RS picnic set and airport security

you can buy plastic cutlery in europe anywhere and give it to recycling afterwards to make new ones for the next time round.

Sadly, "Carryon Friendly" is a term that has no meaning. TSA and their counterparts around the world seemed to differ at each airport--even in the same country.

Over on "Flyertalk" there are hundreds of threads about the problems of inconsistency with TSA.

One time I gently challenged an TSA officer on their "inconsistency." He promptly told me that was one of the "strengthens" of the security system. The inconsistencies keeps everyone off guard so no one completely knows what to expect and can plan for it. Ya !!! Right !!! I won't tell you what I really think of TSA security procedures.

Sorry, Kent, not the time and place.

We haven't taken the RS picnic set, but have carried on a corkscrew very similar to the one in the set. We have never had a problems with that going through security, but I guess it just depends.

According to the TSA, both corkscrews and round bladed butter knifes (plastic) are acceptable in a carryon bag. Apparently, either the screener at CDG or the French regulations have different standards.

Yes, they took my corkscrew at CDG airport a couple of weeks back....I cried tears to no avail, but they just put the corkscrew in a special bin with all sorts of other 'goodies'.

Just remember please that the TSA has no authority within Europe. Each country has its own rules. Last year in France I found the French fairly strict even in flying from Avignon to Southampton(UK). The only way you are completely protected is to check your bag! Or buy your corkscrew locally and dispose...leave it at your hotel for the next person!!

I had a camper style utensil set where they all attached together (knife, fork, & spoon). The set made it through London- Heathrow, Prague, Morocco, London - Luton, and through multiple U.S. airports but was confiscated in London - Gatwick recently. The security agent told me he was sure i understood - um no, not really! He took my knife and fork and left me with my lonely spoon :(

The response I received from the French screener was that they "regularly change what is acceptable to keep people on their toes". I'm not sure how that is acceptable, but a plastic knife and corkscrew are hardly worth an argument and potentially ticking off someone who could then make your life particularly miserable if they wanted.

My picnic set consists of a swiss army knife with corkscrew and other useful tools (that I buy when I get there and give away before flying home) and a plastic fork and napkins that I pick up where I can and replace as needed. A daily paper makes a good table or ground cloth.

I can't recall ever having a problem finding plastic cups for wine, although I'm just as likely to drink soda, water or beer out of the bottle it comes in.

Plates, if we need them, come with the food we buy. We're usually eating sandwiches made of meat, cheese and bread. We add some finger foods like olives, fruit and chocolate.

A dedicated picnic set is more than a carry-on person needs. Plastic knives and small corkscrews are supposed to be okay now to carry-on but there is always the risk that a given security person will take them.

This is Big Brother...I just wanted you to know that I have your names...you know who you are...we will find a way to include your in the next edition of our "do not fly" list.

Some good advise from Maryann.