# I brought a box cutter through TSA... twice **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 1, 2014, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-brought-a-box-cutter-through-tsa-twice/685091 "2014-04-01T15:54:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Athabasca](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@Athabasca](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athabasca)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2014, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-brought-a-box-cutter-through-tsa-twice/685091/21 "2014-04-01T23:12:10Z")
This is worth a mention, > **[Pipe bomb was opened by Edmonton airport screener | CBC News](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/edmonton-airport-screener-opened-pipe-bomb-1.2508824)** > > RCMP search warrant documents obtained exclusively by CBC News detail a shocking degree of ineptness and dangerous handling of a potentially lethal pipe bomb at Edmonton International Airport by nearly everyone involved in the screening process. The article cites the ineptitude and multitude of security failings in this incident. I’ve always thought, though, that the real threat to airline security lay behind the scenes such as with baggage handlers and crew. MH370 seems to be a case of hijacking where the pilot either diverted the plane or was forced to. The fact that passengers have to perform like trained seals by ensuring they don’t take more than 120 ml of liquids onboard in carryon luggage, doff footwear, endure full body scans and surrender anything ‘sharp’ is a sop to those who feel we must demonstrate that ‘something’ is being done. ---
**Author:** ![GoodOmens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d26b3c/32.png) [@GoodOmens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GoodOmens)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2014, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-brought-a-box-cutter-through-tsa-twice/685091/22 "2014-04-02T12:29:13Z")
> [@Justin\_Bailey](#): > > A few years ago I was hassled because I had a deck of playing cards in my bag and they “couldn’t identify it through the scanner.” Same here. I was carrying my copy of Dominion home to play with my family over holidays. Apparently being a geek makes you a potential threat. I was recently in Panama, staying in a village called Santa Fe. At a local store they were selling machetes for 3 or 4 balboa each. I thought about buying some to bring home but didn’t want to deal with security. Perhaps I shouldn’t have worried. ---
**Author:** ![Lukeinva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lukeinva/32/17872_2.png) [@Lukeinva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lukeinva)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2014, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-brought-a-box-cutter-through-tsa-twice/685091/23 "2014-04-02T13:16:41Z")
Meanwhile jihadists are reading this thread and taking copious notes. ---
**Author:** ![buddha\_david](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee7513/32.png) [@buddha\_david](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buddha_david)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2014, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-brought-a-box-cutter-through-tsa-twice/685091/24 "2014-04-02T13:26:50Z")
Last time I flew, I forgot to take my cigarette lighter out of my carry-on. TSA let me through after I proved to them that I wasn’t wearing any underwear. (Note: Only one part of the above is actually true…) ---
**Author:** ![DrCube](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a3d4f5/32.png) [@DrCube](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrCube)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2014, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-brought-a-box-cutter-through-tsa-twice/685091/25 "2014-04-02T14:09:45Z")
I brought a couple of straight razors in my carry on, through customs and across the US. But I had a tiny, 1.5" pocket knife get confiscated recently. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![leftfield6](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leftfield6/32/18780_2.png) [@leftfield6](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leftfield6)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2014, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-brought-a-box-cutter-through-tsa-twice/685091/26 "2014-04-02T14:15:55Z")
> [@Lukeinva](#): > > Meanwhile jihadists are reading this thread and taking copious notes. Don’t really think we are giving away any thing they don’t already know. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![OneCentStamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/13edae/32.png) [@OneCentStamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneCentStamp)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2014, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-brought-a-box-cutter-through-tsa-twice/685091/27 "2014-04-02T15:58:59Z")
I had to give up the aluminum bottle opener on my keychain once. The one that was no bigger, and significantly less sharp than, y’know, the actual keys. ---
**Author:** ![gwendee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/35a633/32.png) [@gwendee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gwendee)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2014, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-brought-a-box-cutter-through-tsa-twice/685091/28 "2014-04-02T18:58:47Z")
On my last flight I realized after the fact that I hadn’t returned all my gels and liquids to the clear zipper bag. No one caught that. Not an airport, but at courthouse security recently I was told to remove everything from my pockets, especially metal and then I was “wanded” and walked through two different metal detectors. Nothing happened. I went about my business, and left. After I left I realized that I’d never removed a small key from the watch pocket of my jeans. Is it possible my filing cabinet key isn’t metal? I did have a 2mm hex key confiscated by TSA once. What made it a little dicey was that the reason I put a bag with a hex key in it on the belt is that I didn’t know it was in there. It had slipped into the lining. Doesn’t look suspicious. Nope. I was offered a form to fill out to get it back, which I declined. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2014, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-brought-a-box-cutter-through-tsa-twice/685091/29 "2014-04-02T19:11:04Z")
> [@Llama\_Llogophile](#): > > So I went on a long-ish trip yesterday. Went through TSA at the first airport, then had to go through again because I changed terminal buildings at one of my connections. When I got to my hotel room I realized I still had my box cutter in my knapsack. It came on three planes with me and I wasn’t asked about it once. > > Should we find this alarming or surprising? Especially considering one of the airports was Boston, where the 9/11 plotters went through security with their box cutters? I can’t believe I wasn’t tackled or at least admonished by someone. For _years_ after 9/11 I had one of [these](http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fHpianU6Cxw/Th6xQ1HehFI/AAAAAAAABZs/sW3SW23WLKU/s1600/1IMG_0023W.jpg) on my keychain. I used to fly a lot on business. About 6 months ago, I got home from a trip and realizing these trips have gotten far fewer, decided to give my computer travel case a proper going through. Whereupon I found a steak knife. From a set we had sold 2 years prior in a garage sale, selling it because we lost one of the knives in the preceding year. I estimate this knife went through TSA on no fewer than 10 round-trip flights (i.e., at least 20 passes.) ---
**Author:** ![harmonicamoon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/65b543/32.png) [@harmonicamoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/harmonicamoon)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2014, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-brought-a-box-cutter-through-tsa-twice/685091/30 "2014-04-02T20:00:25Z")
I get busted for everything when going through the TSA checkpoints. Nothing intentional. But have sacrificed very small knives on my key chain, etc. I never separate my liquids in a ziplock bag, and there is never a problem. If anyone has a idea how to get a couple ounces of booze through, let me know. Gotta 10 hour flight coming up, and the booze prices on the flight are expensive. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2014, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-brought-a-box-cutter-through-tsa-twice/685091/31 "2014-04-02T20:21:41Z")
I’ve thought a guy could make money with some USPS prepaid mailing boxes at the gate.😉 ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2014, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-brought-a-box-cutter-through-tsa-twice/685091/32 "2014-04-02T20:46:56Z")
> [@harmonicamoon](#): > > If anyone has a idea how to get a couple ounces of booze through, let me know. Gotta 10 hour flight coming up, and the booze prices on the flight are expensive. That’s what Duty Free is for. ---
**Author:** ![CrazyCatLady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@CrazyCatLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrazyCatLady)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2014, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-brought-a-box-cutter-through-tsa-twice/685091/33 "2014-04-03T00:52:56Z")
> [@harmonicamoon](#): > > If anyone has a idea how to get a couple ounces of booze through, let me know. Gotta 10 hour flight coming up, and the booze prices on the flight are expensive. Sample/airplane bottles are readily available at any liquor store, and you can get a LOT of them in one of those plastic carry-on bags. You can buy shampoo and such at your destination cheaper than you can buy booze on the flight. I’ve had my Leatherman Squirt confiscated (I was able to buy a mailer at the information desk and send it home to myself) but inadvertently carried a personal-size carton of juice through the last time we flew. It was sitting on top of my knitting bag in plain view, even. ---
**Author:** ![Bad\_News\_Baboon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5fc32e/32.png) [@Bad\_News\_Baboon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bad_News_Baboon)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2014, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-brought-a-box-cutter-through-tsa-twice/685091/34 "2014-04-03T04:25:44Z")
My crochet hook was confiscated but the metal mechanical pencil next to it was not. ---
**Author:** ![CrazyCatLady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@CrazyCatLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrazyCatLady)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2014, 10:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-brought-a-box-cutter-through-tsa-twice/685091/35 "2014-04-03T10:14:14Z")
> [@Bad\_News\_Baboon](#): > > My crochet hook was confiscated but the metal mechanical pencil next to it was not. They’re supposed to allow crochet hooks and knitting needles. And scissors with a blade length of up to 4". I specifically looked it up the first time I wanted to fly with knitting. In fact, that was the same trip they made me mail my Leatherman. While they were rejecting my 2" long key chain multitool because it had an 1 1/2" knife blade, they said not a single word about the 3" scissors or the 13" metal knitting needles that were in the _exact same bag._ Dude had to move my knitting, needles included, to ferret out the Leatherman. ---
**Author:** ![Antigen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/848f3c/32.png) [@Antigen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antigen)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2014, 10:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-brought-a-box-cutter-through-tsa-twice/685091/36 "2014-04-03T10:24:44Z")
> [@leftfield6](#): > > Here’s my 2 cents on this. I think the bigger the airport, the lower the chance stuff will be found. I agree. I’ve never had trouble at the DC-area airports, but a TSA agent in Burlington VT gave me hell about a Milky Way bar in my purse, saying it belonged in my little ziplock bag of gels and liquids. The Milky Way bar I bought at the newsstand near the gates, past security. And hadn’t opened yet. Nougat is dangerous, folks. I expect a national candy bar registry any day now. ---
**Author:** ![chiroptera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@chiroptera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chiroptera)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2014, 11:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-brought-a-box-cutter-through-tsa-twice/685091/37 "2014-04-03T11:49:35Z")
A few years ago I flew to the UK from Detroit with a layover at LAX. I still smoked at the time so went through the bag check a couple of times at LAX going outside for a cigarette. Never realised until I got to London that I had my Swiss Army knife tucked away at the bottom of my carry-on bag. My vote is for mildly alarmed, and with this level of ineptitude and nonsensical rules, it’s surprising more people haven’t been able to get away with high-altitude violence. ---
**Author:** ![Bad\_News\_Baboon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5fc32e/32.png) [@Bad\_News\_Baboon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bad_News_Baboon)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2014, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-brought-a-box-cutter-through-tsa-twice/685091/38 "2014-04-03T11:58:46Z")
> [@CrazyCatLady](#): > > They’re supposed to allow crochet hooks and knitting needles. And scissors with a blade length of up to 4". I specifically looked it up the first time I wanted to fly with knitting. In fact, that was the same trip they made me mail my Leatherman. While they were rejecting my 2" long key chain multitool because it had an 1 1/2" knife blade, they said not a single word about the 3" scissors or the 13" metal knitting needles that were in the _exact same bag._ Dude had to move my knitting, needles included, to ferret out the Leatherman. Yes, I know. It was one of those times I was just too tired to argue. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2014, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-brought-a-box-cutter-through-tsa-twice/685091/39 "2014-04-03T12:43:11Z")
> [@Antigen](#): > > I agree. I’ve never had trouble at the DC-area airports, but a TSA agent in Burlington VT gave me hell about a Milky Way bar in my purse, saying it belonged in my little ziplock bag of gels and liquids. The Milky Way bar I bought at the newsstand near the gates, past security. And hadn’t opened yet. Nougat is dangerous, folks. I expect a national candy bar registry any day now. Triple agreement. It’s the little bullshit airports and cities that act as if they are the key gateway for all New World terrorist activity and therefore, everybody must be searched to the full extent of the law, no exceptions. Yes, I’m looking at _you_ Portland Maine, Hartford Connecticut, and Jackson Mississippi. ---
**Author:** ![Quercus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/7ab992/32.png) [@Quercus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quercus)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2014, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-brought-a-box-cutter-through-tsa-twice/685091/40 "2014-04-03T15:23:48Z")
> [@chiroptera](#): > > it’s surprising more people haven’t been able to get away with high-altitude violence. Why is it surprising? What kind of high-altitude violence could someone actually get away with? Stabbing one or two people then being subdued and arrested? How many people do you think would \*want \*to get away with that? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-brought-a-box-cutter-through-tsa-twice/685091.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-brought-a-box-cutter-through-tsa-twice/685091.md?page=3)