Airport security questions answered

[bmartin1206]

Hey it's me again...your friendly neighborhood TSA employee with my quarterly ( or close to that ) offer to answer any of your questions with regards to travel through airports security check points and checked baggage.
The biggest issue I continue to see is unexposed film in the checked luggage. This will ruin the film regardless of film speed and all of those memories lost. You may put film through the security check point x-ray if it's less than 800 speed but I recommend requesting it be hand checked by a security screener.
Feel free to email me with any other questions with respects to security screening.

Brian

 

[DolphinBoy]

My wife requires injectible needles for medication. She has a letter from her doctor along with the perscription. Any other tips?

 

[bmartin1206]

Shouldn't need the letter nor should it be a problem...unless she threatens to stab somebody with the needles.

Brian

 

[crazyforgoofy]

who don't have picture ID's. They're 12, 13 and 15 and their school doesn't provide photo ID's. Also they're NOT my kids, their "parents" are actually their legal guardians, my cousin and his wife. I will have signed and notarized permission forms for health care with me but otherwise nothing to prove they are who they say. Will that cause any problem in the terminal for check-in or at security?

 

[bmartin1206]

You need only be an adult with the children for the tickets but tha t is an airline issue not TSA so you may want to double check with them. We've taken friends of our kids before with no problems.
As long as they have a boarding pass it will not be a problem at the security checkpoint. If they leave the checkpoint for any reason make sure they have the boarding pass with them. They will need it to get back in.

Brian

 

[Auntie Bon]

Will using Space Saver bags be a problem for TSA? These make your clothes highly compressed and I'm concerned the density of the bags will raise some flags?

 

[bmartin1206]

It might be necessary to open the bag to resolve any concerns but it is not likely. Between the X-Ray, CATSCAN and explosive detection we have a pretty good sense of what we're looking for. Just don't pack so tight that you can barely close the bag in case it has to be opened. As a rule, clothes and their density are not a problem but I wouldn't put shoes in one of the vaccumn bags as they often alarm and will surely force us to open it.

Brian

 

[frannn]

Do Disney collectible pins (like stick pins) need to go in checked baggage, or can they go in the carryon? I have not purchased a seat for my DD, but will take the car seat as my carry on in case their is an extra seat available on the plane. I am allowed to bring a personal item onto the plane with me as well (like a purse, camera bag, etc). I know personal items include diaper bags, but mine is extra large. It is obviously a diaper bag, with bottle compartments, etc, but is about 1.5 the size of an average diaper bag. I'd say it is about the size of a very large laptop bag. I will not overstuff it. Will I be allowed to use this diaper bag as my "personal item"? Thanks for your help!

 

[bmartin1206]

frannn- You may probably take the bag but that is an airline policy you may want to ask. TSA does not determine what goes on the plane. We only inspect the items going on.

Brian

 

[tink2dw]

I have an after the vacation question.

Going to Disneyland 1/1/03 our bags were NOT searched.[I had read one of your threads and only packed clothes in our luggage and carried on,shoes,personal care items ie toothbrushs and ect,Camera's and other valueables]and Carried on my diabetic supples.

But Coming home out of San Diego 1/11/03 I packed the same way. Only clothes in our UNLOCKED bags. However this time they were seached!! Zipper pulls were riped off,zipper teeth were completely pulled off the cloth of the zipper ruining the zippers completely and All 3 of our bags were left unzipped ater the seach except for the plastic lock.

1 bag,the good bag,not one of the cheapies, is so damaged it is garbage now. Why did they want to search our dirty clothes?? Why did they have to ruin the bags by pulling off the zipper pulls and ruining the zippers so there isn't any way to repair it?? And after searching, why can't the bags be rezipped?? Do they want underwear spread across 2 states??[I don't think anyone needs to see dirty thongs blowing in the breeze?]

I don't mean to sound hostile, But I just CAN"t understand why it was nessecary to be so distructive when I tryed to make my bags as easy to search as possible??

Is there any recourse??

 

[bmartin1206]

tink2dw - Sorry about your situation. We only control the bags through security. Airline Baggage handlers take care of them once they are cleared until they return. We don't have any equipment that would tear zippers/zipper pulls. I'm not saying we are not at fault but it is unlikely.
Assuming the the worst and TSA did not close the bags after inspection the baggage handlers probable would have before loading them on the cart and they are the only ones who see them when they come off of the plane.
I would suggest you contact the airlines and you may also contact TSA. They have a website with an customer service email and 800 #. It is www.tsa.gov.

Brian

 

[tink2dw]

Thanks Brian!!