Has anyone here gone overseas with an antique flute with ivory on it? I am debating going to France next month, in which case i’d like to bring my boxwood Rudall, the catch is the ivory rings. Do you think i’ll be hassled by TSA or customs, i’d like to have it as a carry on. Does anyone have experience in obtaining permits, assuming they are necessary? Asside from the whole ivory issue, is it much of a problem to carry a flute on the plane?
Tell them that the rings are plastic. They are not likely to know, nor care, as long as they know it isn’t explosive. 
You most likely wouldn’t have any problems, however there is a very real possibility that your flute could be confiscated, permanently.
My advice, leave it at home, it’s not worth the risk.
Loren
I took my boxwood-with-ivory flute - the one in my “avatar” - to Spain with me (and a bunch of other flutes & toots) from Britain last summer without any difficulty - in hand luggage, not even asked what the strange tubes with metal bits attached were at the scanners. Actually, I didn’t even think about the ivory issue when I took it with me.
There have been a couple of threads about airport security, flutes and folks’ experiences within the last 6 months if you look 'em out.
If you did get it inspected, you could try telling them the off-white bits are bone like eBay sellers do - unlikely customs inspectors or airline security will be aware of flute manufacture history! Anyway, if you had documentation proving your credentials as a musician (e.g. Musician’s Union card, gig booking letters…) and maybe instrument insurance documents to show it was your regular playing tool, not something you were going to trade, plus any proof of its age, you ought to be able to have a good argument with any over-punctilious official! After all, it’s not the primary material nor any use off the flute!
MU advice might well be worth seeking - there must be plenty of times this issue comes up with classical musicians playing antiques (all kinds of instrument) with ivory trimmings, e.g. fiddle tuning pegs.
I’m no expert on the matter, but my superficial understanding on the CITES treaty is that it is about trade in products from endangered species, not non-permanently transporting personal property.
Your thought to check it out in advance is a wise one, though - and there must be some source of formal advice better than what we here can opine.
It’s just a antique R&R, shouldn’t be a big deal if they took it away… 
I think your problems will be bring it in, and leaving France, leaving USA. Might be a problem bringing it back!