Airsoft Parts in Carry-On Luggage – My Experience with Airport Security (Spain to UK)

[Asomodai]

Just wanted to share my experience flying from Spain (Malaga) to the UK with internal airsoft parts in my carry-on luggage, in case it helps anyone considering the same. This could probably help in some other EU countries as well. 
 

Background:

I only considered doing this because I had pre-purchased parts from Finland and Italy to arrive at my address in Spain.
Nearly everything was RetroArms parts at significant discounts — hard to come by and expensive to replace. The only non-RetroArms item was the LCT AK magwell spacers.
I was trying to avoid shipping them separately or risking them in checked baggage due to time and coordination issues.
 

Previous Experience:

On a past trip, I had tried to take an airsoft pistol magazine in carry-on. In hindsight I couldn't believe I even tried this, I should have known better. It was flagged immediately and security said I’d have to either check it in the hold (too late) or have it confiscated. I chose the latter.

Lesson learned: magazines are a definite no in hand luggage.
 

This Time:

I packed the following internal-only parts in my carry-on:

2 gearboxes

2 motor cages

2 spring guides

1 cylinder

1 cylinder head

LCT AK magwell spacers
 

Nothing was externally gun-shaped or capable of functioning on its own. All were purely internal upgrade components.

 

I also brought:
 

Paperwork detailing what the items were, receipts and why I had them. In both Spanish and English.

My best attempt at staying calm and cooperative despite being rushed (I woke up an hour before the flight and was rushing like hell to get to the airport, don't do that!)
 

What Happened:

• After going through the scanner, my bag was immediately pulled aside.
• Security flagged the contents as “weapon-like in nature.”
• I explained and handed over the documentation.
• A police officer was called. Thankfully, he knew what airsoft was and confirmed the parts were internal-only and not part of a replica.
• He still went to check with his superior, since it was a fairly large quantity.
• The superior gave the green light, but warned me not to do it again, emphasizing that other officers could have refused it entirely.

 

I ended up having to sprint through the airport and barely made my flight. It was a close call as I had 7 minutes to run from Security, through Passport control and to the gate at the furthest end of B Terminal!

 

Key Point:

Even if what you’re carrying is legal, that does not mean you have the right to bring it in carry-on.

Airport security and airline staff have full discretion to confiscate or deny boarding over any item they find suspicious, even if it’s not prohibited by law.

 

Final Thoughts:

I got through this time because I had paperwork, remained polite, and the police officer was informed.

But it could have easily gone the other way.
 

TL;DR:

Only tried this because I had pre-bought RetroArms parts at a discount, shipped to Spain from Finland and Italy.

Packed all internal parts: no replica externals, no magazines.

Bag was pulled aside, police were called, and I was let through after a warning.

Legal doesn’t mean allowed — security can refuse anything.

Wouldn’t try it again — too stressful and risky.

If you do intend to try this. Please make sure you heed the above!

Edited Wednesday at 21:18 by Asomodai

[TheFull9]

I'd be interested in a further explanation of why you didn't put them in your checked/hold bag? I'm not a frequent flyer or anything, probably only done about 20 return trips in my adult life, but I've brought alllll sorts back from the US in my hold bag, zero issue or fuss. Little bottle openers that look like rounds, bladed tools, all sorts of little gun/tactical paraphernalia that's obviously legal in both countries and legal to put on the plane, just with a high potential of raising eyebrows at airports. But on the flip side I've forgotten to empty my water bottle that was in my carry-on backpack or take out a tablet (electronic) a couple of times over the years and been swiftly pulled aside and had to go back around to the start of the queue going through security.

[Herrgh]

2 hours ago, TheFull9 said:

I'd be interested in a further explanation of why you didn't put them in your checked/hold bag?

 

I'm also interested in this, but it may be that @Asomodai's plane ticket was of the "Economy Lite" variety that doesn't allow for checked hold luggage. (Tangent: I blame COVID for these types of fares seemingly now being so widespread.)

 

In any case, thanks for sharing OP. Airport security is one of those great anxieties mysteries one thinks about a lot once one has been pulled aside and interrogated for the first time (not a fan of transiting Hong Kong now for this very reason), so putting your experience down on the record for others to ingest is very much appreciated.

[Federico]

I had the similar experience flying to Italy.

 

I was carring a semi assembed AK gearbox in my backpack and was seized in UK by the security , a lot of questions, almost lost the plane and collected 

at the return in UK.

 

I was carring a AEG inner barrel in my hand suitcase coming to UK. Again was seized at the security check and lost it.

 

On the other hand, when I went to Japan, I bought PTW M4 parts,  a RIS and a Tokyo Marui revolver , fitted in the checked luggage and i did not have any problems. 

 

 

[Asomodai]

5 hours ago, TheFull9 said:

I'd be interested in a further explanation of why you didn't put them in your checked/hold bag? I'm not a frequent flyer or anything, probably only done about 20 return trips in my adult life, but I've brought alllll sorts back from the US in my hold bag, zero issue or fuss. Little bottle openers that look like rounds, bladed tools, all sorts of little gun/tactical paraphernalia that's obviously legal in both countries and legal to put on the plane, just with a high potential of raising eyebrows at airports. But on the flip side I've forgotten to empty my water bottle that was in my carry-on backpack or take out a tablet (electronic) a couple of times over the years and been swiftly pulled aside and had to go back around to the start of the queue going through security.

I get to visit Spain every month for 6 days and have storage there for clothes etc, so I only ever need to take a small backpack with me on flights. 

Edited Friday at 23:03 by Asomodai

[TheFull9]

Gotcha, I read it like you did have a hold bag but just didn't put stuff in there for some chosen reason, makes more sense now.

[Dogsbody100]

Interesting post with some very well written out information. This sort of post is always useful for getting people to think about what they’re doing when approaching a certain situation. It’s not always obvious. 

 

Its yet another demonstration of how unaware and uneducated security agencies can be when it comes to airsoft.

 

I don’t think I’ll ever be in a situation where I need to be carrying anything gun or replica related through security of any kind but when I do travel the golden rule regarding where I pack any shit I’m not sure of is ‘if there is any doubt then there’s no doubt’ and in that hold luggage it goes.
 

Again you just don’t know who you’re going to get manning that scanner belt, especially it seems in the UK, where at least half of the staff on the security line seem to be mouth breathing automaton fools. 
 

You do get good people sometimes but that ain’t a guarantee. The discussions I’ve had with people about things as innocent as a camera would make you break a rib laughing. 
 

Heed the advice given by the OP and err on the side of caution….

 

[Tommikka]

11 minutes ago, Dogsbody100 said:

 

 

Its yet another demonstration of how unaware and uneducated security agencies can be when it comes to airsoft.

 

 

No it isn’t, it’s a demonstration of security doing their job, the police officer called over was very aware of airsoft - a very good awareness piece from @Asomodai for people to think about what / how they carry things when travelling (use hold luggage checkin for things that should not be in carry on luggage), and to allow time.

 

The first example was a magazine, the second was internal parts 

 

The internal parts were ‘weapon like in nature’ - the person operating the scanner clearly was educated to identify them

 

 

[Dogsbody100]

28 minutes ago, Tommikka said:

No it isn’t, it’s a demonstration of security doing their job, the police officer called over was very aware of airsoft - a very good awareness piece from @Asomodai for people to think about what / how they carry things when travelling (use hold luggage checkin for things that should not be in carry on luggage), and to allow time.

 

The first example was a magazine, the second was internal parts 

 

The internal parts were ‘weapon like in nature’ - the person operating the scanner clearly was educated to identify them

 

 

With respect I said ‘can be’. They’re not all the same, I wouldn’t and never do generalise about things, it’s not fair 😉🙂

[Asomodai]

8 hours ago, Dogsbody100 said:

 

 

Its yet another demonstration of how unaware and uneducated security agencies can be when it comes to airsoft.

 

 

 

The issue is, Airsoft is not mainstream. It's why even though we put UKARA numbers on rifles we import, they still get pulled aside by the average Border force worker. Because they don't know what a UKARA number is. Only when they get seized does it get to someone who might know what it is. 

 

There is a big issue with people not wanting Airsoft to become legal in a black and white sense. They would rather have it be in this legal grey area so that it can't be changed or legislated from central government. One of the downsides of this is the lack of awareness. 

 

Having said that. Security knew exactly that it was suspect, and did the right thing and call in the police who know exactly what it is. 

Personally I would rather have Airsoft recognised much like Paintball, and take the risk of more control so I know I am safe in the knowledge I can buy more toys without the possibility of them being banned in the future. It would also mean less issues at the borders for people who are meant to have them. 

Edited 27 minutes ago by Asomodai