Need to do a business flight next week via BA, hand baggage only and I need to take a laser tape measure with me. (little hand held Bosch thing)

I can see this causing issues at security, although they’re not officially on the banned list…

Have googled, but to no great success.

Anyone got any practical experience?

Ta

Disappointed. Thought this was a sequel to Snakes….

Call airport and BA.

Is the plane on conveyor belt?

It’s at the discretion of security staff and whether they consider it dangerous. Some countries may have specific rules as well

Wrap it up in a sealed plastic bag covered in lots of duck tape and secrete it into a tin of coffee in your luggage.
They’re ok with coffee.

My mate had an issue with a set of brake pads for a Toyoya Landcruiser.
Refused by security , escaleted it upstairs and let through by someone with common sense.

Maybe they thought he was going to put the brakes on the plane mid flight to slow it down.

Take out the batteries and have none about you person/luggage. Organise batteries to be waiting at the other end.
Or courier the machine out to the job site.

Problem with taking the batteries out is sometimes they like to see electronics working to prove they are what they purport to be. No matter what the rules you’ll just be at the mercy of the guy doing the checks. I had some string taken off me once because I could’ve used it to tie someone up. I’d chance it. Can you take a self addressed envelope to send it back to yourself if they get funny?

Ive just looked through the books, and they don’t come up as a restricted item. However, you are at the whim of G4S security. Personally, I’d remove the batteries, but carry them with you so you can prove it works if required. If they ask you what it is, tell them without using the word “Laser”

As a pilot I can’t think of why it should be an issue, but then I’ve had frozen soup confiscated by them, because ” If if melts it will become a liquid, and liquids aren’t allowed” I fear my subsequent points about basic chemistry principles went over his head 🙄

tell them without using the word “Laser”

It’s an “optical” tape measure.

If you haven’t got a concrete answer then I’ll ask one of the airport security managers at work on Monday.

I’ve regularly taken a laser pointer with no issues, it’s never been identified or mentioned. Not sure if your thing is more dangerous in any way. I do usually have a bit of a tangle of cables and stuff which may distract them 🙂

They do (unfortunately for you) look a bit like a handheld taser 🙂

If it’s totally essential you have it at the other end, I’d post it ahead of you and collect it when you get there.

Or…. use a….. tape measure (just this once) 😉

Oops, just re-read OP’s post, as you were, carry on, nothing to see here…

I guess if they spot it they’ll probably confiscate it fi they discovered it. I do know people who have had laser pointers confiscated – the type that are built into a Powerpoint slide advance remote thing, so not a dedicated laser pointer. I regularly get stopped because I have all my electronics in one pocket in my bag, a few different chargers, headphones, wireless mouse etc. and it just must come up as a tangled mess on the x-ray monitor so they resort to a visual. In that case they might spot it and query it. I’d have thought it was pretty unlikely though.

I don’t think removing batteries will prevent confiscation as you can just buy them airside, unless they’re a funny non-standard side.

When I saw the thread title, I did think it was going to be some arcane query, like if you measure the inside cabin length on the ground, will it change at cruising speed and altitude.
Is disappoint. 😐

If it’s BA – hold luggage is usually included at no additional cost – just check the bag.

It will be fine. Don’t panic Mr Mainwaring. If anyone gets arsey then talk to the supervisor. BAA run airports seem to be a pretty sensible bunch.

Just asked one of the security managers at Heathrow about this and he said it won’t be a problem.
He did however mention that if they ask what it is, tell them it’s an optical measuring device and don’t mention it being a laser!

I fly most weeks with one – never been an issue.