Airport envelopes rescue knives

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Travelers who realize they are carrying a treasured pocketknife or grandma’s scissors after arriving at the airport now may have a more convenient way to save the items.

Newsstands in several airports are carrying special envelopes — including postage — designed to allow people to mail their scissors, pocketknives, multi-tools or other items to themselves.

Called MailBack, the envelopes are sold at several Hudson News stands, and the manufacturer is planning to expand sales through several news chains in airports.

Alan Kaufman of Self Defenses Inc. in New York said he got the idea after hearing customers lamenting the loss of items they inadvertently carried into airports and had to give up under new security rules.

Since the September 11 terrorist attacks in New York and Washington, airport security has banned many knives, tools and other sharp items that previously had been allowed.

Federal screeners have confiscated nearly 6 million such items.

Yolanda Clark of the Transportation Security Administration said travelers who find themselves at the airport with a banned item they don’t want to give up have three options: They can put it in their checked baggage; they can return it to their car or give it to a friend or loved one nearby; or mail it back to themselves.

Some airports have post offices where people can buy boxes or envelopes and send items back to themselves.

At places where that convenience isn’t available, Mr. Kaufman said, his product, selling for $6.95, makes the mail-back option convenient.

The envelopes are made of strong plastic lined with bubble wrap and include a self-sticking guard made of cardboard that can be placed on any sharp points to keep them from piercing the envelope.

The envelope carries three 37-cent stamps, which is enough postage for 4 ounces, and includes a pen so that the buyer can address the envelope and drop it into a mailbox.

Mr. Kaufman noted that mailboxes have been removed from some airports and said he is working with the newsstand operators to mail the envelope for the customer.