Any tips? Clearly I'm not going to pull a Gaylord Focker and check my bag (no matter what the airline tells me - I'd rather ditch the bag than check an engagement ring).

Also, any problem bringing the ring into a foreign country where I plan to propose? I assume not but wonder if I will get hassled...

Is the intended traveling with you? If so, that complicates matters in the event that your carry on gets searched. Any chance of "ditching" her at security, i.e., you say "I'm gonna use the men's room. Why don't you go through security and I'll meet you at the gate?" Then she takes her carry on, goes through security, you wait a few minutes and do the same, and meet at the gate. That way, if your bag gets searched, she's not going to see the "gift". If that ploy doesn't work, I guess I'd make extra sure that I didn't pack anything in my carry on that would arouse suspicion and make it likely that your bag will get pulled.

As for taking the ring into another country, that shouldn't be a problem. I did it that way, and suffered no difficulties. I admit that, as soon as I had the chance, I took the ring out of my carry on and shoved it in my pocket. Somehow it made me less nervous knowing that the ring was in my pocket and not in a bag in the overhead. I'm sure my nervous behavior tipped off my GF. Anyhow, best wishes and have a great trip!

This should also work for getting you through security (take it out of the box first). Unless it's the size of a huge bracelet, shouldn't have a problem with setting off the detectors. I usually have on two rings at any given time (and have also traveled with three rings at once), all of which have thick bands, etc and never have a problem with security

I always carry them in my pocket.

QL

I flew with the engagement ring in a small box and it worked out fine...I could always feel the box in my pocket so I knew it was there. I even had a moment of panic in the security line at DCA thinking that it would go off so I slipped it into my shoes that were going through the X-Ray machine and slipped it back into my pocket...probably needlessly but I wasn't taking any chances! The "I need to use the men's room, why don't you go through security" would probably have been easier but didn't occur to me at the time.

I also had to lock the ring up in the hotel safe since I was waiting a day to propose and Mrs. East Coast Wing likes to use the safe in the room for her wallet and jewelry...I wasn�t comfortable just having it hidden in my suitcase so you may want to consider doing that. Ironically, during dinner the night I proposed she asked me how I got the ring to Key West without her seeing...I thought for sure she had seen me take it out of my shoe at the airport or scampering down to the front desk but apparently not!

Good luck and congratulations!

How many times have you carried them?

You shouldn't have any problems in the carry on or in your pockets, people stroll through the detectors all day without taking off their rings. Bringing it into another country should be no problem at all, I don't think we have ever been uestioned entering any country but when coming back to the states.

You should bring a receipt with you though, when you come back they may want to charge you duty if you can't prove you purchased it in the states.

Women who just got a diamond have a nasty habit of answering every question wtih "Take a look at my brand new ring" so when Customs asks if you have anything to declare.... it's better to have the receipt.

Three.

QL

That would be the least of the potential complications.

My fiance thought this one out beautifully. Of course we waited on line together but when we got to the front, he told me to go ahead of him as he said he needed to get something from his bag. This was at the Marine Air Terminal at LGA so he asked me to pick up a few magazines afterwards while he went through security. So I went ahead first, a few others followed, I went to get the magazines, and he went through security. And nobody checked his bag.

My son recently took his soon-to-be fiancee and the ring to Paris; he carried the ring (in its box) in his pocket and no worries. It doesn't set off the alarms.

Get the ring insured in case of a mishap, both before the propsal and thereafter.

I actually checked my wife's ring on our surprise engagement trip. A smart idea? Perhaps not, but I didn't want somebody helping themself to a very lucrative "gift" from my carryon bag while I was in an Ambien-induced slumber on the transatlantic redeye.

If you do carry the ring aboard the aircraft, I'd suggest a lock for whatever compartment the ring is placed in. Further, you might want to consider placing it in a less conspicuous container than the telltale jewelry box that probably originally accompanied it.

Good luck with the proposal!