I'm going on a eight hour flight later this week, and all websites seem to list knitting needles as banned in hand luggage! WHY? I'm SO much more dangerous without knitting on that length of flight! I was thinking about possibly a wooden crochet hook- if I've got time to get the hook and a project before Saturday. Anyone know if that would be ok.

Oh, and if anyone has tried to take over a plane with a pair of knitting needles, I'd love to know how that is actually possible!

Rant over...for now. ;)

I guess you'd probably be OK with a wooden hook - but don't get an expensive one in case you have to leave it at customs.

There's quite a lot of contradictory information about knitting on planes. It seems that some knitting needles might be allowed (bamboo or plastic circulars or DPNS, but not long metal ones), while scissors might be allowed if they are round-ended or have short blades.

It seems to come down to the security people doing the baggage checking. If they deem that your knitting is a security risk, then that's it; bye bye knitting, irrespective of what you've read about others' experiences or what individual airlines say.

Personally, I wouldn't risk having my knitting confiscated, or if I did attempt to take it with me on the flight, I'd take an SAE with me, so that the confiscated stuff could be sent back to me.

Advice (http://www.baa.co.uk/portal/controller/dispatcher.jsp?CiID=5eae398e1889e010VgnVCM10000036 821c0a____&ChID=ac4597dc2eb12010VgnVCM100000147e120a____&Ct=B2C_CT_PRESS_RELEASE&CtID=a22889d8759a0010VgnVCM200000357e120a____&ChPath=Home%5ECorporate%5EAll+Press+Releases) from the BAA

Scissors not permitted.

'Sharp items' not permitted either.

Knitting and crochet items not mentioned specifically (or in this pdf (http://www.baa.co.uk/assets/B2CPortal/Static%20Files/Can_and_CantDec06.pdf) of allowed and not allowed items). I imagine that knitting needles of all descriptions will come under the heading of 'sharp items'.

I don't think a crochet hook would present a problem :suspect: .

I seem to remember knitting on fingers at one time, but I can't actually remember what happened to the cast on stitches .... presumably it was a bit like hooking the first row in crochet?

They could hardly object to wool could they ... of course, I suppose you could use a hank to tie someone up .... :help:

I know of one lady who recently had her Knitpicks interchangeables confiscated at Heathrow (that was January I think). I went to Germany just before Christmas and I looked everywhere there was to look on t'internet and couldn't find out whether they were allowed or not. The US actually spell it out that they are allowed but it's all very quiet over here.

Have you considered a temporary move into cross stitch using one of those little thread cutters?

You can't take ANY knitting needles on the planes, and they didn't like the look of crochet hooks either. But pencils and pens are fine.

However, ANYTHING you buy airside can be taken on the plane.

I went to turkey last year october 06, from manchester airport and crochet hook was not allowed, but i got 1 when i got to turkey, and they never stopped me takening it bk home, mind ya I did put it in my suit case coming bk...
also which I thought was really amusing at manchester airport was you could not take ur ciggerette lighter through to depart lounge and they have a smoke room there, but no lighter's allowed, now i thought that was funny...

You could finger knit :nod:

Well in Zurich airport they sell Victorinox penknives in the duty free bit, i.e. after you've checked your luggage! :loopy:
Have you tried contacting the airline to ask if knitting needles would be ok?

I would use this as an excuse to not take any and then go mad on shopping for new yarn/needles on the other side!

Is there a number that you can ring for the airline to see if they can give you a straight answer? What if you took some really large chunky wooden needles - technically they are not sharp but probably look scarier than the small sharp ones!

Or if you do take the plunge and take your knitting and needles and the needles are confiscated - maybe take some kind of a rubber or bendy stitch holder so that you can at least keep the kitting.

...Is there a number that you can ring for the airline to see if they can give you a straight answer? ...
From searching around the net, the issue is to do with airport security and not with the airline itself. The link to BAA in my post above sets out the current rules for their airports, but it does seem to be at the discretion of the staff who carry out the security checks. Whether a knitting needle qualifies as a 'sharp object' seems to vary between different security checks. Additionally, the security guidelines in your destination country might be different from over here.

I'd certainly take along some stitch holders as gempud suggests, and a SAE so the needles can be sent back to you if they are confiscated.

Hmm, some long and hard thinking is called for. I change planes once, which could mean more security and I have no idea what the rules will be at the other end.

Thanks everyone for suggestions, keep 'em coming, I'm really indecisive! :help:

I've checked BA's website, and they don't explicitly ban knitting needles, but the government sites, and every other airline seems to. If it's up to the airport staff, I may be stuck.