# Yet another "can I pack this in my carry-on?" thread **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 9, 2014, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-can-i-pack-this-in-my-carry-on-thread/700894 "2014-10-09T20:25:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![teela\_brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2014, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-can-i-pack-this-in-my-carry-on-thread/700894/1 "2014-10-09T20:25:54Z")
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? ---
**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:** [October 9, 2014, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-can-i-pack-this-in-my-carry-on-thread/700894/2 "2014-10-09T20:41:33Z")
If you plan on taking your purse with you to your seat it is considered carry-on. In which case it appears cuticle clippers are not allowed. ---
**Author:** ![Folly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folly/32/3219_2.png) [@Folly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folly)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2014, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-can-i-pack-this-in-my-carry-on-thread/700894/3 "2014-10-09T21:42:58Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2014, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-can-i-pack-this-in-my-carry-on-thread/700894/4 "2014-10-09T21:43:09Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Pasta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecccb3/32.png) [@Pasta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pasta)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2014, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-can-i-pack-this-in-my-carry-on-thread/700894/5 "2014-10-09T21:44:51Z")
By that section of text and by apparent web consensus (one example [here](http://www.worldtravelers.org/checklist_of_permitted_and_prohibited_items.asp)), 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. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2014, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-can-i-pack-this-in-my-carry-on-thread/700894/6 "2014-10-10T04:02:06Z")
> [@teela\_brown](#): > > I want to carry cuticle nippers in my purse. Why? Can’t you do it before or after the flight? ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2014, 10:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-can-i-pack-this-in-my-carry-on-thread/700894/7 "2014-10-10T10:21:55Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2014, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-can-i-pack-this-in-my-carry-on-thread/700894/8 "2014-10-10T15:48:32Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![teela\_brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2014, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-can-i-pack-this-in-my-carry-on-thread/700894/9 "2014-10-10T22:40:56Z")
> [@Duckster](#): > > Why? Can’t you do it before or after the flight? I misspoke; I’d keep it in either the purse or my carry-on case. Both are considered in the same cartegory: carry-on luggage. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2014, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-can-i-pack-this-in-my-carry-on-thread/700894/10 "2014-10-10T23:42:24Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![sbunny8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c77e96/32.png) [@sbunny8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sbunny8)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2014, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-can-i-pack-this-in-my-carry-on-thread/700894/11 "2014-10-11T17:38:14Z")
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. Bottom line: YMMV