Lightsabers

Im planning a trip to the new Star Wars Land in The USA soon, where you can buy and build you own full sized lightsabers (the blades are removable, but still a couple fo feet long).
I know TSA guidelines permit them to be carried, but has anyone had any experience of taking them as hand luggage on a VS flight ?
How did it go during boarding ?

I doubt that there will be a problem, although I would be tempted to encase the light saber in a rigid cardboard tube for travel.

I'm sure that Darth Maul or the Supreme Chancellor Palpatine will be along to correct me if I'm wrong ..... urgh, splutter, hrrrh, splutter, splutter ......

The custom built ones come with a nice custom padded bag, so I think it would be safe from damage. Im just curious about anyones experience or the VS policy.
At the moment they are only available in California but when the land opens in Orlando on 29th August Im sure a lot more will try and find their way onto VS flights to the UK.

I've seen all sorts brought onboard VS flights. I think they are more lenient than most other carriers, just due to the good willed nature of the crews on the whole.

Which cabin are you flying, the further towards the front - the easier the crew are about these things in my experience.

I doubt you'll have a problem.

Please feedback after your trip - I’m hoping to do the same next year!

The maths just don’t work for it to go in the hold.

We've taken lightsabres onboard as carry on and also put in the hold in our holdall which is longer than a standard suitcase. We take the holdall to bring home toys which are usually too irregularly shaped for cases. If you're flying from MCO you won't be the only one with them.

We bought the lightsaber yesterday- have you flown yet? We have an internal flight with southwest and then return with virgin to Manchester

My flight from MCO will be early October. Very interested to know how you got on. MTFBWY

Starting to hear about some lightsabers making their way back from Galaxy's Edge Florida. Did anyone travel VS with one ?

We brought one back from California in July
I contacted Virgin about travelling with it in our hand luggage but got a standard response and didnt want to risk it

So my husband managed to take off the tilt (handle) and it fitted nicely into our suitcase and got it back with no damage.

We were travelling in premium and there would have had room in the overhead lockers

I did inform virgin this will be a standard question now.
Hope this helps

Sharon

Just to state the obvious - it matters not one iota what Virgin say here!

All checked luggage is screened by the TSA in the baggage area behind the scenes before it gets anywhere near an aircraft. The TSA can - and will - open any bag they want to in order to examine it's contents. Again, they can - and will - remove any item they are not 100% happy with and leave you the blue slip of paper to tell you they've been in your bag.

Similarly, all carry on luggage has to pass the TSA security checkpoint - if they don't like something they find in your bag, it's more than likely it will at best undergo additional screening, or at worst, you're not flying with the item.

The surprising thing is that lightsabers are specifically mentioned and PERMITTED by the TSA in their guidelines ! Would be handy if airlines followed their lead.

Probably a dumb question, but when I come back, would the lightsaber in the sheath replace the carry-on baggage?
Not a huge deal, but it dictates what I take with me into the cabin (tablet, etc)