I've taken one with me before as a carry on and a different time in my checked bag. Never had a problem either time. Last year, I was going to Birmingham, AL for simchas torah and I didn't want to get a ton of questions about it so I chose to throw it in my suitcase, in the thin plastic case thing that it came in when I got it. Just make sure, if you check it, to have a suitcase that is big/long enough for it, unless you want a curved lulav...