Exciting news! The Australian government now allows knitting needles and crochet hooks in carry-on luggage, as of December 25, 2009! If you haven’t been keeping up to date, here’s a brief history. The US has allowed knitting needles and crochet hooks on the airplane for some time (although there have been some horror stories online about confiscation, they have been permitted by the TSA on domestic and international flights). However, Australia prohibited crochet hooks, knitting needles and even nail clippers from being carried on board any flight entering or leaving Australia (domestic and international). This was particularly sad for those of us taking the 14 hour flight across that little body of water called the Pacific). News came out earlier in December that the Australian government was going to revise the list of prohibited items, but early reports said that these changes wouldn’t take place until July, 2010. But, that date got moved forward!
Note, as always, that the security agents maintain the ability to confiscate items at their discretion (as is the case in the US)… but in my experience, harmless knitting needles and crochet hooks are rarely the source of wrath of security agents.
Great news for us travelers… it’s like getting an extra Christmas present!
