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I'd like to take my glass photographic filters with me on a flight. These are square, made of glass, fragile, and have sharpish edges like in the photo below:

Glass photographic filters

Are glass filters allowed in hand-luggage? Will they be considered as sharps?

Ideally I'd like to know about both EU and US regulations.

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  • Don't they come in a box with padded separators ? Maybe try sealing the box before going ?
    – blackbird
    Jun 14, 2016 at 13:09
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    Sealed box in hand-held luggage will surely be opened by custom agents. I'd ask the airline you will be taking (and/or TSA if flying in USA)
    – Max
    Jun 14, 2016 at 13:12
  • good question !
    – Fattie
    Jun 14, 2016 at 13:19
  • Where and with which air line? Both national, official regulations, but also air line restrictions might prohibit this in carry-on luggage, but it both depends on where you are flying and with which air line.
    – Tor-Einar Jarnbjo
    Jun 14, 2016 at 22:29
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    @jwenting Genuine curiosity? New tighter security regulations? What's the purpose of your aggressive comment?
    – JoErNanO ♦
    Jun 15, 2016 at 9:52

1 Answer 1

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These are not considered as "sharps"1, but my recommendation is to carry them in a carrying case (something like this item from Nisi):

nisi carrying case (amazon)

I would not risk it in checked baggage unless you put them in a Pelican case or something extremely robust.

Source - sadly, first hand experience with checked in photography equipment, even though it was in its original box AND surrounded by packing foam.

1 - as long as you don't run into the same TSA agent as this poor fellow.

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  • You put them in your carry-on and security said nothing?
    – JoErNanO ♦
    Jun 14, 2016 at 15:53
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    If the glass filters were prohibited in carry-on luggage, it would of course be irrelevant if they are carried in a protective case or not.
    – Tor-Einar Jarnbjo
    Jun 14, 2016 at 22:28
  • In the UK, certainly, these go through just fine in a case - airport security seems to finally understand photographer's kit.
    – Rory Alsop ♦
    Jun 15, 2016 at 9:27
  • While I own no such square filters I have a holder of the round screw-on type, it's been through airport security and never drawn the slightest interest.
    – Loren Pechtel
    Dec 24, 2018 at 23:32

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