I’m looking at the TSA site about prohibited objects, but I’m still unclear. I want to carry cuticle nippers in my purse. Here’s a copy-and-paste from the TSA website:
Scissors - metal with pointed tips and blades shorter than 4 inches are allowed, but blades longer than 4 inches are prohibited
For carry-on? NO
For checked? OK
They’re allowed for the checked bags only? Or allowed in my purse?
Hmm… My plain language reading of that is that it is allowed in carry-on. Note though, if TSA decides to confiscate anyway, there isn’t much you can do about it.
Not sure what link that’s from, but if you search in the box on the right for “nail scissors,” it says:
“Scissors with blades smaller than 4 inches, small needles carried for special medical needs, and other sharp objects that do not contain a blade may be placed in carry-on baggage.”
In other words:
Under 4" - checked or carry on
Over 4" - carry on only, do not put in purse/backpack/pocket/etc.
The search also has multiple links, most of which probably go to the same place, for the various types of scissors and related.
By that section of text and by apparent web consensus (one example here), cuticle clippers are fine in your carry-on. The worry is less about the rule and more about whether the TSA agent you encounter knows the rule. If you’re traveling between major airports, you’ll be fine. In my experience, it’s the podunk airports that don’t understand the rules and/or have so little traffic that they have the energy to stress the rules up to and beyond the letter of the law.
Going through Heathrow last month, I looked into the tray of confiscated stuff. There was an assortment of pen knives, nail scissors and nail files; as well as some bottles of fluids.
They’re allowed in your purse, unless you have fucking huge cuticles. It would be wise, however, for you to carry anything that remotely resembles a potential weapon in your checked baggage.
Technically, most airlines call things like purses and backpacks “personal items” and you’re allowed one of each. Practically, they’re both the same though. The implication is that your second carryon shouldn’t be a roller but fit under the seat in front of you.
Even so, the TSA employees aren’t usually counting your bags. I’ve gotten on with technically three items no problem. But only one was large.
The rules are not applied consistently across different airports.
I’ve carried the same pair of scissors (less than 4 inches) through many airports, in my carry-on luggage, until one day an agent just refused them with no explanation, made me toss them into a bin. Another example, the rules say you can have tools, like screwdrivers and pliers, if they are less than 7 inches long. I’ve tried to carry locksmith tools through (all less than 7 inches) and some airports let me through without batting an eyelid while others insisted on an explanation of what the tool was for and one airport refused to let the tool through, made me toss it in to the bin.