| Author |
 Topic  |
|
|
mathiemom
Chatty Knitter
USA
229 Posts |
 Posted - 09/27/2010 : 12:44:11 PM
|
Well, after many years of frequent flying while knitting, I finally did have an unpleasant encounter. I was traveling on Gol Airlines on a domestic flight within Brazil. After x-raying my bag, the security guard unceremoniously ordered me to hand over my #6 Addi Turbo, despite the fact that it was at the time attached to the partial front of a sweater. I just took the knitting off the needle and handed it over. I explained to the guard that needles are allowed on US flights (where I've NEVER had a problem), and he proceeded to demonstrate that the needle was "sharp" by running his fingertip over the point. (No, no blood was drawn.)
It pained me to lose an expensive Addi Turbo, but it's the first time that has ever happened to me, and it's worth noting that I was in a foreign country on a domestic flight.
What was really weird is that, overall, Brazilian airport security is much more lax that in the US. Bottles of liquids? No problem! Shoes? Leave 'em on your feet! Surgical hardware that triggers the US alarms every time? Not a peep from the metal detector!
I figure it was bound to happen sometime, and I still bring my needles on planes.
Wendy |
|
|
Clara
queen bee
USA
4364 Posts |
Posted - 09/27/2010 : 12:48:56 PM
|
GASP!
You have my utmost outrage and sympathy.
It's all weird and highly inconsistent, but alas, we must nod and smile and do what people with guns and badges ask. But... size SIX Addi Turbos?! They're duller than a PEN. I realize that logic doesn't get us anywhere, but still.
As I said, you have my sympathy.
Clara
Your friendly Knitter's Review publisher
|
 |
|
|
dschmidt
Permanent Resident
3927 Posts |
Posted - 09/27/2010 : 1:47:48 PM
|
I certainly hope you didn't have a sharpened pencil or a ballpoint pen with you. Both of those could do more damage than Addi Turbos size 6!
Donna in VA
The Honor Roll? It's easier here than in school. Scroll up to "Want to Make Betty Happy?" and be an Honor Roll member.
|
|
|
|
mathiemom
Chatty Knitter
USA
229 Posts |
Posted - 09/27/2010 : 6:19:57 PM
|
Thank you for the sympathy! It helps me heal my wounded inner knitter. Luckily I had another project in my checked bag for the long flight back to the US (which got on the plane without incident), but my hands did get awfully itchy on the intra-country flight without my trusty knitting.
Wendy |
|
|
|
mokey
Permanent Resident
15375 Posts |
Posted - 09/27/2010 : 7:46:40 PM
|
With circulars, the points are not what concerns security. That lovely little cable between the needles could be used to restrain someone.
Far fetched, I know but that's an option.
Brought to you by the tongue in cheek-y monkey
---------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
knittingrunner
Seriously Hooked
USA
797 Posts |
Posted - 09/28/2010 : 3:32:42 PM
|
Wendy, I'm sorry for your loss.
Usually my knitting keeps me well enough occupied that I can ignore the individual in need of a good garroting (sp?).
So far the tiny circs I use for socks have been left in my posession.
Run, Bike, Knit, Repeat!
knittingbiker on Ravelry |
|
|
|
Luann
Permanent Resident
USA
2611 Posts |
Posted - 09/28/2010 : 6:40:00 PM
|
Of course, you could also use the yarn to restrain (or garrote) someone... or your shoelace, belt, purse strap, scarf, etc.
Luann
Knit and let knit!
http://www.luannocracy.blogspot.com |
|
|
|
Punctuatedknitter
Seriously Hooked
819 Posts |
Posted - 09/28/2010 : 8:53:37 PM
|
Like Luann said, they can't restrict everything someone could be strangled with. Shoelaces, belts, even bare hands (well, not my hands, they are tiny).
The restrictions on knitting needles and people thinking of creative ways Knitting Ninja MacGyver could hijack a plane with them, is all so much security theater. It is supposed to make us feel like the authorities are being vigilant, but who carries most of the knitting needles? And who does most/all of the violence? Like some terrorist is going to count on sitting next to a knitter on a plane and being able to grab the needles and strangle someone important before they get their rear end kicked.
Drunk and disorderly is much more disruptive to air travel than an extra bottle of hand lotion that doesn't fit in your quart zippie, but no one has stopped alcohol in the airport or on the plane.
Rant aside, my carry-on knitting is always on bamboo sock needles. Like knitting biker, it helps me stay calm, and I don't want to lose them.
|
|
|
|
Ceil
Permanent Resident
USA
1572 Posts |
Posted - 09/28/2010 : 8:54:09 PM
|
This is why I always take socks on bamboo needles. Addis are too expensive to lose.
Ceil
Time is never a factor when joy is involved. |
|
|
|
PBELKNAP
Permanent Resident
USA
1127 Posts |
Posted - 09/29/2010 : 05:29:25 AM
|
I've always heard that it's better to bring cheap needles you don't mind losing...
I blame that episode of NCIS last year where the murderer grabbed a sleeping knitters needles and stabbed a guy in the neck...the airlines probably saw the episode, too...LOL.
Seriously, though, people are right. What about pens, which everyone is allowed to bring on board without incident???
*************************
WIP = Socks (k), Owls Sweater (k), Hooded Duck Blanket (k)
Done this year: Sheep-Go-Round Sweater (k), V-neck pullover for Afghans for Afghans (k), Ladybug Afghan (c)
Twitter Name = WildKnitter
Blog: http://wildknitter.blogspot.com
If I could only do this for a living... |
|
|
|
jtamsn
Permanent Resident
USA
1585 Posts |
Posted - 09/29/2010 : 11:09:47 AM
|
Oh, my! I would mourn my Addi's (like I did when the dog chewed the cable on my 8's). Such inconsistency!
judy |
|
|
|
Wen
Permanent Resident
Australia
3242 Posts |
|
|
mathiemom
Chatty Knitter
USA
229 Posts |
Posted - 10/01/2010 : 10:03:09 AM
|
Wen, that sounds right. What they don't seem to understand is that, if I have my knitting to keep me busy in flight, I'm a lot less likely to gouge their plane with my pens or deface them with my markers.
On the garrote thing: I once heard something about that from a flight attendant (who was admiring my knitting). She said that there was chatter about disallowing circs over 32" for that reason, but that a shorter cord would be virtually impossible to use for that purpose.
Whatever. I agree that drunk and disorderly passengers are a lot more disruptive than knitters. And if there's one think we learned from 9/11, the shoe bomber, etc., is that someone intent on terrorizing a plane will figure out a way to do it regardless of the specific objects that are forbidden. Sad, but true.
In the future, I'll stick to wood or bamboo for situations involving security screens. I don't agree with the paranoid state of affairs, but annoying the screeners is obviously not going to help.
Wendy |
|
|
|
grannyjannie
New Pal
10 Posts |
Posted - 02/25/2011 : 06:11:25 AM
|
That is so sad! I was chatting with another knitting friend the other day, and she told me of her experience a while back coming BACK from Mexico. She'd gone into the country with her knitting no problem at all, but when she was leaving the country, the airport security tried to take her needles. Well, this woman is pretty outspoken, and she told them they could NOT have her expensive needles. She made them find her checked bag and put them into it! Not sure how well that would go over (or if it would even be possible for all of us), but wanted to share that was one person's solution to the problem.
I have only flown between Chicago and Boston with my knitting, (always circular needles) and have never had even a slight problem. Thank heavens! I NEED my knitting to keep me calm in the Friendly Skies.  |
|
|
|
Shalee
Permanent Resident
USA
2026 Posts |
Posted - 02/26/2011 : 2:48:53 PM
|
I have some Signature dp's and there is no way I would try to take them on a plane, any plane, in any country!
Sharon in NW PA
I always wanted my own library but I didn't realize it would be all knitting books!
|
|
|
|
indigokitty
New Pal
USA
1 Posts |
Posted - 03/03/2011 : 8:38:03 PM
|
| i recently had a (pair of?) size6 or so clover bamboo circs confiscated by Mexican security on a flight back to the US. They also confiscated my crochet hook, but let me keep the size 9 Harmonies that I had on separate, longer, cables. I think they weren't sure what all those things were for, and felt that they had to confiscate something, so they chose what looked less critical. There were stitches on the Clovers, a hat-in-progress that wasn't progressing very well, but I was much happier pulling off those stitches than I would have been pulling the stitches of my lacy shawl off my Harmonies! Just because they were nice enough to let me keep them I refrained from garroting anybody. |
|
|
|
lella
Permanent Resident
9701 Posts |
Posted - 03/04/2011 : 5:44:04 PM
|
Lol!
Well, there is International Relations and all that to be considered, too. teehee
Lella
Zippiknits
The happiest people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the best of everything they have.
|
|
|
|
Cecioboe
Seriously Hooked
USA
824 Posts |
Posted - 03/09/2011 : 4:21:10 PM
|
We can't have knitting needles on flights from Mexico or Belize either. :-(
Ceci
Aw, gee, c'mon and see: http://knittinreed.blogspot.com
Cecioboe on Ravelry |
|
|
| |
Topic |
|
Wah! Wah! They confiscated my needles!
