I'm sure Amanda from Seattle can answer this question for me

I'm flying to Ohio in a little more than a week. I'm taking my compass along with me. And I'm wondering how to pack it.
I don't really want to stick it in my suitcase. I'd rather put it in my carry-on. It has a metal case. Do you think security will have problems with it?

It's my Lewis and Clark commerative compass. I'd hate to have it lost or broken.

hummm ...maybe I should just pick up a cheap plastic model.

Thanks in advance for any info

=0)

S~N~K

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I'm flying to Ohio in a little more than a week. I'm taking my compass along with me. And I'm wondering how to pack it.

Unless it is a very bizarre compass with something like a built in blade, you can take it with you as a carryon.

Here is the official list of what you can take and not take. Some of it is scary to think about... for example, you CAN have a corkscrew or 12 inch knitting needles in your carryon bag, but not cuticle scissors since they have pointed tips. Maybe it is just me, but I think either of the other two could do a whole lot more damage.

http://www.tsa.gov/interweb/assetlibrary/Permitted_Prohibited_5_16_2005_v3.pdf

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...but not cuticle scissors since they have pointed tips

OK, so that has been addressed now in this revision. I had not read the document since I stopped travelling regularly a couple of years ago, though I always kept the current one on the laptop so I could show them if they doubted me.

Sorry, I'm not the charming Miss Amanda but I do fly all the time and my compass comes with me every trip. I do use a plastic model but I'm sure there would be no problem with one with a metal case unless it has Ninja blades protruding from it, of course. They may want to look at your bag to see what it is but I'm sure they wouldn't take it away.

Of course, you could get the idiot screener I got once in Lincoln, NE who tried to open my compass up to look at the insides. The compass has no case, is clear plastic, sealed with liquid inside and this example of TSA's skilled staff was trying to unscrew the top to get at that evil indicator needle inside...Duh! Needless to say, she failed and my compass and I got on the flight together. Other than that one incident, I've never had anyone take a second look.

Now, if you want to really cause a ruckus, try bringing a mercury switch on board. One of these looks like an automotive fuse, a small glass tube with metal caps on the end, but has a ball of mercury in it instead of the metal strip. I have a piece of jewelry that incorporates one and it was pinned on my winter coat... I was surrounded by nine, (count 'em NINE!) of TSA's finest and this li'l piggy was escorted right off the concourse! Funhog

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I was surrounded by nine, (count 'em NINE!) of TSA's finest and this li'l piggy was escorted right off the concourse!

You have the strangest airline stories..... *shaking head*

-- Ryan

PS. A compass is just short for "come pass", so naturally they'd let you pass through security with it!

PPS. I don't know why I would say such a stupid thing. *shrug* Just because I can, I guess. =)

Good examples of a noble intent gone wild....

I had a pair of scissors confisacted when exiting the USVI. The scissors had ROUNDED noses on them and had cleared at least 6 other previous "look sees". HOWEVER, the inpector had a bug in her sitting place and was PO'd about something. I appealed to the supervisor. He agreed with the rounded points, but shelia the Hun stated it is her opinion that they represent a threat. So we left sans scissors.

A good plan gone crazey ..

Get Smart - Max & 99 - Concord, NC

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The scissors had ROUNDED noses...

I actually had a pair of industrial strength heavy duty scissors I accidently left in my back once but I pulled the "but the tips are rounded" and proceeded to jab myself in the palm of my hand with them to prove the point. I guess no gushing bloody wounds convinced the man in charge and they let me take them.

I've flown (domestic & intl) with my compass attached directly to my backpack via carabiner for over 3 years now without incident. Haven't had an issue. I typically use a Silva Forecaster Compass from REI. I also have flown a couple of times with an Army issue compass that has trace amounts of Tritium in it---in my checked luggage. Haven't had a problem with it yet either.

On a slightly different note, we recently flew Asiana and China Air a couple of times and not only did they serve meals during the various flights (we haven't seen a meal on a US domestic flight in ages) but they also handed out metal utensils--to include a knife (although it was a blunt butter knife type). Didn't get a chance to see what kind of utensils first class received as we were in the 'cattle car' section most of the flights. ;)

dvn2r ckr

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but shelia the Hun stated it is her opinion that they represent a threat. So we left sans scissors.

sounds like Shiela's kid needed some scissors for school next month! LOL

one of my most embarassing moments came when i tried to get into the court house down in charlotte... (dont ask)..... and forgot that two nights before i had taken a cork screw over to a neighbor's house for a party..she had broken hers and ask me if i'd bring mine when i came... so i just tossed it into my pocketbook after we'd opened the wine, so i wouldnt forget it when i left the party. wellllllll... i was so embarassed when i had to pull the corkscrew out of my purse (all these guys behind me)... and i wound up having to leave it there.. and it was a NICE one too... :( one of the security guards saw my red face and said, dont worry.. we have bartenders come through here all the time with them in their back pockets..... now, that's weird.

cam of 3Ms

A compass, even in a metal case, should cause no problem. The thing I get stopped for the most lately...and I do get stopped just like everyone else! The uniform and ID only gets us to the front of the line, it's not a "free pass"...but I have been stopped alot for the battery for my DVD player. I have a portable DVD player with a big chunky battery and they are inconsistently stopping me to look at the battery. 4 out of 5 times, I will get thru with no questions and the 5th time they always want to open it up and paw thru everything. Even when I tell them it's the battery, it's in the side pocket etc. They will also stop you if you have several batteries...I had a package of 8 AA batteries in my bag because just about everything I have takes AA. My alarm clock, my camera, my flashlight, etc. They stopped me that time too! So now, I distribute the batteries throughout my carryon. Two in the side pocket, two in an inside pocket, two in my purse etc. That way it doesn't show up on the Xray as a big black chunk of unknown.

I carry my carving tools with the blades tucked inside the plastic handle and they have never had a problem with that! They even paw thru my letterboxing stuff, the rubber carving medium and stamp pads and the tool handle, but they have never questioned it.

My dad always has one of the small swiss army knife key chain thingies and I believe he has donated 3 maybe 4 to Seattle, LAX and Tampa Security since 9/11. He always forgets about it and he really likes to have it on his key chain. He won't change key chains!

The newest thing that you can't carry on the Aircraft are cigarette lighters. They have signs up because this is relatively new, I think they started banning them in April. You can carry a couple of books of matches, but no lighters.

-Amanda

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The newest thing that you can't carry on the Aircraft are cigarette lighters. They have signs up because this is relatively new, I think they started banning them in April. You can carry a couple of books of matches, but no lighters.

I guess that would make it harder to set your shoe on fire. ;-o

DS check this link out.

http://www.time4watches.com/Watch%20Articles/using_a_watch_as_a_compass.htm


Boxdn

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The newest thing that you can't carry on the Aircraft are cigarette lighters. They have signs up because this is relatively new, I think they started banning them in April. You can carry a couple of books of matches, but no lighters.

About two years ago, I, a non smoker, was stopped and thoroughly searched at the Philadelphia airport after my boyfriend, a smoker at that time, asked me to carry his lighter in my purse. They knew that the lighter was the issue when it went through the scanner but insisted that I take off my coat and ran that lovely little detector thingie over me and then made me take off my shoes and looked inside them and tried to see if the soles were removable. I was extremely embarrassed and more than a little annoyed with my boyfriend since it wasn't even my lighter.

I have been surprised since then to discover that lighters are a recent addition to the "don't take on planes" list.

Jan of Team Little Dog

Compass reading from a watch...man I remember that old trick...
but I cant remember how to do it ;-(

I took an outdoors class my senior year of high school. I loved it. We did canoe safety, campfire cooking, orienteering.

And the teacher showed us that watch trick. He even showed us how to use a compass as a sun dial to get the time.

=0)

Wish I could find my notes

S~N~K

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Compass reading from a watch...man I remember that old trick...

I had considered putting that trick in the compass tutorial but finally nixed the idea figuring most people were wearing digital watches and it wouldn't work. I guess that's not really true, though, is it? I might have to update it with that little parlor trick one of these days. =)

-- Ryan

Hilarious!!!
I love it when people can keep things in perspective and laugh about things that are normally taboo to laugh at.