Peccopa Posted January 8, 2017 Share Posted January 8, 2017 (edited) Hello everybody, I was wondering if you can help me and/or share some of your own experiences? Later this month, I will be flying from Germany to the USA, with a stop in London in between. I have some shoes that I would like to prepare at the airport and on the plane to keep me busy for a while but I don't know if I would be allowed the neccessary things in my carry on. I sew and darn my shoes, so I'd need two different needles, do you think one - or both of them - might pose a problem during security checks? And what about a small pair of scissors to cut the threads/dental floss (yeah, I'm being that person and use floss for sewing)? I've heard about people taking travel sewing kits on a plane with them before, but I'm still unsure. Do any of you have experiences with this situation for the Heathrow airport in particular? (Edited because I accidentally posted before I was done typing. Whoops.) Edited January 8, 2017 by Peccopa Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lisa O`Brien Posted January 8, 2017 Share Posted January 8, 2017 (edited) I think you ought to contact your airline and ask them . Might be wrong of course but I would imagine the only needles allowed would be a hypodermic needle in case of a medical emergency and even then, you would probably have to go through all manner of red tape to get permission. I would imagine sewing needles being seen as a potential weapon. Edited January 8, 2017 by Lisa O`Brien Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jan McNulty Posted January 8, 2017 Share Posted January 8, 2017 A google search has come up with this trip advisor thread: https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowTopic-g1-i10702-k8590671-Flying_with_Sewing_Needles_in_Carry_On-Air_Travel.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TooTu Posted January 8, 2017 Share Posted January 8, 2017 Best to double check with the airport but I've travelled with a sewing kit (bunheads stitch kit) in my hand luggage several times though my flights have all been within the UK Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anon2 Posted January 8, 2017 Share Posted January 8, 2017 https://www.gov.uk/hand-luggage-restrictions/personal-items Hope that helps Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quintus Posted January 9, 2017 Share Posted January 9, 2017 when it comes to filming Needles On A Plane make sure you secure Samuel L Jackson 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taxi4ballet Posted January 9, 2017 Share Posted January 9, 2017 My dd had a small pair of scissors confiscated from her hand luggage a couple of years ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LinMM Posted January 9, 2017 Share Posted January 9, 2017 My partner was most upset when he had to let go of a Swiss knives set....one of the smaller ones ....which he had forgotten to take out of his jeans pocket!! He was not allowed to put in hand luggage even though it was a smallish one ...it did have some scissors attached etc ....so a rather grumpy half hour or so at the airport after that!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moomin Posted January 9, 2017 Share Posted January 9, 2017 (edited) Definitely not allowed scissors, not sure about needles, they'd probably be much less obvious when scanned. I'd check and I'm sure the flight crew would cut your tape for you Edited January 9, 2017 by Moomin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anon2 Posted January 9, 2017 Share Posted January 9, 2017 But according to the government document I posted link to you should be able to carry scissors with blade up to 6 cm in hand luggage at UK airport. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taxi4ballet Posted January 9, 2017 Share Posted January 9, 2017 But according to the government document I posted link to you should be able to carry scissors with blade up to 6 cm in hand luggage at UK airport. Not according to the officious chap we had the misfortune of encountering at Luton Airport, who made dd feel like a criminal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2dancersmum Posted January 9, 2017 Share Posted January 9, 2017 You are allowed small scissors as per the document that Jane posted a link to but they can and often do stop you to check the scissors. I and my DD were both pulled over at security and yes you do feel like a criminal and they took the scissors out and looked at them. Ours were nail scissors that were rounded /curved at the end and they were ok. He told us it was the sharpness they looked at and if they have sharp points they might be confiscated even if smaller than government guidelines. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
porthesia Posted January 10, 2017 Share Posted January 10, 2017 If you are really concerned about scissors you can buy a thread cutter - manufacturer is Clover, any cross stitch web site will have them. I have one which I bought as embroidery scissors are incredibly sharp. (I'm a cross stitcher). Do you use the dental floss that comes in a box with a cutter - that should work on normal thread as well i would have thought. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yaffa Posted January 11, 2017 Share Posted January 11, 2017 A ballet student once told me that her hand luggage had been flagged as suspicious, so she had immediately produced printouts showing why her needles should be allowed and why she needed them to protect her ballet shoes. The screener then said it wasn't the needles, but the hammer in the girl's bag that had triggered the alarm, and didn't seem too impressed when the girl said that it was to break the pointe shoes.... 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Huddsballetmum Posted January 11, 2017 Share Posted January 11, 2017 I don't think they allow scissors, but you can buy them in boots once you are in the airport terminal - you can also buy sewing kits so I don't really see why a couple of sewing needles and a small pair of scissors is a big deal. Bit like the bottle of water that I had forgotten in my hand luggage which brought down the full force of airport security and was confiscated (with lecture ) only to go though security and purchase the same bottle of water 5 minutes later. Bit of a farce really. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taxi4ballet Posted January 11, 2017 Share Posted January 11, 2017 (edited) I think we encountered the Luton Airport scissors confiscator at a bad time - the baggage check area was stiff with police, armed to the teeth with sub-machine guns and God knows what else; and there was definitely a considerable air of tension in their manner that particular day. Edited January 11, 2017 by taxi4ballet Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
invisiblecircus Posted January 15, 2017 Share Posted January 15, 2017 I was at a ballet school overseas and used to darn my pointe shoes on the flights to and from the UK! Never encountered a problem but didn't take scissors. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kat09 Posted January 16, 2017 Share Posted January 16, 2017 Needles and scissors allowed (nail scissors) (but not ex India or Australia) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Q Fan Posted January 28, 2017 Share Posted January 28, 2017 (edited) Best to check direct with airline and the airport. I saw smtg yesterday that indicated knitting needles were again allowed. I got pulled over at Amsterdam Schiphol I thought what on earth have they found this time (despite my best efforts I'm always picked on for something) my opera glasses!!! I can only think they may have thought they were gun sights. Anyway the lady checking found them quite amusing and had fun looking at her colleagues through them briefly. Hey ho.... Edited January 28, 2017 by Don Q Fan 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quintus Posted February 16, 2017 Share Posted February 16, 2017 I wonder if airlines will be tightening their needle policies following the assassination of Kim Jong Nam allegedly involving a poisoned needle! Maybe passengers will be obliged to prick their thumbs a at check-in... 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LinMM Posted February 16, 2017 Share Posted February 16, 2017 Oh was it a needle!! I heard this news yesterday when rushing to get out and I thought they said some woman had flung a cloth over his face and this had poison on!! It was hard to visualise admittedly and seemed a strange way to attempt to kill someone ....a bit like in old thrillers where someone puts a cloth with chloroform over the victims face to knock them out. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quintus Posted February 16, 2017 Share Posted February 16, 2017 I read of two methods - both a spray to the face (which maybe then became a cloth in later versions) and a poison needle... All very James Bond ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LinMM Posted February 16, 2017 Share Posted February 16, 2017 Indeed!! And the culprit so blatant it seems ....though we don't know for sure yet of course!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yaffa Posted February 17, 2017 Share Posted February 17, 2017 Oh was it a needle!! I heard this news yesterday when rushing to get out and I thought they said some woman had flung a cloth over his face and this had poison on!! It was hard to visualise admittedly and seemed a strange way to attempt to kill someone ....a bit like in old thrillers where someone puts a cloth with chloroform over the victims face to knock them out. Oh dear, so will we start to see miniature high-priced hankies meeting new size regulations for taking on flights? :-) 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lisa O`Brien Posted March 1, 2017 Share Posted March 1, 2017 Whatever else he's alleged to have done, Kim Jong Ill should be arrested for that bloody hairstyle. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now