All airports have rules and regulations that prohibit or allow certain items on the plane, in the carry-on or checked baggage. But what about knives? What are the rules and regulations on bringing pocket knives on a plane?
According to TSA rules on knives, you can bring any amount of knives on a plane but only in your checked luggage. In 2001 the TSA improved its security. The improvements caused changes in the rules for carrying any knife in your carry-on bag. Any sharp pointed knife is prohibited inside the cabin of the plane.
Related:
– Can You Bring Scissors through TSA?
Can A Passenger Take A Pocket Knife On A Plane?
The TSA and the FAA are responsible for the safety of everyone at the airport and on the plane. They have made a list of the items you can and can’t take on the plane. Previously, you were allowed to take knives on a plane, but the rules have changed.
Before 2001, you were allowed to take sharp pointed knives on a plane in your carry-on bag, but in 2001 the regulations were amended to improve security. That meant that you could now only take knives with rounded bladed and plastic butter knives on a plane inside the cabin.
What About Bringing A Pocket Knife In A Carry-On Bag?
After the 2001 security changes the TSA made, you are not allowed to bring any knife with a pointed or sharp edge on the plane in your carry-on bag. You can only bring a plastic butter knife or a round-bladed knife in your carry-on bag.
Knife enthusiasts were excited when the TSA announced in 2013 that you could soon bring small-bladed knives, including pocket knives, on a plane in your carry-on bags. The excitement was short-lived, however, as the announcement was made, but the rule was never implemented.
What About Bringing A Pocket Knife In Checked Bags?
Here is where things get interesting; while you cannot take any sharp-bladed knives in your carry-on bag, you can take many different kinds of knives onto the plane in your checked bags. You can take pocket knives, swords, death stars, and kitchen knives in your checked bags.
The TSA has no restrictions on the type of knife or the blade length. The only requirement on knives and other sharp objects are that they are safely stored in your checked bags to prevent a TSA or airport security agent from getting injured when scanning and checking your bags.
If a TSA or airport security agent does get injured due to improper storage, you could face legal ramifications or get sued.
Do TSA Agents Enforce Knife Laws?
TSA agents are one regulator for restricting items on a plane. You need to take care when you want to take your pocket knife or pocket knife collection on the plane as other regulators such as customs, different states, and airlines might have restrictions on pocket knives.
TSA agents classify knives as sharp objects, but if you have a knife that is illegal in the state you are going to or from and the agent recognizes it, they will call the police, and you can get fines or face other legal ramifications like jail time.
Depending on the state, the police are the ones who will enforce the knife laws in that state. So, check what knives are legal in the states you are traveling to so you don’t try to fly with a pocket knife or other illegal knife.
The final decision on whether you are allowed to take your pocket knife or other knives on the plane or not lies with the TSA officer.
Can You Carry A Pocket Knife Through Security Checkpoints?
What happens if you carry your pocket knife on you through a security checkpoint that doesn’t meet their requirements? At this point, it’s important to note that you should keep your pocket knife in your checked bag.
TSA has two classifications for banned items, the items that are unlawful and those that are prohibited. Prohibited items are legal outside the airport, and unlawful items are illegal outside the airport.
So if you forgot or were unaware of these regulations, you will be given the option of taking the item back to your checked luggage, giving it to the people sending you off, leaving it in your car, or mailing it back home.
What Knives Should You Avoid Bringing On A Plane?
As we know, there is not one set list of knives that are illegal to have as the laws are different from state to state, but here are a few types of knives you should avoid taking on a plane to be on the safe side;
- Butterfly knife
- Push daggers
- Flick knife
- Knives with hidden blades that look like other items
- Throwing stars, throwing knives, and death stars.
How Can You Safely Pack Your Knives To Take On A Plane?
To ensure your knives are securely packed and comply with the TSA’s regulations on sharp objects, you can put your knives in protective sleeves and in a thick bag or secure them in a knife case with a lock (keep your key on hand).
Are The Rules For Pocket Knives The Same For All Airlines?
When it comes to pocket knives or any knife, all U.S airlines follow the TSA guidelines, including American Airlines, United Airlines, JetBlue, and Delta Airlines. So you can only carry your pocket knife in your checked bag no matter what airline you are flying with.
What Are The Rules On Pocket Knives On Intentional Flights?
The rules for carrying pocket knives differ from country to country. Here are a few examples;
- Australia: It’s forbidden to have a pocket knife in your carry-on luggage.
- U.K.: In the United Kingdom, you are allowed to bring a pocket knife with you in your carry-on bag, but only if the blade is not longer than 2.36-inches (6 cm).
- China: In China, it is forbidden to have a pocket knife in your carry-on luggage, and you may only carry knives in your checked luggage.
- Canada: In Canada, you can bring a pocket knife with you in your carry-on bag as long as the blade is not longer than 2.36-inches (6 cm).
- E.U.: In the E.U., you are allowed to bring a pocket knife with you in your carry-on bag but only if the blade is not longer than 2.36-inches (6 cm).
