packing pocket knife in checked luggage

When I recently enquired to KLM when I was flying from the UK to Switzerland
via Amsterdam the answer was no sharp items in your hand luggage but they
can be in your checked luggage. We in fact had a very sharp knife in our
checked luggage. I also asked about electrical items and was told that they
can be in hand luggage or checked luggage and that batteries did not have to
be removed. I had a travel electric kettle in the checked luggage and all
the other electrical things in the hand luggage, it was X-rayed but the bag
was not opened.
Was your case still locked when you got to your destination?
Derek.
"Charles Cashion" <cZcZaZsZhZiZoZn@> wrote in message
news:3F2C41BA.49AE5F08@...
> Everybody knows that you cannot carry a pocket knife onto an airplane.
> But what about packing it into your checked luggage?
> On my last trip, when I got to my destination, the pocket knife was
> gone.
> Was my pocket knife confiscated by TSA or was it re-appropriated by
> baggage handlers? It was not an expensive knife. It was a rather simple
> Victorinox from Target.
>
> I will be traveling either Lufthansa or American Airlines or British
> Air.
> Does there exist a web page that describes what is permitted
> in checked luggage?
> --
> PapaCharles
> (the Zs are silent)
>
>

Derek F wrote:
>
> When I recently enquired to KLM when I was flying from the UK to Switzerland
> via Amsterdam the answer was no sharp items in your hand luggage but they
> can be in your checked luggage. We in fact had a very sharp knife in our
> checked luggage. I also asked about electrical items and was told that they
> can be in hand luggage or checked luggage and that batteries did not have to
> be removed. I had a travel electric kettle in the checked luggage and all
> the other electrical things in the hand luggage, it was X-rayed but the bag
> was not opened.
> Was your case still locked when you got to your destination?

Was the OP traveling from the U.S.? Last I heard, American travelers
are no longer allowed to lock their check-on luggage, in order to
facilitate its being opened and inspected by security. Of course, if
one of the "inspectors" takes a fancy to some of your belongings,
tough! (Unless you can prove it.)

"EvelynVogtGamble(Divamanque)" <evgmsop@> wrote in message
news:3F2C5E3A.EB045C9B@...
>
>
> Derek F wrote:
> >
> > When I recently enquired to KLM when I was flying from the UK to
Switzerland
> > via Amsterdam the answer was no sharp items in your hand luggage but
they
> > can be in your checked luggage. We in fact had a very sharp knife in our
> > checked luggage. I also asked about electrical items and was told that
they
> > can be in hand luggage or checked luggage and that batteries did not
have to
> > be removed. I had a travel electric kettle in the checked luggage and
all
> > the other electrical things in the hand luggage, it was X-rayed but the
bag
> > was not opened.
> > Was your case still locked when you got to your destination?
>
> Was the OP traveling from the U.S.? Last I heard, American travelers
> are no longer allowed to lock their check-on luggage, in order to
> facilitate its being opened and inspected by security.

We're "encouraged" not to lock our checked bags, but it is not a
requirement. If a bag is locked and TSA has questions about what's in it,
they will break the lock and, supposedly, leave a note inside and use a
plastic fastener to re-secure the bag. However, apparently this practice is
not always followed.

Personally, I will _always_ lock my bags. Though I don't have much of a
problem with TSA, I don't trust baggage handlers at all. Theft from bags
was a notorious problem, even before 9/11. I certainly don't intend to make
it easier for the crooks by leaving my bags unlocked, and I will _still_
hold the airline responsible for anything missing, even if they try to blame
the problem on TSA (the applicable legal doctrine is called "bailment.").

> Of course, if
> one of the "inspectors" takes a fancy to some of your belongings,
> tough! (Unless you can prove it.)

In article <0u_Wa.148383$xg5.87455@twister.austin.>, Frank F.
Matthews <frankfmatthews@houston.> writes
> Pocket knives are allowed. You just got ripped off.
Which is, of course, the problem.
--
Marie Lewis

My husband's pocket knife was also taken on Continental to Zurich . He just
opened his checked luggage and slipped it in. On other occassions he puts
it in his cosmetic bag and it then we've never had a problem. We did have a
slip in the bag mentioning they inspected the luggage but no mention of the
reason they took the pocket knife.
Mickie
"Charles Cashion" <cZcZaZsZhZiZoZn@> wrote in message
news:3F2C41BA.49AE5F08@...
> Everybody knows that you cannot carry a pocket knife onto an airplane.
> But what about packing it into your checked luggage?
> On my last trip, when I got to my destination, the pocket knife was
> gone.
> Was my pocket knife confiscated by TSA or was it re-appropriated by
> baggage handlers? It was not an expensive knife. It was a rather simple
> Victorinox from Target.
>
> I will be traveling either Lufthansa or American Airlines or British
> Air.
> Does there exist a web page that describes what is permitted
> in checked luggage?
> --
> PapaCharles
> (the Zs are silent)
>
>