Carry-on and a leatherman

If it has a blade, it won't fly in your carry on. You could check it.

I suspect that, since my corkscrew was confiscated as a "sharp" object by security check-in in 2009, your Leatherman may be strongly challenged. Good luck.

Ok, this sounds stupid but how would check just a small leatherman? Sorry for the question but I am puzzled.

In your bag that you would check instead of carrying on.

Yea, that is what I thought...defeats my carry-on. Thanks.

I like having mine with me on trips so I often just check my backpack just for that reason... Seems silly but given the state of the world today, it works

You know, you don't need a Leatherman to know which way the wind blows... (Sorry, couldn't resist) Why not buy an inexpensive Swiss Army knife when you get over there?

I thought of buying something once I get there...I think my mom is checking her bag and will put it with her things. Thanks!1

Another reason to avoid trying is Jim's experience with the corkscrew. On US flights, per the TSA, a corkscrew is actually permissible (not so on many European) but at security, to this day, I am sure many people lose them. In the end, it is up to the whims of the TSA personnel at the moment to make that decision.

2 years ago I had a travel corkscrew in my travel kit.
It made it through with me from Denver to Rome. Then on the way home it was confiscated at Heathrow, so you never know. I think the idea of putting it in your Mom's checked luggage is a good one.

A follow-up to my April 12 12:45 post: The corkscrew confiscating airport security was, you may have guessed it, Heathrow.

I too had a funny Heathrow corkscrew confiscating experience. I was traveling with a group of winemakers from California, and obviously they might travel with a corkscrew. So Heathrow security pulls one of the well know winemaker's luggage aside and finds out a cheap plastic corkscrew. Someone in the group said "but he's a winemaker and needs the corkscrew, it's part of his job", then the security guy proceeded to demonstrate how the corkscreen could be used as a weapon, which was why they could not allow on the plane. It was all we could do to not break out laughing at the "demonstration" with the "English" commentary until we were through security. Seems the TSA in the US allows corkscrews, providing it's not the kind with a liitle knife.

Yes, I stopped carrying a metal corkscrew some time ago, just to avoid the hassle. I do have a plastic one I picked up in a Hotel in Japan that stays in my carryon in one of the outside pockets. It's x-ray signature must be small enough that it never gets questioned.