Airport Screener Answering Questions

[laurie31]

What about earrings? Will they make the alarm go off? I can remove them if I need to, but I can't get my wedding rings off. (I haven't been able to get them off since April 1996...)

Laurie

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by laurie31
What about earrings? Will they make the alarm go off? I can remove them if I need to, but I can't get my wedding rings off. (I haven't been able to get them off since April 1996...)

Laurie

I am not Brian, but, I have yet to have a problem with earrings, necklaces, braclets, watches or rings.

 

[Roxter79]

Originally posted by laurie31
What about earrings? Will they make the alarm go off? I can remove them if I need to, but I can't get my wedding rings off. (I haven't been able to get them off since April 1996...)

Laurie

Daughters Log in...anyway, Light jewlery is no big deal certainly earrings a few rings and possibly a watch. Almost always belts and shoes are the culprits. The more metal you have on the more likely it is the alarm will go off.

Brian

 

[laurie31]

Thanks Brian and Gail!

I also went to the tsa.giv link Brian provided and found the information very helpful.

I presume food is okay in carry-ons, since they don't want it in checked bags? (I'm not bringing tons of food, I just want to take some snacks that can be bought so much cheaper in a warehouse club, plus my kids will need to eat on the plane. We have a noon flight and of course lunch will not be served).

Laurie

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by laurie31
Thanks Brian and Gail!

I also went to the tsa.giv link Brian provided and found the information very helpful.

I presume food is okay in carry-ons, since they don't want it in checked bags? (I'm not bringing tons of food, I just want to take some snacks that can be bought so much cheaper in a warehouse club, plus my kids will need to eat on the plane. We have a noon flight and of course lunch will not be served).

Laurie

Welcome Laurie, anytime. They ask you not to put food in your checked luggage but it is not forbidden. Food in your carry on is fine. BTW, I do carry food in my checked luggage. Wow, between not taking off my shoes, putting food in my checked luggage and wanting film hand checked, I am a PITA.

 

[laurie31]

LOL, Gail! And I was thinking I was off the hook about film since we recently bought a digital camera, but I'm bringing several disposable waterproof ones, as I love pics of the kids in the pool but obviously don't want the new digital to get wet...and they will have to be hand checked (sigh) so I guess I'll be a PITA too

Laurie, who will ask nicely for hand screening of the disp. cameras but won't take no for an answer

 

[bearloch]

Why do they not want food in checked luggage anyway? Im thinking, Instant breakfast drink mix, box of cereal, stuff i can bring from hear cheaper that at a grocery stop


bearloch

 

[laurie31]

Someone please correct me if I'm wrong, but I beleive it's because food can be mistaken for explosives in the xrays 9because of its density or something) and so it can increase the chances that your checked luggage would have to be hand searched.

I will not be carrying anything prohibited, so I have nothing to fear from a hand search, except the idea that all my neatly folded clothes would not be so neatly folded afterwards, and the idea of anyone touching my...um...undergarments....will cause me to pack them in a zip-loc bag, just in case I get searched anyway. In fact, I may take the advice of packing everything in zip-locs, both for that reason and to save space. Plus I can pack each of the children's entire outifts in one bag, so my kids can get out a single bag and have everything they need to dress for the day.

I will probably put all my food in my carry-on, then I will have room coming back for souvineers

Laurie

 

[dis4me]

Laurie31 I like the idea of the ziplock bags. Our bags were checked on the way home from LAX. We had a hot pink sticker notifying us that they were checked.I was a little embarrased at first since most of it was dirty laundry but I figured thay have proabably seen worse.
Do you know what type of baggies would work best? I think the large freezer ones would fit at least 2 outfits.I would love to be able to do this on the cruise as space is limited.I could plan the wardrobe for the week at home and lable accordingly.UGh More work.LOL But it would be more efficient.

 

[laurie31]

For the kids' clothes, I think 1 gallon ones will be good. I can put shorts, shirt, underwear, hairbow, and socks all in one, and it will save searching for the matching things in the hotel (also I have one dd who wears "day of the week" panties, and will only wear the right day!)

For me and DH, I'm thinking the 2 gallon size would be better. I haven't used them before, but my MIL always has some at Thanksgiving - she just slides the whole turkey into one after dinner! They are HUGE! They sell them at Walmart and Target. I'm sure I can put our underwear into a 1 gallon one, and maybe one for our socks. Suck all the air out, and voila, vacuum-packed clothes that won't be handled by anyone

Laurie

 

[bearloch]

I got the vacum sealed bags from HSN that you roll the air out off they come in 2 sizes really big and big, there going to be great for larger stuff, stuffed animals that sort of think. They were in the clearance section on their web site.


counting down

 

[vhoffman]

A question about the plastic bags--doesn't the stuff get wrinkled? Especially if you use a vacumn type that sucks out the air. I've read many people put a day's worth of clothes in each bag. Sounds good, but what about when you take them out? Aren't they wrinkled? Just wanted to ask--otherwise, it does sound like a great idea!

 

[bearloch]

You have to fold very carefully, i havent left in for long time periods yet thogh.

 

[off2disney]

I was travelling from SeaTac (Seattle) to Gulfport, MS and had about a 6 hour wait at the airport, so I was walking around the airport to keep from falling asleep - when returning to the concourse, I was pulled aside for a random search - the screener used some sort of chemical swab all over my handbag.

Then on another trip when we were leaving Sau Juan, my daughter was pulled aside for a very thorough hand search -- body pat down, all carry on luggage taken out and searched -- we know it was random, because her husband was a federal agent and had to go through a different gate to get his clearance for his weapon!

 

[vhoffman]

Do you know what type of chemical swab they used for your purse? Did they use this on any other carry on items? I just got a new Coach leather purse ($400) and I'd hate to have any chemical on it that would ruin it. Can you refuse the chemical swab? Maybe best just to take an old purse!

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by vhoffman
Do you know what type of chemical swab they used for your purse? Did they use this on any other carry on items? I just got a new Coach leather purse ($400) and I'd hate to have any chemical on it that would ruin it. Can you refuse the chemical swab? Maybe best just to take an old purse!

They don't use anything that will harm your purse. They have done the chemical wipedown (actually, from what I have been told, it is a special cloth that detects explosives) on our laptop many times. No, you cannot refuse the chemical test.

 

[Bildmouse]

I don't fold my clothes when I put them in plastic bags - I roll them and I haven't had any wrinkles. It may take a little longer when packing but it sure is worth the extra time when you reach your destination!

 

[WDWorBUST]

Okay - I have seen all the questions about film - but can the x-ray machines harm digital media? I would guess no - but I would be really upset if I got home and had no pictures on my cards.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by WDWorBUST
Okay - I have seen all the questions about film - but can the x-ray machines harm digital media? I would guess no - but I would be really upset if I got home and had no pictures on my cards.

Nope, not a problem at all. Just don't put it in your checked luggage. Theft would be my worry there.

 

[vhoffman]

"First Trip to the World Pregnant"

Would the metal detector harm your baby????

I'd check it out with my dr, and if so, ask for a hand screen, or whatever. Don't ask the screeners, they just want to keep the line moving.

Good luck?