Tips for transporting ashes

I am afraid carrying them through mainland Europe could be a problem.

You can transport them from US to Scotland, you need a copy of the death certificate, and a letter from the mortuary. TSA has some rules around transporting ashes, so check that out. Spreading them is also allowed, but depending where his parents are, you may need permission.

As for going around Europe with the ashes, you really have to investigate each individual country. Germany is very strict, basically can't do it. Other countries, like France, require approval, obtained through their embassy, and the list could go on.

Check with the funeral home, they should have all the needed information or be able to obtain it for you. We had to have all kinds of permits just to go between states. Good luck!

Moving ashes
You do not need a permit to bring ashes to the UK. You can usually take them on a plane with you or put them in the hold as part of your luggage, but you should:
tell the airline in advance that you’re planning to bring them on the plane
take the cremation certificate with you
https://www.mygov.scot/deaths-outside-scotland

For US security:
https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/whatcanibring/items/cremated-remains

We had to have all kinds of permits just to go between states

I don't think there is such a thing as a permit to travel interstate with ashes?

https://www.cremationsociety.com/resources/how-to-transport-cremated-remains-with-care/

Toby….We had to have a permit to transfer human remains (ashes) between Oregon and California and another permit to have human remains from Oregon interred in California. It was a burial transit permit because the ashes were going to be interred. In addition to the death certificate and the cremation certificate.

I'm not advocating breaking any laws, but a friend simply had some ashes (that looked like beach sand) in a ziploc bag, took them to a meaningful spot in a European country and let the "sand" blow in the wind. Just saying.

Maggie: California even requires a permit to temporarily store cremains.

The rest of the country is carting and spreading ashes all over, storing them, no permits involved.

From California to Hawaii we did it in Ziplock bags and checked luggage.

I don't say this to be disrespectful or morbid, but make sure you're not standing downwind when disposing the ashes. We didn't take it into consideration and.......We laughed about it afterwards and were sure our late brother-in-law would have laughed too.

You would need to check with Glasgow City Council that scattering is allowed on his parents grave (or lair in Scottish terminology). It may not be allowed. Either you may have to inter them in the grave (you would have to pay for it to be reopened) or there may be a specific garden of remembrance at the relevant cemetery.
If being interred some places insist on that being in an urn, and some allow direct interment. You would have to ask Glasgow their policy.
Likewise in a Churchyard - ask the Minister.
The Episcopal Church may well not allow partial scattering/interment on theological grounds.

My brother and I have taken mom around the world in little ziplock bags. As mentioned, take note of the wind. On one occasion the wind changed as the least opportune moment and mom ended top all over our daughter. We tried not to laugh which made things worse as then we could not stop laughing. Thankfully mom had a sense of humor and would have laughed too.

When my Mother-in-law died there was too much paperwork for my FIL to bring her ashes back to Croatia. Instead he mailed them. Yup, UPS. Got there fine.
Now, I do not know what he told UPS was in the box as we were not with him.

I agree with the advice to travel with the death certificate and documentation from the crematorium. And I would put the ashes, in a clearly marked box or bag, on the conveyor belt with my laptop, shoes and liquids. Half a person's cremated remains is still quite a lot of unidentified light-colored powder for law enforcement types to encounter without a warning.

I know someone who did something very similar to Wishin above and it all worked out well.