Nothing begins your journey off on the incorrect foot like a protracted safety line on the airport. Though there are instruments to shorten your time ready in line — particularly, TSA PreCheck and Clear — your expertise, sadly, will depend on your fellow vacationers to a sure diploma.
People in entrance of you is likely to be transferring slowly as a result of they forgot to take their keys out of their pockets or as a result of they’re new to TSA PreCheck and did not understand they might preserve their footwear on. Honestly, a check needs to be required for vacationers earlier than they’re permitted to journey by U.S. airports.
Nonetheless, one constant issue slowing down airport safety strains is vacationers trying to carry gadgets the Transportation Security Administration prohibits onto plane. Not solely are prohibited gadgets flagged throughout safety, however employees calls the police and searches your gadgets. Affected vacationers could even face arrest and a nice, slowing down all the things total.
Guns
This looks as if a no brainer, but many individuals appear to overlook it, in accordance with TSA Northeast spokesperson Lisa Farbstein, who ceaselessly paperwork TSA-confiscated weapons at airports on Twitter.
Guns aren’t prohibited on plane once they’re unloaded, however a big majority of the unlawful finds from the TSA’s Twitter feed contain illicit firearms.
“James Bond’s arch enemy, Francisco Scaramanga, knew that replica guns, even golden guns, are not allowed through a TSA security checkpoint,” Farbstein tweeted on April 18. “But a 007 fan flying out of JFK airport last week didn’t know and was surprised when his carry-on bag was searched and the gun removed.”
TSA officers intercepted 1,508 firearms at airport safety checkpoints in the course of the first quarter of 2023 for a median of 16.8 firearms per day, per TSA information. More than 93% of these had been loaded.
“When passengers bring firearms to the TSA security checkpoint, TSA suspends their TSA PreCheck eligibility for five years, which includes current TSA PreCheck members. Additionally, TSA may conduct additional screening for those passengers to ensure no other threats are present,” the TSA stated in a press assertion on April 20. “Late last year, TSA increased the maximum civil penalty for a firearms violation to $14,950. Passengers with firearms found in a carry-on bag at a TSA checkpoint are also subject to applicable city or state laws at that airport that may include citation or arrest.”
As a reminder, firearms have to be unloaded and checked in a locked, hard-sided container and declared to the airline at check-in. Similarly, ammunition (from single bullets to packing containers stuffed with bullets), gun magazines (empty or ones with bullets), pepper spray, tasers/stun weapons, sparklers and fireworks (and anything labeled as flammable) and duplicate weapons are additionally prohibited in carry-on baggage.
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You can carry these things in your checked baggage if they’re correctly packed. Ammunition have to be securely packed in fiber, wooden or steel packing containers, or one other packaging particularly designed to hold small quantities of ammunition.
While toy weapons are “generally permitted,” the TSA recommends travelers pack them in checked baggage. Items that look like real firearms — like Nerf guns — are prohibited.
Full-size hygiene products
“Probably the most common prohibited items that travelers have in their carry-on bags that are prohibited through a TSA security checkpoint are liquids, gels, aerosols and spreadables larger than 3.4 ounces,” Farbstein said, referring to the 3-1-1 liquid rule. “Basically, if you can spill it, spray it, spread it, pump it or pour it, and it’s larger than 3.4 ounces, then it should be packed in a carry-on bag.”
This rule means you can carry liquids, gels and aerosols in travel-size containers onto a plane so long as they’re no more than 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters) and can all fit in a single 1-quart, resealable bag.
“Similar items, yet not toiletries, are food items that are liquid or spreadable such as apple sauce, jams/jellies/preserves, canned vegetables with liquid inside the cans, Nutella and peanut butter,” Farbstein said. These must also adhere to the 3-1-1 liquid rule.
So, your travel-size toothpaste and lotion are fine. However, a full-size bottle of mouthwash is not permitted. Similarly, a large bottle of shampoo needs to be left at home.
“Common examples include beverages such as bottles of water, energy drinks, juice, soda, and alcohol,” Farbstein said. “But beyond beverages, yet still in the same category would be toiletries such as hair gel, aftershave, cologne, perfume, shampoo, conditioner, Vaseline, toothpaste and sunblock.”
Note that the TSA makes exemptions for medically necessary liquids, medications and creams of more than 3.4 ounces or 100 milliliters in your carry-on bag.
Alcohol
Many travelers don’t know that you can actually bring your own alcohol on a flight — but with several limitations. Beverages with more than 24% but not more than 70% alcohol can be brought in checked bags as long as there are no more than 5 liters (1.3 gallons) per passenger and they remain unopened in their original retail packaging, according to the TSA. Miniature bottles of alcohol can be brought in your carry-on but must be able to comfortably fit in a single quart-size bag.
However, federal law prohibits travelers from consuming their own alcohol on board — a flight attendant must serve the alcohol.
The Federal Aviation Administration fined a handful of passengers more than $1 million in 2021 for bringing their own alcohol on board, getting drunk and ignoring flight attendants’ instructions.
Fertilizer
If you have a green thumb, I’m sorry to inform you that fertilizer is not allowed in carry-on or checked luggage as it can be flammable. However, you can bring plants (and planting seeds) if your plant fits in the overhead bin or underneath your seat.
Miscellaneous items
Another category of items not allowed on board would be tools larger than 7 inches. That’s because these items could be considered bludgeoning weapons. Examples include hammers, wrenches, pliers, screwdrivers, saws and drills.
Also prohibited are various types of knives/blades, butter knives, hunting knives, credit-card knives, keychain knives, Swiss Army knives, tactical fighting knives and cake knives.
Bottom line
If you are unsure if an item can be packed in a carry-on bag and/or a checked bag, download the MyTSA app and use its “What can I bring?” function to double-check the merchandise.
Travelers may ship a query by texting “Travel” to AskTSA (275-872). For a full checklist of acceptable TSA gadgets, go to this web page.
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Source: thepointsguy.com”