What kind of nail scissors have a good chance of being allowed in hand (carry-on) luggage in the EU?
I like to travel with hand luggage only when possible, but I also like to take nail scissors with me. From what I've read, it sounds like scissors shorter than 6 cm with rounded (not pointed) tips should be allowed. Are there any "travel nail scissors" especially intended for this, or can I go with "children's nail scissors", which tend to have rounded tips? Are those strong enough for adult nails? (I also have rather large hands, to complicate matters!)
I understand that rules vary between countries and that security officers have wide leeway, so no scissors are ever guaranteed to be allowed, but if I can find something that's "clearly within the rules" in the EU and, ideally, people have experience of successfully taking those through security, that's good enough for me - I can take some risk of them being confiscated.
(Please note that I'm looking specifically for scissors and not nail clippers, such as the ones in Can you take the "other" type of nail clipper in hand baggage?)
Best Answer
It's hard to be definitive as there is always the possibly of meeting an intransigent security guard. But I would suggest taking scissors which have rounded ends rather than merely blunt. Rounded ends make it extremely clear that the scissors cannot be used as a weapon, as they have nothing resembling a sharp point.
Here is a similar pair to the ones I have.
Personally, I have carried rounded end scissors through security many times in my first aid kit, without them being confiscated, including in Europe. In most cases, they have been spotted in the X-ray machine, and the checkpoint staff take them out to check them. So it's a good idea to make sure they are in an easy to access place in your bag.
Pictures about "What kind of nail scissors have a good chance of being allowed in hand (carry-on) luggage in the EU?"
Can I bring nail scissors in my carry-on?
Nail clippers, nail-trimming scissors and cuticle cutters are totally fine in your carry-on bag. But if the blades are over 6 cm in length, they will need to be packed inside your checked luggage (this same rule applies to small tools such as calipers and drill bits).Can you travel with scissors in hand luggage?
If packed in carry-on, they must be less than 4 inches from the pivot point. Any sharp objects in checked bags should be sheathed or securely wrapped to prevent injury to baggage handlers and inspectors.Are scissors allowed in the airport?
Scissors are allowed on a plane in your carry-on bag as long as the blades do not exceed four inches; otherwise, they should go in your checked bag. (For travel, consider small folding safety scissors such as these.)TSA 3-1-1 LIQUID \u0026 POWDER RULE FOR CARRY ON BAG | Everything you need to know from a Travel Agent
More answers regarding what kind of nail scissors have a good chance of being allowed in hand (carry-on) luggage in the EU?
Answer 2
TSA allows scissors under 4" in carry on it's 6cm for most European countries (sorry, there is no single source of information). As long as you stay under 6cm, you have a good chance of getting it through.
This being said, you never know until you get there. At the end of the day it's up to the security officer and some of them are not familiar with their own regulations. Case in point: second to last time I left Germany a security agent pulled a dry deodorant stick out of my carry on and gave me a 10 minute tongue lashing (despite the fact that there was only one security line open and the flight was already delayed due to extremely slow security). This stick is clearly "ok" to have in carry on, it does NOT count as a liquid and I have taken it hundreds of times through check points without any issue.
Summary: small scissors should be fine, but it's up to the agent and don't bring anything that you are not willing to throw away if you have to.
Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Images: Karolina Grabowska, Karolina Grabowska, Karolina Grabowska, Mikhail Nilov