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I accidentally had a small multi tool in my bag at Frankfurt once.

The security agents took it out, unfolded the knife blade, discussed it a bit in German and handed it back to me.

"It's OK! It's just a little guy! Go ahead".



Working for a cruise line, I got pulled out of line in Genoa, Italy and had my stuff searched for having a multi tool. Which they kept.

So it depends I guess.


One security agent at Frankfurt would not allow me to take my toothpaste through Schengen security. I had many hours until my flight so I took my luggage (and toothpaste) back to the non-Schengen area and waited until that security agent took a break and then went through security. From what I could tell she told other agents about me (she talked to them each in turn and pointed at me while talking). None of them fussed over my toothpaste when I went through. I and felt like I won the FU lottery.


I had the same experience but in the Netherlands. This was after flying through Miami and London with the same tool. Totally forgot it was on me.


I just don't carry a multi-tool any longer no matter how TSA safe it's supposed to be. It's not just the US though. I had one of those super cheap 2-part wine corkscrews (no foil cutter) confiscated in Spain.


You will never dodge the odd malicious gate agent.

We were late for a flight in the Philippines and the gate agent knew it. Told me all of my travel fishing gear was contraband - even the rod and reel. Straight up stole all my fishing gear figuring (correctly) it was worth less to me than making my flight.


I live in Germany since 2014 and yes, I had ample example of both super-strict and fairly relaxed attitude about these cases.




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