I just wanted to revisit this topic since we are now less than 100 days until Celebration (YESSSSS!!!)

I will be travelling with my Venom and Gladius hilts from East Coast to West Coast. I have seen over the last 2 months many conflicting ideas on how to proceed with flying. More specific thoughts I had:

Obviously I will have to pack my saber blades in my checked luggage due to size between clothes and possibly bubble wrapped. I know that I have to remove the claws from the venom and keep the blade plugs in.

Regarding batteries, is it best to just put them in my checked luggage or carry them on so that they can be accounted for during security check?

And the larger issue, I am concerned that if I carry on my sabers, they will be confiscated or not allowed due to the cylindrical shape and material. I also am skeptical about checking them in my luggage in fear of losing them forever if they are confiscated as contraband.

Thank you Lucien for your experiences but I would like to hear from possibly Phil or others that have direct experience flying with multiple sabers and the dos and donts.

As a last resort, I can always UPS them to my hotel lol

Call TSA.

Generally speaking, if you plan to carry them on I would suggest not taking the batteries out as you cannot display what it is. If it is just an empty prop they would probably want you to check it as its a metal object. Otherwise put one in your bag and the other on you personally. When they ask, let them know its a lightsaber prop for the convention you are going to and turn the thing on with blade plug of course pointing down lol.

But seriously call the TSA ahead of time and get their a bit earlier with security.

I traveled west coast to east coast and back with a gladius hilt and a sinister prophecy hilt in my carry-on and had no problems. Going to the east coast, the TSA did remove the sabers to view them but did not turn them on. Additionally, I printed out the statement from the TSA website saying that lightsaber props are approved - and explained it was a prop. Coming back from the east coast the TSA didn't say a word. Granted I carry a lot of electronics with me (there was a laptop in the bag and many wires, flying precheck so perhaps they didn't want to bother.) For celebration anaheim however, I'm not sure specifically what LAX's parameters are regarding lightsabers but I'm sure they've seen their fair share as has SAN due to comic-con. It's just part of their routine at this point. No telling about home TSA's though.