Anyone know if this is allowed? I know after 9-11 it wasn’t for security reasons. I’m not going anywhere now…just curious.
Knitting on the plane?
Search the forum for “airplane”, “airline”, etc…lots of threads about this. 
I believe you can take needles on the planes now usually.
Do they have restrictions as to type and materials? Because I personally have been having difficulties finding info on this. The closest thing I found was an argument between two knitters about whether dpns were allowed in any form - metal or wood - because of the points and the fact that they can be easily concealed on one’s person; metal types being liable to do the most damage, of course.
I know the scissors thing cheesed off the x-stitching and embroidery contingent - I’m just wondering if any of us will be able to distract ourselves from unfortunate seatmates with crafts ever again?
I haven’t had trouble flying with circs or DPNs, bamboo or metal.
I haven’t had any trouble with needles on airplanes in the last couple of years. Most recetly I took size 11 straights one direction and a size 13 29" circular the other with no issue. Two years ago I took metal straights (size 5 or 7) with no problem. I can’t remember if I have taken DPNs or not - if I did they were size 8 bamboo which aren’t very pointly. I always try to make sure my project is on the needles before I go though.
BTW I believe they are allowing some scissors again. I know kids safety sissors and nail clippers are ok, but I am nor sure exactly what the newly expanded restrictions allow.
A knitting friend who flies through Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson (BIG airport) frequently says that she’s never had a problem so long as their was a project on her needles.
Here is the TSA site with the needle info. Of course it’s all up to the guys at each airport, but this is the general rules.
http://www.tsa.gov/public/display?content=090005198006c36a
I’m flying from Seoul to San Francisco in a couple weeks, and back. I’ll be sure to test it out and see.
I leave Tuesday for Seattle so I’ll let you all know if something happens.
I just went to Hawaii and back w/several pairs of knitting in my carryon. There was not yarn on any of them until I started a hat mid-flight. When I asked at check in, they said that they are allowed, however, I did take out the huge bamboo pair I knit scarves on and left them at home as I figured they could be construed as deadly weapons!!!
pat.
I just came back to Korea from San Francisco. I was working on a sweater on a 4mm wooden circular needle. They didn’t stop me when they x-rayed the bag. Just to be sure it was OK, I was knitting in the terminal before boarding both ways, so they would be sure to see it. Nobody said anything.
I’ve flown bunches with my needles no problem.
I flew to Hawaii last year with a set of metal circulars and a pair of US 10.5 aluminum straights. The straights were poking out of my carry-on bag because they couldn’t fit all the way in 
and got through security without any problems.
Debi
I just went to Hawaii and back with a metal circular and bamboo dpns in my carry-on and they didn’t even want to look at them. On the way back, I even had a small pair of nail sissors and a metal yarn needle and they didn’t give me any trouble.
Though a lot of strangers wanted to poke my knitting in the airport. Which when you’ve been travelling all day can be agravating.
Our trip to Seattle and back was uneventful. I had one set of my Denises with a scarf on them in my carry-on along with a blunt tip scissors and got no comments. I didn’t even realize I had a nail file in my purse and they never said a thing about that either. They seemed more concerned about the laptop which they made us take out and put through the scanner by itself. I’ve never taken it anywhere before so that may be normal protocol anyhoo.
I went to the TSA (transportation security administration) website last year when we were getting ready to fly to Vegas and printed out what you can and cannot take on the plane and knitting and crochet needles ARE allowed. I would go to their website and print it off and if you go throught security and they try to take them, pull the printout and show them! Individual airlines must adhere to these regulations.
Though I went with some bamboo needles on my trip to Houston a few weeks back, I was informed(on Christmas) by my aunt, who is a TSA agent supervisor, that any type of knitting needles are allowed on the planes.
I know this thread is mostly about internal US flights, but in case anyone is flying international I thought I would add that the carry-on status of needles (or anything else for that matter) is up to the specific airline.
For example, my local airline, Ukraine International absolutely prohibits needles of any description & even has a picture of knitting/needles on their board at each check-in station showing what’s not allowed - it’s right next to the gas bottles!
I will be flying Alitalia next week & haven’t been able to get a response on that issue yet so I’ll ask at check-in.
So, please, remember to check with any non-US airlines either before you pack or at check-in so you can put your projects into your checked luggage if necessary. The rules in the US are not the same as elsewhere.
I fly with my knitting a lot.
The only problem i had was last year when i flew to Sydney on Quantas. I had no problems on the way there, but on the way back, they made me cut the bamboo needles off my circs. Arguing with them that the needles were no more dangerous than the pencils other passengers were surely bringing on was no use.
(thankfully they didn’t find the other needles i had at the bottom of my bag)
At any rate, I’ve had no problems traveling anywhere in the US though. I use a nail-clipper to cut my yarn on the plane.
It’s a good idea to print out those TSA rules and carry them with you though - just in case.
I’m flying tomorrow. I checked TSA and saw that knitting needles are allowed. Just to be sure, I called Delta a few minutes ago. First, the guy told me that NO scissors or needles were allowed. I said “Are you sure? Because according to the TSA site, round tip scissors and needles are allowed.” He put me on hold and came back and said needles ARE allowed (whew!). He said as long as they were plastic - NO METAL. I asked him if bamboo was ok, and he said they were fine.
My question is…what about the bamboo sock needles? I’m currently working with size 2 bamboo dpns and although he said bamboo is ok, they’re REALLY pointy. Have any of you knitted socks on a plane before? What about a plastic tapestry needle? Am I safe with that?
Thanks in advance for your help!