I think this change puts that decision in the hands of the airline. It seems to me that what security allows through its gates and what the airline allows for space reasons should be two, mutually exclusive things.

That said, some things like trekking poles & pool queues can often be broken down or otherwise collapsed which shouldn't be a space concern.

From what I've read, this seems to be the European Union recommendation & the TSA has gone with it for global conformity.

Well thank goodness for some sanity to return to the airways. I took my Swiss Army Knife every time I traveled overseas and it hurts my feelings that I can't have it in the cabin to file my nails, cut my sausage or fidget with something needing repair or adjustment.
I would hate to think how terrible it would be to even attempt to actually stick any individual with such a tool. I am certain the damage done to the knife wielder would equal or exceed that of the stabee...

I am glad to hear this. One less thing I have to be without when I fly...I travel with only carry-on baggage whenever possible so it limits what I can bring in terms of being prepared. At least now I can bring a small SAK (or maybe a regular one, will have to measure the large blade on my Huntsman). I'm sure they won't start allowing pepper spray any time soon though...

The Huntsman is 91mm closed the same as my Spartan. The large blade is 7 cm, 1 cm too long.

That would be the real blade. The PDF from the TSA shows them including the unsharpened section near the hinge.

FORGET IT ... I don't trust 'em. :-)
They took a perfectly nice multi-tool (with a tiny blade) from me in Salt Lake three years ago. I was not a happy camper - that thing was a gift. :-( No way I'm getting burned on that one again.

So if my plane crashes and the passengers are forced to EAT each other in a survival situation ... all because no-one had a decent knife ... well I told ya' so.

HAHAHA!!!

Pete2

That's rough. Salt Lake is the ONLY place I have received what I would consider to be professional treatment from the TSA.

Yep, like I said they include the ricasso in the measurement and with that the blade on a 91mm SAK is ~70mm/7cm.

Watch and see how many 91mm SAK's TSA collects.

The SAK 3.3 in/84mm size is the way to go. I don't have one.

This sounds like typical gentleman's folders or micro-tools are permissible. If they are expressing in in centimeters for length, why not express the depth in centimeters too? as in 6 x 1.27?

I supposed the TSA is getting tired of collecting a ton (metric tonne?) of these mini knives and decided to ease the restrictions? I hope other countries loosen up on their requirements too because I would love to be able to travel with my Leatherman Squirt tools. I've lost 1 small decorative folder because it was absentmindedly in my pack and almost got tossed from the flight.

I just noticed in the regs that they are going to allow hiking/ski poles as well - super! That would mean that I could put them in a medium size pack and not worry about checking them.