allowable items in carry-on bag to and within the US?

[Myrna]

I am going to be in the US in late April. After reading about AA and UA's charges for checked bags for flights within the US ($25 first bag and $35 second bag - each way), I am trying to decide if I should try to travel with one carry-on bag only.

I know Qantas is very strict with weight of carry-on bag (max 7kgs) - so I can check it in for the SYD - LAX flight and back. But, AA and UA only restrict the linear dimension (I have measured my carry-on bag and it fits within the max dimension) - no weight restriction on UA and 18kgs on AA (this is a lot, and my bag will not be this heavy otherwise I won't be able to lift it myself!). So, the plan is once I get to LAX I can just carry my bag on the AA and UA flights without having to check it in.

My questions are whether the following items will be allowed in my carry-on bag to and from the US, and within the US: a small nail clipper and a tweezer? I have read in seat guru and there is a list which said these 2 items are now OK for carry-bag. I had an experience a few years ago flying to SIN with BA, at the boarding gate security staff search my carry-on bag and threw my nail clipper and tweezer away!

 

[harvyk]

I wouldn't expect nail clippers or tweezers to be allowed. Remember that some of the rules are not enforced as uniformly as they should be. Furthermore explaining to a TSA officer that you have been allowed to take said item through last time is likely to get you kicked off the flight rather than them allowing you to take the item through.

I guess the big question, given these are items which can be purchased very cheaply, do you really need to take them with you, or would you care if you lost them along the way?

http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/prohibited/permitted-prohibited-items.shtm#7

 

[Myrna]

Thanks, Harvy. You are right, I should not take the risk - not worth the hassle!