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Rope not allowed in carry on luggage?

Original Post
Shawn C · · San Francisco, CA · Joined Jul 2012 · Points: 55

I just arrived in Santiago today after flying from the States. My flight consisted of three legs, all three of which required (for a variety of reasons) to go through security. My carry on bags were fine and otherwise ignored by two of the airports, but in Hermosillo, Mexico the security agent pulled my bag aside, opened it up and told me I was not allowed to take my climbing rope inside carry on bags. He didn't speak English and I don't speak Spanish and we had a difficult time just ironing it out (at first I thought they were going to confiscate my brand new 60m dry rope - talk about an international incident). Ultimately, they let me run the bag over to the ticket counter and just check it for that leg of the journey to Mexico City. In Mexico City they didn't care and I took the bag on the plane with the rope inside and without any furhter problems.

Any ideas why they wouldn't want rope to be taken as carry on? Maybe if I spoke Spanish I could explain it was simply for climbing and not tying up people or anything weird.

Craig N · · Madison, WI · Joined Jun 2011 · Points: 15

because you were planning to break in that new line by tying up the pilots and crew and hijacking the plane of course.

James Crump · · Canyon Lake, TX · Joined Dec 2008 · Points: 200

I was flying to Austin from El Paso after climbing the PO wall with Mike Head in '81... Had a lot of gear, maxed my checked baggage,, and still had like 80 biners to get home...

I had them, including my pin rack, in my backpack carry on all clipped in a double biner chain 40 biners long... They said i could not check it because it was a chain, but if I unclipped them into single biner "strands" of no more than 5... I could take them.

They were surprised at how fast I unclipped them...

Woodchuck ATC · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Nov 2007 · Points: 3,280

Back in the mid 90's, I hauled a propane stove and fuel in my carry on via SW or ATA to Vegas, and back. No problems back in the day.

Andrew Mayer · · Driggs, ID · Joined Nov 2010 · Points: 131

I've never been bothered flying domestically carrying on a rope.

JBroom · · anchorage, alaska · Joined Oct 2008 · Points: 920

I was flying back to the states from Sydney and I wasn't allowed to carry on my rope. When I explained it was a climbing rope and questioned why, they said because I could tie everyone up in the plane and hold them hostage. True story

T Howes · · Bend, OR · Joined Dec 2010 · Points: 20

It wasn't allowed because that particular security guy didn't allow it. I think it's mostly luck of the draw when going through airport security. No shit, they took a couple origami flowers from me when I flew a few weeks ago.

Devin Fin · · DURANGO · Joined Jan 2010 · Points: 3,725

i flew from Durango to Denver with a full rack nuts hex's cams all the way up to blue big bro bolt kit hand drill bits nut tool all on my carry on .. no problem with drill bits #6 camlot but my wall hammer they jacked me for ... sucked got up to MT evens an had to use a 16 oz framing hammer for my project.. lots of extra swingeing.. dam T.S.A

Graham Johnson · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Apr 2006 · Points: 0

I had a rope pulled out of my carry-on many years ago (pre 9-11) and the reason being was that I could "rappel out of the plane" or "strangle the pilot" with it. There was no use arguing with that logic, but they let me check it.

Tim McCabe · · Tucson, AZ · Joined Oct 2006 · Points: 130

In 86 I flew from Sioux Falls to Denver round trip carrying an 8 inch hunting knife.

Last year I flew home and my mom tried to give me a meat thermometer to take home, all I had was one small carry on. Sounded like a good way to get arrested to me.

I hate flying anymore, the security personnel act all important but strike me as a bunch of clueless twits.

Mike Belu · · Chicago, IL · Joined Jun 2012 · Points: 135

Next time that happens in Mexico, fold $20 into a small square and give him the "Mexican handshake". You'll be allowed to take the rope on. There is a possible downside--if he happens to be one of the five honest enforcement officers in Mexico, you might end up being a gringo sex slave in a Mexican prison.

Dave Meyers · · Evergreen, CO · Joined May 2006 · Points: 512

I just got back from Thailand, and traveled with nothing but carry-on. (draws, rope, harness, etc.). We had many lay-overs out there and back (Hong Kong, Bejing, Bangkok, Karabi, LA, Chicago) with no problems. Went to the Dolomites in N.Italy a couple of years back with same set up and again with no problems. I have heard of a few issues from fiends and other posts though; I think it may depend on who your security person is.

Adam Stackhouse · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jan 2001 · Points: 13,970
Tim McCabe wrote: I hate flying anymore, the security personnel act all important but strike me as a bunch of clueless twits.
Yup. Lots of American terrorists out there flying from LAX to Oklahoma City and the like.
Fleetwood Matt · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Apr 2006 · Points: 620

Oh man. You should have seen it when my climbing partner tried to take a whole rack of pins, replete with wall hammer, carry-on through airport security in Islamabad. We were just trying to get the hell outta Pakistan. Plane was scheduled to leave a half an hour ago. Said climbing partner Clint tries to use his limited Urdu language skills and lots of non-verbals tricks, like pointing frantically and hard-seam-nailing-charades, to convince a Pakistani military officer that an 'Angreshi' like himself should immediately be let onto the plane. Pakistani miltary officer is unimpressed, as is his machine gun. I make it through the checkpoint and look back to see Clint convulsing up and down pleading, looking like one of those weird wind-up monkeys banging cymbals together.

Clint at Islamabad security
For a desperate minute or two, I thought for sure Clint was going to be pulled into the unremarkable door off to the side. Would I, or anyone, ever see him again? Shit! They would probably grab my Angreshi ass too! I thought for a split second that maybe I should quietly make my way toward the boarding gate alone. Then somehow, they decide to let Clint make the plane journey too, albeit clean aid style (hammerless). No less than a small miracle occurred as, when we settle into our seats on the Boeing, a gate agent runs on board and hands Clint a baggage claim. That little paper ticket will go on to represent his pin rack safely arriving home.
Remarkable. Perhaps all of the paranoia, fear, and, loathing in the security line was partly due to the previous night's Red Bull-vodkas and swimming pool antics at the late night rave in the French Embassy...

RockinOut · · NY, NY · Joined May 2010 · Points: 100

Right after 9/11 I had checked my climbing gear and carried on my pack with clothes and some biners. When I landed and got my bag I opened it to check to make sure it was all there. Just inside the bag on top of everything was a TSA card to let me know they opened and searched my bag. There was a check list on the card with a bunch of prohibited items to check and then of course on the bottom was the infamous "other" with a place to write in whatever you wanted. Written after the "other" check was Parachute Paraphernalia. I guess they were worried about me high jacking the plane going below to find my bag and pulling out a parachute then jumping....

Morgan Patterson · · NH · Joined Oct 2009 · Points: 8,945
RockinOut wrote:Right after 9/11 I had checked my climbing gear and carried on my pack with clothes and some biners. When I landed and got my bag I opened it to check to make sure it was all there. Just inside the bag on top of everything was a TSA card to let me know they opened and searched my bag. There was a check list on the card with a bunch of prohibited items to check and then of course on the bottom was the infamous "other" with a place to write in whatever you wanted. Written after the "other" check was Parachute Paraphernalia. I guess they were worried about me high jacking the plane going below to find my bag and pulling out a parachute then jumping....
I got one of those cards once... luckily they never found Molly hiding in the tent pocket. I usually carry my rack but not my rope on the plane.
John Hegyes · · Las Vegas, NV · Joined Feb 2002 · Points: 5,676

After several days on the Grand Teton, I was at the security checkpoint at the Jackson Hole Airport. Sure enough, my rope showed up on the X-ray of my carry-on baggage and it was pulled out by the TSA man. He told me that I was not allowed to carry my rope on the plane and that I needed to put it in checked baggage. He said that rope could be used "to tie up A LOT of people". I said "how am I going to convince people to let me tie them up?" There was a pause, and he basically told me tough shit, check the rope.

H BL · · Colorado · Joined Feb 2006 · Points: 95

Pre 9/11 I was flying from my home in NYC to the tetons. Had most of my climbing hear as carry on. Going through security the woman asks me why I have handcuffs in my bag. I gave a perplexed look and said "handcuffs??" oh no that's my climbing gear.

She had me dump my stuff out so she could go through it. In the process she asked me for my number. I told her I had a girlfriend. She said she didn't care!!! She asked me if my gf was white. I said yes again perplexed. She said well here's my number if you're interested, and "You know what they say? I said What? The darker the berry the sweeter the cherry!" My buddies were rolling. Funny, and flattering but we almost missed our damn flight!

Rob D · · Queens, NY · Joined May 2011 · Points: 30

bumping this to say I'm on my way to potrero and really considering checking my rope.

also another stupid travel question:

anyone put their packs inside of a duffel when they check them so that nothing gets too fucked up? Had a friend give me that bit of advice after his strap was torn off of his 50liter

Jon H · · PC, UT · Joined Nov 2009 · Points: 118

I always put my pack inside a duffel bag if I have to check. I always take my ropes carry on. I fly 5-6 times a year, sometimes more, and ALWAYS carry my rack, rope, harness, and 1 pair of shoes in my carry on bag (CCW Chernobyl 40L). I put my little knife and my nut tool in the checked bag though.

jonathan.lipkin · · Brooklyn, NY · Joined Dec 2012 · Points: 70

I hope they don't lose both of our bags, rob, or else we are going to be free soloing.

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

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