rope in carry-on baggage

Hi Folks:

Someone posted about this general topic a year or so ago, but things change: Has anyone successfully carried a climbing rope on board an airplane recently? Any problems?

I see that other folks were previously having pretty good luck in getting everything except the nut tool, knives, and big cams onto the plane, but I think I'll basically check everything metal and carry the rope on (just so I don't go overweight and have to pay to check a second bag).

Thanks,
David

Carried one this summer overseas in my carry-on and had no problems. Got a weird look in ireland from the TSA agent (or whatever TSA is called in Ireland) as through the x-ray it looks like your bag is full of 60 meters of intestines. Ropes are totally fine.

Rope and all my gear went through security check and carried on from OAK to LAX in January of this year. (I left my nut tool at home though)

I was stopped with my rope by security in Melbourne and told they would never let anyone carry so much rope on an airplane

For some reason when I called Southwest the customer service person "checked" and told me I could not carry my rope on. Maybe the person had no idea and just said no.

I've had mixed success, sometimes it hasn't been an issue, sometimes they look at me like I was trying to carry on a loaded shotgun. It doesn't seem to matter that it's not listed in the TSAs guidelines for "prohibited items". Best bet seems to be to play dumb and don't put up a stink if they say no.

Never had any problem with any gear as carry on including rope, nut tool or large cams but I always seem to have my pack inspected by hand by TSA. Most of the time they will ask what all that stuff is, as soon as I tell them its climbing gear they give me my pack back. As a side note, my pack usually weighs about 80 pounds and have never had it weighed as carry on so there is no overweight charge. Any checked baggage over 50 pounds usually has a surcharge.

Chris Hannes wrote:Never had any problem with any gear as carry on including rope, nut tool or large cams but I always seem to have my pack inspected by hand by TSA. Most of the time they will ask what all that stuff is, as soon as I tell them its climbing gear they give me my pack back. As a side note, my pack usually weighs about 80 pounds and have never had it weighed as carry on so there is no overweight charge. Any checked baggage over 50 pounds usually has a surcharge.

I can echo pretty much what Chris said. I usually toss my nut tool in my checked bag though. I've also learned to just dump my climbing gear into the bins before it goes through so they don't have to tear my bag up and pull gear out. I flew close to two dozen times in the past two years with climbing gear, and without fail they always checked it so I just started dumping it out for them. Rope was usually in a rope bag around my neck if I had it with me. You're allowed one carry on and one personal item, so the rope bag was my "personal item".

Going to EPC in '10 I carried my rope and draws in my carry-on. No problem. On the way home, they made me check my rope at the airport in Monterey. Their explanation was that American regulations forbid them from allowing ropes on the plane. My experience is that the TSA policies are highly variable depending on the airport and the airline you are flying. in other word, YMMV.

I didn't have a problem at either end when I flew BOS->LAX last summer. I had a rope, harness, draws, and some other miscellaneous gear in my pack. They took it all out and asked about it at Logan, but let me take it all through. I would guess that it just depends on whether or not you have any petty tyrants on your security line.

It's pretty common practice with people I know to put a climbing mag or ad in with your gear to help clear up any confusion TSA may have. May not really help anything, but can't hurt either.

Thanks a bunch to everyone who posted...heading for the airport now! I think I've left enough time to head back and check it if they balk at the rope. Definitely don't want my Sterling 70 in the trash can with all those liquids and gels!