>>I didn't realize that transporting items in the cockpit was an option.<<<br><br>It might not be any more- it's been many years.. both times it was "suggested" by security, they wouldn't let me carry the items on.<br><br>>>What was it that had to go that way?<<<br><br>Sigh. You had to ask.. :-)<br><br>The first time it was a walking/hiking stick, about 4 feet long. I was going backpacking in California, and I figured people must take their walking canes on, didn't expect a problem... this was the 70s, and things weren't as tight then.. some airports were still only spot-checking with x-rays and metal decectors. Security went down the entire length of the stick, an inch at a time, twisting it, trying to find some hidden way it unscrewed, and then told me I couldn't carry it on.<br><br>The second time it was a set of juggling clubs- hollow plastic things that look like bowling pins, but only weigh a few ounces. I think you'd have a hard time killing a chipmunk with one, and it honestly didn't occur to me that they'd object. They were just too bulky to go in a suitcase, so I had them in a tote bag. The bag didn't close, so I couldn't check it.<br><br>In both cases, security took them away at their checkpoint, and they were returned by a flight attendant as I disembarked from the plane.<br><br><br>