On Sun, 17 Feb 2002, Anthony Fisher wrote: > Now, this is why I want to take only a carry-on bag to YAPC::E... > but it seems that I can't even carry a penknife or a Leatherman tool > unless it's in checked luggage. So, do I take another piece of > luggage with just a couple of items in it? Or buy a penknife there > and dump it before coming back? I worry if keeping us all alive is > reliant on stopping anyone from bringing a two-inch blade aboard...
Figure out one person who has no choice but to take hold luggage, and all hand over your contraband prior to departure ? This is one advantage of gerbers over normal leatherman designs - opening the pliers to demonstrate them doesn't require exposing a set of blades to the outside world, and if security doesn't spot them immediately, they're not likely to pick up on it. I put it in hold luggage when I flew at christmas, but prior to sept 11th, I've flown many times with one on my hand luggage. There is another option, which may or may not be available on your airline, which is to check it into the care of the pilot (much like with firearms, but also a range of other slightly unusual stuff) Basically, you give it to them, they put it in a box, and you collect it at the other end, but it's not with checked luggage so it's normally a bit quicker to retreive (as long as you can figure out where to collect it from) While you're talking to the airline about it, you might even be able to convince them that it's really quite harmless, and get them to confirm (ideally in writing, by fax, or with names and contact numbers should you get any problems) that actually they don't mind if you take it as hand luggage. the hatter
