Airport Security.

[tpa]

It seems that the metal detectors have been made a lot more sensitive, or else there is a plot afoot to try to ensure you miss your flight. On a recent trip through Manchester airport, despite removing everything and turning my kilt through 90º, I was still stopped. After the physical search, the wand even picked up my garter buckles, which I was told I would have to remove , although I was eventually allowed through without doing so, but my shoes, ordinary brogues, were put to the back of the metal detector conveyor queue. Combined with over an hour in the check in queue we had to run for the plane. My daughter on a different security queue fared no better without a kilt, they found different excuses to delay her.
On the way back through Grenoble airport, my sporran was removed from the Metal detector conveyor and "lost" for some time.

[JohntheBiker]

My experience has been that controls in the UK are generally more onerous than they are in North America, kilted or not. Complaining is generally not a good tactic.

[Liam]

Many shoes have a steel shank. As a matter of course, I just take mine off. I find the sensitivity varies from airport to airport, and have had no more or less issues while kilted. Always pack any pointed kilt pins and make sure the sgian dubh is also in your checked luggage or left at home. I have a grouse foot kilt pin that goes through fine. I have found international flights to the USA more rigorous that to the UK while kilted. Again could just be the airport.

[unixken]

In the States, removal of the shoes is required, and you may be selected for a "freedom grope." :/

[sydnie7]

I have TSA "trusted flyer" status by virtue of applying, paying the fee, and going for a short interview. This gets you a special security line where you don't have to remove shoes, laptop stays in the case, etc. and you are typically run through a standard metal detector vs the new millimeter "do the wave" enclosures. Well worth the initial time and expense if you do any amount of flying! There is a similar program for international flight called GOES. All this is for U.S. Of course, not sure if other countries have anything similar.

[tripod]

I cannot go through any gate without it going off. I have a number of metal bits inside and also a leg brace. In some cases it seems to brighten up the security's day to have something different to do, but it does draw unwanted attention.

When I go to the airport I tend to stuff everything in my jacket and throw that and my shoes in the tray, then sort myself out after. The thing that attracts most attention is my brass 1887 miners tobacco tin. Go figure.

[gordontaos]

The last two times that I passed through TSA I was kilted. I was also waved through to the "expedited" screening line. I was shocked at the preferential treatment to a "bearded long hair". I guess that they figured that any man wearing a kilt was certainly not trying to blend in with the crowd.

[Gibtron]

I have recently stared wearing my kilts to the airports mostly for the added comfort on the flight. I have to admit the evil side of me likes to watch the new TSA workers have question marks popping out of their heads as I step into the scanner, then no alarms, no bells and it is all smiles and relief that they wont have to do a pat down on me.

[John_Carrick]

I only have one kilt that does not set off the alarm and I was one very thoroughly searched by an inexperienced guard in Belfast City Airport and once had a very rigid instrument inserted underneath at Leeds Bradford and gave a bit of a girly shriek, after which he desisted.
I generally weigh the extra inconvenience of the checks, which have never been all that bad, with the extra weight of a tweed jacket and kilt in my luggage and it usually helps me achieve the 20Kg limit.
If you are pleasant to the security people they are usually pleasant to you and with any luck will have dealt with kilts before.
John

[cessna152towser]

Living near the Scottish border my nearest airport is Newcastle, England. They are used to seeing kilts and I have never had any problems with security there.
Been taken to a private room for a body search at LAX when I went kilted for a short domestic flight to Santa Barbara.
Been taken to a private room and searched at London Euston railway station when I tried to board the Glasgow train. Though the transport police were friendly enough and explained that it was my rucksack and not my kilt which alerted them to select me for a search. Though they did ask if I was wearing anything under the kilt.