sure it's super 90's but I've never lost my wallet. Ever.

April 12, 2009 1:53 PM

Will I be allowed to get on the plane with my wallet chain?

I'm flying to London, England this week on my way to Holland. This is my first international flight. Will I be allowed to get on the plane with my wallet chain? I've searched google but I can't find any specific mention of a wallet chain being prohibited. That said I imagine that it probably is.
Anyone have any experience with this?

Also will it be a problem to have a pair of drum sticks in my carry on? I'm not checking any luggage so that solution won't work. I really want to avoid any problems at customs.

thanks

posted by hector horace to travel & transportation (12 answers total)

I don't think a wallet chain would pose a threat at all. You could strangle someone with it but I could strangle someone with my burly headphone cord and no one's ever stopped me. You're probably fine, just don't walk through the metal detector with it on, yeah?

It was a domestic flight so maybe it's different, but I've seen someone with drumsticks on a plane before.
posted by Rinku at 1:57 PM on April 12, 2009

Firstly, it's not customs you should be worrying about...

Secondly, you really ought to either a) check with the authorities (you can email them specific questions) or b) simply not take the wallet chain. You should remember that not only do you have to go to security in Canada, but also at Schiphol on the way back, and potentially at Heathrow(?) if you're leaving the airport. If it's a long chain it will attract a great deal of attention, and I personally wouldn't be surprised if they confiscated it. Drumsticks will probably be okay though.

Again, check to be sure, else it will ending up costing you.
posted by Sova at 2:07 PM on April 12, 2009

Should be fine, although I have no experience flying out of Holland specifically. Just take your wallet out of your pocket, unhook the chain, and put it through the x-ray machine with your bags. You can use one of the bins they provide for this, or just tuck your wallet inside one of your bags and put the whole thing through.
posted by zachlipton at 2:19 PM on April 12, 2009

Put the chain in your carry on bag. YOu don't have to be fashionable for the TSA.

(I used to chain my wallet - construction - and the first time I tried to fly with it, was told to next time put the chain - if not the whole wallet - in my carryon.)
posted by notsnot at 2:34 PM on April 12, 2009 [1 favorite]

I've flown through Schipol with a wallet chain. This was a good 5 years ago though, things might have changed, and it wasn't a very long one...
posted by fearnothing at 2:39 PM on April 12, 2009

Done it lots of times with mine.
posted by gergtreble at 2:41 PM on April 12, 2009

I expect you'll be fine. I was able to get on board with a watch chain a couple of times (when I used to be a dandy). I concur with notsnot--stick it in your carry-on and you'll be grand.
posted by dbarefoot at 3:02 PM on April 12, 2009

It depends on what the seccurity crew working when you check in think. Even if you pull out a letter from some bureaucrat, they've no reason to pay attention.

The chain would, I think, be considered a kind of personal jewelry. But, then, I can't imagine they'd allow someone on with a necklace laced with over-sixed pocket knives.

Givt it a go, but have a fall back plan. I.e., a carryon case in which to stuff the chain with the sticks. No one is going to steal your wallet during the flight.
posted by justcorbly at 5:14 PM on April 12, 2009

Assuming you're flying from the US: neither wallet chains nor drumsticks are on the list of prohibited items from the TSA. Flying internationally is just like flying domestically when you go through security; the same checkpoints apply, and there's no security when you land in your destination country, only passport/customs control. So to be clear: you'll only be checked on your way to the plane in the US, not when you get to England after you land.

If you leave the "secure" zone of the terminal/airport when you land in England on your way to the Netherlands - that is, you go "outside" the security-checkpoint-checked area, you'll go through the British version of airport security, which is similar to our own, prior to going into the secure area again for your flight.

If you don't leave the secure area, you (probably - I haven't been to every airport out there) won't go through any additional security at all. Follow the signs for "transfers" or something similar and you'll end up where you need to be.
posted by mdonley at 6:14 PM on April 12, 2009

If you leave the "secure" zone of the terminal/airport when you land in England on your way to the Netherlands - that is, you go "outside" the security-checkpoint-checked area, you'll go through the British version of airport security, which is similar to our own, prior to going into the secure area again for your flight.

After going through customs, you always end up outside the secure area. You've had access to your checked baggage, and whatever knife collection you could potentially have stored in it.
posted by oaf at 7:11 PM on April 12, 2009

My SO has flown internationally with a wallet chain numerous times. Not an eyelash batted. He did have to take it off to get through security, of course.
posted by desuetude at 8:30 PM on April 12, 2009

Just got back and I had no problem whatsoever with my wallet chain or my drum sticks. thanks for all the replies!
posted by hector horace at 6:24 PM on May 11, 2009