Airport Security....over the top?

[Chez42]

About a month before xmas I travelled Rex from Melb -> Mt Gambier. I had a small bag to check in and then a small carry-on bag with a book and a box of 12 golf balls that my daughter had given me at the last minute to take for her father as a gift.

Anyone that travels with Rex knows that it's a 'cut lunch & water bottle' trip from the check-in to the security/departure lounge. On arrival at security, I put my bag through the x-ray machine and was pulled aside and asked about the package. When I told them it was golf balls, they told me I couldn't take 'sporting equipment' as carry on!

Now, I am all for security, but I couldn't for the life of me work out how a box of 12 golf balls could be considered dangerous in any way. I tried to imagine throwing them and causing injury, but there isn't enough room on those planes to raise your arm high enough for a decent throw. Then I thought possibly a terrorist could make 'explosive' golf balls - but then they have those swipe machines to detect for traces of that.

So, does anyone have any idea as to why I couldn't take a box of a dozen golf balls onboard? - or was the guy at security just hoping I'd leave them with him rather than traipse back to the check-in counter?

 

[elbarto]

He'd probably lost too many in the water hazard at the 9th and needed more before his next round after his trip. Not wanting to pay what the pro shop at the course charges, yours seemed like a good grab.

 

[anat0l]

He was making sure you don't have the balls to try anything stupid.

 

[Blackadder]

Sounds like a balls up to me.

 

[Happy Trails]

Unfortunately, it's par for the course these days.

 

[tuapekastar]

to all the replies. I'd really tee off at you guys if they weren't amusing (in a torturous sort of way)

To the OP, I have no idea on the exact rules, and whose application (airline or airport) of them caused you grief, but yes I agree, banning carry-on golf balls seems over the top and rather silly, even if strictly speaking it may be by the rules.

 

[russ]

As my father wisely said to me: keep your balls in your pants and you'll stay out of trouble.

 

[JohnK]

Do they make up these rules as they go along?

How about a table tennis bat? If I had carry-on only would I have to check-in the table tennis bat?

 

[milehighclub]

Do they make up these rules as they go along?

How about a table tennis bat? If I had carry-on only would I have to check-in the table tennis bat?

That's a big no no!

That comes under:

Blunt objects that can be used to bludgeon or threaten someone, such as:
Baseball, softball, and cricket bats, and similar items
Hockey and lacrosse sticks and similar items
Billiard, pool or snooker cues
Golf clubs
Any other piece of wood, metal or any other substance big enough to threaten someone

 

[casanovawa]

Lets face it, it is verging on the utterly ridiculous!!!

If i was to stick a tooth pick in your eye i would imagine you would feel quite threatened... my finger is also rather blunt and can be menacing...

The actions of a very few (i can't quite put my finger on if there is any connection/similarities between the few) have got us all jumping through the most insane hoops, so in disrupting life and causing us all angst they have achieved results beyond all proprotion to their numbers... and common sense has become a very rare commodity...

 

[Ric]

That's a big no no!

That comes under:

Blunt objects that can be used to bludgeon or threaten someone, such as:
Baseball, softball, and cricket bats, and similar items
Hockey and lacrosse sticks and similar items
Billiard, pool or snooker cues
Golf clubs
Any other piece of wood, metal or any other substance big enough to threaten someone

I wrote directly to the security people before asking about bringing a fly fishing rod on board and its a "BIG NO NO". Because it is classified as a sporting equipment. A 9 ft long rod broken into 4 pcs and the rod weighs less then 250 grams!:shock: And I am bringing the rod only (without the case)!

Wouldn't a bottle of duty free be more threatening and dangerous than the above rod? Say a blow to the head:?::?:

 

[drron]

That's a big no no!

That comes under:

Blunt objects that can be used to bludgeon or threaten someone, such as:
Baseball, softball, and cricket bats, and similar items
Hockey and lacrosse sticks and similar items
Billiard, pool or snooker cues
Golf clubs
Any other piece of wood, metal or any other substance big enough to threaten someone

pocket billiards?:shock:

 

[milehighclub]

Wouldn't a bottle of duty free be more threatening and dangerous than the above rod? Say a blow to the head:?::?:

Don't be silly!

Let's face it, your rod is probably one of the biggest risks to security - far more dangerous than the duty free bottle or the boomerang from the gift shop or the dozens of items the airline themselves provide to you including forks, knifes, glassware, razors and so on.

Or nothing a good unsuspecting punch could do from behind - perhaps we need to chain everyone to their seats (no more call bells!)

 

[serfty]

Do they make up these rules as they go along?

How about a table tennis bat? If I had carry-on only would I have to check-in the table tennis bat?

That's a big no no!

That comes under:

Blunt objects that can be used to bludgeon or threaten someone, such as:
Baseball, softball, and cricket bats, and similar items
Hockey and lacrosse sticks and similar items
Billiard, pool or snooker cues
Golf clubs
Any other piece of wood, metal or any other substance big enough to threaten someone

Actually table tennis racquets are permitted these days - Government legislation changed in December 2009 to specifically permit "Racquets used in squash, tennis, badminton or any other sport" these on board.

The Rex web site basically leaves the definition of restricted items as defined by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority.

SACA: Prohibited item Overview

CASA: Prohibited item Lists

CASA: List of dangerous goods

As far as golf balls go, the actual definition for banned sporting equipment is as follows:

... Sporting goods, kitchen utensils, tools, and other things with sharp edges or points capable of injuring a person ...

Personally I cannot see how a golf ball is dangerous without:

1. A club [on the banned list] to swing at it, and
2. Room to swing said club!

Finally, Golf balls are not mentioned:

• Baseball, softball, and cricket bats and similar items
• Hockey and lacrosse sticks and similar items
• Billiard, pool or snooker cues
• Golf clubs

 

[anat0l]

I like to carry lots of pens with me (it's a small fetish, alright? There, I said it!). Let alone there are metal knives (which we so wailed to get back as soon as possible) and forks on board; although not that the plastic versions were not adverse to causing harm. And don't get me started on how many objects there are on board that can be used as a garrotte or a gag to choke them.

I'm surprised terrorists haven't become quite as yet more innovative in the way they can use everyday objects for harm.

 

[rwatts]

Actually table tennis racquets are permitted these days - Government legislation changed in December 2009 to specifically permit "Racquets used in squash, tennis, badminton or any other sport" these on board.

To be pedantic, I don't think a table tennis bat is a racquet. A racquet is generally defined as an open hoop attached to a handle with a tight net of cord-like material stretched across the hoop.

Of course both a tennis racquet or table tennis is deadliest when used edge-on so the difference is rather academic.

Richard.

 

[Ric]

Don't be silly!

Let's face it, your rod is probably one of the biggest risks to security - far more dangerous than the duty free bottle or the boomerang from the gift shop or the dozens of items the airline themselves provide to you including forks, knifes, glassware, razors and so on.

Or nothing a good unsuspecting punch could do from behind - perhaps we need to chain everyone to their seats (no more call bells!)

Oh silly me!
Sit still everyone or I will poke you in the eye with my fishing rod!!

 

[oz_mark]

To be pedantic, I don't think a table tennis bat is a racquet. A racquet is generally defined as an open hoop attached to a handle with a tight net of cord-like material stretched across the hoop.

Of course both a tennis racquet or table tennis is deadliest when used edge-on so the difference is rather academic.

Richard.

To be really pedantic , the official rules of the game call it a 'racket'.

 

[tuapekastar]

To be really pedantic , the official rules of the game call it a 'racket'.

Beat me to it oz_mark. While it's almost always referred to as a bat (or the loathsome term 'paddle' over LOTFAP way), it is indeed a racket in the rulebook.

And on the original TT bat question I don't think I've ever taken mine in carry-on...always been checked. It had never occurred to me that it may be (or have been) a banned object for carry-on though.

I have however declared it to quarantine (as a 'wooden article') on a number of occasions. I got the a year or two ago - I felt like saying it's your dumb question on the form that prompted the declaration.

I'm sure they don't really care about TT bats, but I just adopt the 'when in any doubt, declare it' position on these things.

 

[JohnK]

Blunt objects that can be used to bludgeon or threaten someone, such as:

Hmmm. I don't think it is possible to hurt anyone with a table tennis bat. In fact if I really wanted to hurt someone then I could easily use on of the fire extinguishers on board the aircraft. There are fire extinguishers on board the aircraft?

Personally I cannot see how a golf ball is dangerous without:

You can throw the golf ball at a recliner, seat kicker, seat pincher etc!

But seriously thrown to the right areas (eyes, temple, mouth, jaw etc) at close distance it could hurt someone. Even holding golf ball in hand and bringing it down on someone's head by force could hurt. Believe me I know how much it could hurt and I would not advise anyone to do it to themselves.