Kilted at the security checkpoint

[ggibby]

My UK Survivor set off a detector once, so I just don't wear it. But that's not the Fun Fact:

I wear two silver bracelets on my left wrist, clipped together and not easily removed.
Going to the DMV on a very slow day years ago, the experienced guard was on duty solo,
and after my first trip though with a beep, he took one look at my wrist and said,
"Hold it up by your head."

That done, no beep!

Since then, I have scratched my head with my left hand through every detector, and naught a blip, beep, or even query from the TSA.

When I can, I pass the tip along to ladies whose rings set off the alarm, and obviously do not want to let that rock out of their sight.

Theory: Metal weapons of any effectiveness can't be concealed above the neck. Mental ones can't be detected.

[Geoff Withnell]

Not to spoil the fun, but what "metal" detectors detect is actually "conductor". Since the human body is a conductor, moving the metal bracelet away from your body reduces the concentration of "conductor" below the detection threshold. If you were to swing the braceleted wrist well ahead of your body while passing through, you would likely get the same effect.

Geoff Withnell

[ohiopiper]

It has been my observation that while painfully slow and obtrusive, airport security is a joke as far as effectiveness. The illusion of effectiveness is supposed to deter ne'er-do-wells.

When flying, which I have yet to do kilted, I make no provision for the Thousands Standing Around screeners. Other than actually prohibited items, I travel at my own convenience and make them accomodate me. Having a copy of their own rules with which to correct their mistakes is handy.

[Danwell]

Whether effective or not, if you'd lost someone on a hijacked plane I dare say your opinions would differ. The security measures in place, while inconvenient and (usually) poorly thought out, are only to ensure that we can fly safely without fear of terrorist activity.

Why would you take it upon youself to antagonise those who are only doing their job in trying to keep is safe?

I travel at my own convenience and make them accomodate me

That's hardly an attitude that is actually of any benefit.......do you teach your children this same disdain for the public service and people in authority?

[O'Callaghan]

Whether effective or not, if you'd lost someone on a hijacked plane I dare say your opinions would differ. The security measures in place, while inconvenient and (usually) poorly thought out, are only to ensure that we can fly safely without fear of terrorist activity.

Why would you take it upon youself to antagonise those who are only doing their job in trying to keep is safe?


That's hardly an attitude that is actually of any benefit.......do you teach your children this same disdain for the public service and people in authority?

American TSA screeners usually do a pretty goo job of antagonising travellers first. It is very noticeable that security staff at European airports are not a fraction of the PITA that the American ones are.

[Lyle1]

Whether effective or not, if you'd lost someone on a hijacked plane I dare say your opinions would differ. The security measures in place, while inconvenient and (usually) poorly thought out, are only to ensure that we can fly safely without fear of terrorist activity.

Why would you take it upon youself to antagonise those who are only doing their job in trying to keep is safe?


That's hardly an attitude that is actually of any benefit.......do you teach your children this same disdain for the public service and people in authority?

American TSA agents do not typically perform in a manner that makes me feel confident in their ability to make my trip more safe. TSA does hire some very qualified individuals, many of them veterans of the armed services. However, once TSA does the background check and clears the individual for federal employment, the new employees find better paying jobs with other federal agencies. I know; before I retired, I hired an newly discharged Sargent who had been with TSA less than a month. I think that, in many ways, she was the best person I ever hired.

[Monkey@Arms]

Update: I wore my UK survival kilt on a flight from Oakland Airport last month. It did not set off the metal detector, but I got selected for secondary screening (pat down by hand, not wand). I believe one TSA man said something to the other about "bulk" leading me to speculate they were concerned about what could be concealed under the pleats. (Insert Loch Ness Monster joke here.)

Best regards,

Jake

[OC Richard]

I was very tempted to travel kilted last weekend (going to a Highland Games in another state) simply because Highland Dress takes up so much room in the suitcase. Ghillies, thick hose, kilt, bonnet, sporran, and kilt jacket and a small carryon is nearly full. (I never check luggage, and travel with a single carryon sized to fit in the overhead bins.)

Simply wearing all that stuff would free up so much space!

But then I thought about the issues you've been discussing here and decided against it.

What we need is

The Travel Kilt
-wrinkle resistant for those cramped seats and long flights
-plastic buckles: no metal to set off detectors

and

The Travel Sporran
-no metal whatsover in sporran or strap
-special passport pocket
-pickpocket resistant closure

[Riverkilt]

I use the velcro closing USA Kilts Casual with my anti-pickpocket rig - old jeans stripped down to just the waistband and front pockets worn under the kilt.

Flew down and back to Mexico last month through tough security and never beeped and never got called out for secondary search.

Used a double stubby pin type kilt pin (X Marks). Took the kilt pin off to go through security and put it back on once on the plane.

Simple and comfy and the wrinkles from being seated like a sardine for hours steam out easily. The comfort and FREEDOM on board is a joy. (undies for the pic were a courtesy to mankind and obviously don't wear the sgian dubh or spring shoes through TSA's world)

[Lallans]

After the last winter's Underwear Bomber incident, I'm a little surprised they didn't ban underwear on flights- something that would make commando kiltwearers happy, surely.