Although there are tools to shorten the waiting time in line, they are: Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Prescreening. And Clear – Your experience, unfortunately, depends on your fellow travelers to some extent. The people in front of you may move slowly because they forgot to take their keys out of their pockets or because they are new to this. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Prescreening. They didn’t realize they could keep their shoes.
However, one consistent factor that slows down airport security lines is travelers trying to bring items with them Transportation Security Administration Banned on airplanes. Not only are prohibited items flagged during security, but staff will call the police and search your items. Affected travelers may face arrest and a fine, which generally slows down everything.
TPG recently spoke to a TSA agent at Baltimore/Washington International Airport Thurgood Marshall (International Union of Building and Timber Workers) About some of the most common confiscated items TSA collects from travelers trying to carry through security at airports.
Agents often see travelers carrying liquids and full-sized knives, both of which are prohibited.
If you plan to travel with any of the items listed below, remember to check them.
Guns
This seems like a no-brainer, but a lot of people seem to forget that, according to TSA Northeast spokeswoman Lisa Farbstein, who frequently documents the weapons TSA confiscates at airports. X, formerly known as Twitter.
Weapons are not prohibited on aircraft when unloaded, but the vast majority of illegal finds from TSA’s X-feed involve illicit firearms.
TSA officers intercepted 1,508 firearms at airport security checkpoints during the first quarter of 2023 for an average of 16.8 firearms per day, according to TSA data. More than 93% of them have been downloaded.
Additionally, TSA may conduct additional screening of these passengers to ensure There are no other threats,” the TSA said in a statement press release on April 20. Travelers with firearms in a carry-on bag at a TSA checkpoint are also subject to applicable city or state laws at that airport which may include a citation Or arrest.”
As a reminder, firearms must be unloaded, placed in a locked, hard-sided container and declared to the airline upon check-in. Likewise, ammunition (from single bullets to bullet-filled boxes), gun magazines (empty or lead-containing), pepper spray, stun guns/stun guns, flares and fireworks (and anything else classified as flammable), and weapons are also prohibited. Copycats. In carry-on bags.
You can bring these items in your checked baggage if applicable Properly packed. Ammunition must be securely packed in fiberboard, wood, or metal boxes, or in other packaging specifically designed to hold small amounts of ammunition.
While toy guns are “Generally permitted,” the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) recommends travelers pack in checked baggage. Items that look like real firearms – such as Nerf guns – are prohibited.
Full-size hygiene products
Liquids, specifically those exceeding 3.4 ounces, are the most common items confiscated from carry-on bags, according to the TSA.
As a reminder, liquids, gels, aerosols, and spreads weighing more than 3.4 ounces cannot be carried under TSA. 3-1-1 Liquid base.
“Basically, if you can pour, spray, diffuse, pump or pour it, and it’s larger than 3.4 ounces, it shouldn’t be packed in a carry-on bag,” Farbstein said.
This rule means that you can carry liquids, gels, and sprays in travel-sized containers on the plane as long as they are no more than 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters) and they can all fit into one 1-liter resealable bag.
These must also adhere to the 3-1-1 liquid rule. Note that this also applies to frozen and steamed items, which are also considered liquids.
Common examples of prohibited liquids include beverages (such as bottled water, energy drinks, juice, soda, and alcohol), hair gel, aftershave, cologne, perfume, shampoo, conditioner, Vaseline, toothpaste, and sunscreen.
We note that The TSA offers exemptions for medically necessary liquids medications and creams larger than 3.4 ounces or 100 milliliters in your carry-on bag.
Allow rule caused by the epidemic Hand sanitizer more than 3.4 oz It’s no longer in place, so it also needs to be travel size.
Alcohol
You may not realize that you can actually bring your own alcoholic beverages with you on the plane, but still several limitations. Drinks with an alcohol content of more than 24% but not more than 70% may be brought in checked bags; Each passenger can bring no more than 5 liters (TSA requires that up to 1.3 gallons of alcohol remain unopened in its original retail packaging. You may bring small bottles of alcohol in your carry-on bag but they should fit comfortably in a single quart-sized bag.
but, Federal law Passengers are prohibited from consuming their own alcoholic beverages on board, and the flight attendant must serve alcoholic beverages.
The Federal Aviation Administration fined a number of passengers More than $1 million In 2021 for bringing their own alcoholic beverages on board, sugar, and Ignore flight attendant instructions.
Fertilizer
If you have a green thumb, I am sorry to inform you that fertilizers are not allowed in carry-on or checked baggage as they can be flammable. However, you can bring the plants (and planting seeds) if your plants fit in the overhead bin or under your bench.
Miscellaneous items
Another category of items prohibited on board are tools larger than 7 inches. This is because these items can be considered bludgeoning weapons.
Additionally, no knives or blades of any size are permitted, including but not limited to butter knives, hunting knives, credit card knives, key chain knives, Swiss Army knives, tactical combat knives, and cake knives. This also includes small blenders, which cannot pass through security due to the blade.
If you travel with a razor, you should take the blade out, except for plastic-handled razors, which can be carried as is. Single-edge blades must be checked and emptied when the bag goes through security, according to the TSA.
What happens to these confiscated materials?
You’re probably wondering what the TSA does with all these items once they’re confiscated.
Water, for example, is disposed of, while most other items are collected on a monthly basis in conjunction with the airport condition.
Firearms are confiscated by the police, and such travelers are subject to a fine and legal action based on the laws of the local jurisdiction.
Although most passengers are willing to give up their confiscated items, TSA offers the option to have your items shipped back to you based on the USPS and shipper requirements for that specific location.
Most airports have a mail station near the metal detectors where you can pay to have items shipped to you, so be sure to inquire with TSA if your items are important to you.
Minimum
If you’re not sure whether an item can be packed in a carry-on or checked bag, download a My TSA application And use “What can I bring?” Double check item feature.
Travelers can also submit a question by texting the word “Travel” to AskTSA (275-872). For a complete list of accepted TSA items, visit This page.