Friday 15 February 2008

Knitting on Lufthansa - apparently OK

Just for the record, I knitted openly on Lufthansa flights from Heathrow to Munich and back again on Monday and Wednesday last week, and nobody confiscated my needles or paid the slightest attention.

I was using 4mm/40cm bamboo circulars to knit a long thin swatch, testing some patterns in Rowan Wool Cotton. I had taken the precaution of knitting a good few centimetres of swatch beforehand, so that the knitting would be unmistakably knitting, and not just yarn and needles. Going through security, I put the knitting in the outer pocket of my hand luggage, where it protruded slightly and was clearly visible to anyone who looked, but I didn't draw attention to it or make any enquiries as to whether it was OK. The bag also contained my business laptop - which I had to leave in at Heathrow, but take out at Munich.

I was travelling with hand luggage only, wearing a pencil skirt (stretch denim, no belt), a warm woollie and heels. My experience of business travel suggests that this attire attracts the minimum interest from Security.

4 comments:

koolricky said...

Hi mshedgehog. Up until very recently Lufthansa still serve their food in metal forks and knives...

msHedgehog said...

These days they give you half a cheese sandwich which you are tempted to beat on the plastic table, just to see if it makes a bell-like noise. There's also a fun-sized Mars Bar.

And don't bother trying the tea.

Anonymous said...

I have best luck if I stick to non-metal knitting items. When something flashes up on the xray they seem honour bound to try to remove it.

msHedgehog said...

Oh, yes. Bamboo only. I wouldn't risk anything metal. And circulars.