Those zip ties may not be as innocuous to security as you think.
I recently returned from a trip to Australia. On the return flight, every single piece of hand luggage was searched at the gate (yes, every piece - supposedly the US is now requiring this of all airplanes coming into the US, regardless of origin ). In my carry-on bag I had a small ziplock of about ten 3-inch long zip ties. (I use these to tie the zipper pulls of my checked luggage before giving them to the counter agent.) The agent pulled them out questioningly and then proceeded to get her supervisor's approval before allowing me to keep them. Maybe they were afraid I was going to make thumb restraints out of them. I don't know.
I recently returned from a trip to Australia. On the return flight, every single piece of hand luggage was searched at the gate (yes, every piece - supposedly the US is now requiring this of all airplanes coming into the US, regardless of origin ). In my carry-on bag I had a small ziplock of about ten 3-inch long zip ties. (I use these to tie the zipper pulls of my checked luggage before giving them to the counter agent.) The agent pulled them out questioningly and then proceeded to get her supervisor's approval before allowing me to keep them. Maybe they were afraid I was going to make thumb restraints out of them. I don't know.