Before 9/11 it was legal (per the FAA) to fly with a knife with up to a 4" blade. Some airlines limited blade length to 3". I regularly flew with a 3" folding knife. I could often walk through the metal detectors without even taking the knife out of my pocket if I just put my hand over it and walked slowly. Other times I'd drop it in the basket with my keys and wallet and half the time nobody would even look at it.
I used to regularly fly through Portland, Maine (where some of the 9/11 hijackers boarded) and the security screening staff there were some of the few that always looked at my knife. I felt really horrible to see them on the security videos as the hijackers passed through. It wasn't their failure because boxcutters were allowed at the time.
Comments
Before 9/11 it was legal (per the FAA) to fly with a knife with up to a 4" blade. Some airlines limited blade length to 3". I regularly flew with a 3" folding knife. I could often walk through the metal detectors without even taking the knife out of my pocket if I just put my hand over it and walked slowly. Other times I'd drop it in the basket with my keys and wallet and half the time nobody would even look at it.
I used to regularly fly through Portland, Maine (where some of the 9/11 hijackers boarded) and the security screening staff there were some of the few that always looked at my knife. I felt really horrible to see them on the security videos as the hijackers passed through. It wasn't their failure because boxcutters were allowed at the time.