets squished?

lhrsfo

Outside the US, there shouldn't be too much problem on board as the luggage racks tend not to be too full and I often see people putting hats in them, particularly on holiday flights. However, on the flight from/to the US, it will be difficult as Americans seem to travel with everything including the kitchen sink, thus filling the plane completely.

The only advice I'd give to the OP is that the hat should be removed for all security and for Immigration queues. Also, if the OP is male, in many countries it's considered rude for men to wear hats indoors.

ajGoes

This is especially true in churches. Remember to remove your hat if you enter a church, cathedral, or chapel.

The contrary applies to Jewish places of worship, where males usually cover their heads.

Artpen100

For hot places, I have a panama hat that rolls up. I also have flat caps in linen and tweed for hot and cold. I am too interested in traveling efficiently and would simply not bother with a hat that needed special attention.

bon mot

I would encourage you to do whatever it takes to reduce your overall anxiety. As you know, flying is a dirty business (pun intended), so washable, packable, lightweight items that give you less opportunity for worry work the best. Is this the first time you’ve given so much thought to a travel item? Know that regardless of best-laid plans, your fedora (or any other treasured item) may end up in undesirable surroundings over which you have little control. If that’s an intolerable thought, leave it at home.

dinoscool3

I travel with hats regularly. If you have pre-check you can wear it through the metal detector. Honestly though, it’ll be fine just placing it on the bin.

tmorse6570

I have pre-check and am always told by TSA to either put it in a bin to go through the x ray or just wear it as I walk through the metal detector. Or you can roll it and pack it before the trip.

nancypants

this 100%. I have a felt Akubra which is squishable and therefore packable. But it is very easy to leave behind and cost a couple of hundred dollars and honestly it is not worth the stress, even before any concerns about germs etc start to come into it

OP, strongly advise reconsidering your travel hat strategy. Seriously.

LondonElite

A well-made fedora hat can roll up in a travel tube. And no hat/cover indoors!

ajGoes

I left my Tilley hat in the restroom at the Musée D'Orsay the summer of '18. The potential minor tragedy became a treasured memory. My wife asked me where my hat was as we were leaving at closing time. I wasn't allowed back down to the toilets. In a minor panic, I rushed to the lost and found, enlisted the aid of the very helpful staff, and, within a couple of minutes, was escorted downstairs and reunited with it. I gave the lady who had found it a bisou on the cheek and left, protected against the brutal sun and warmed by another happy encounter with French people enthusiastically helping someone who has, as they say, un petit problème.

dinoscool3

Not always, yes some fedoras are crushable (honestly the term should be foldable), but many are not and that doesn't mean they are poorly made. And even if a hat is crushable, it is never a good idea to leave it in that state for too long.