Help me understand 3-1-1 and other carry-on rules

[Imzadi]

6. If you wear an underwire bra, it will set off the metal detector and you will get the pat-down thing. Ditto for a metal barrette.


I would not get on a plane without something to eat and drink, just in case you have delays or turbulance. We got burned very badly on this back in '06. My kids were DYING of thirst, it had been almost 6 hours since they'd had anything to drink, and the turbulance was so bad it wasn't safe for the FAs to operate the beverage service. I understand this completely, I certainly don't think thirst warrants endangering anyone's safety! But if I had had my OWN beverages, it wouldn't have been an issue. Lesson learned.

I've worn metal underwires for years and have never set off the detector. I usually also leave my keys & my change in my pockets & leave on my metal watch. I have never set off any alarms. I travel through JFK, Newark, LAX & Dallas, (all the international ones where you hope security is tighter. )

DITTO on bringing water, once you are past the security checkpoint. Also food. A 6 hour flight to L.A. once took 13 hours. IF there are meals on your flight, they have to save them since they don't know how long your flight will be delayed. In addition to turbulence, they have to reach a certain point before they can start serving.

And if they've already fed you and your flight is being delayed on the arrival end, there might literally be no more food aboard. I'm pre-diabetic. I NEED to eat every several hours. I can't depend on the airlines supplying enough food during the unexpected.

 

[Kath2003]

I never liked to HAVE TO go to a store when I'm traveling, esp on vacation. Last trip I took was to VA for a soccer tournament, and I just really never found the time (and where we were staying, a conveniently located store) to pick up bandaids that I could've used. If you're buying full sized products when you arrive, do you use them up (long trip!) or are you leaving them behind (then is it still as cheap?), or packing them and then having to check bags (which the OP is trying to avoid).

We either use them up or we leave the behind. We never check bags. Those little travel size bottles are like $1 each and last maybe a couple of washes; a full bottle is like $3 and will do several people for a whole trip. We usually travel for anything between 2 nights and 10 nights and always do this. If we are doing a 1-night stay we refill existing clear bottles with a small amount of what we need overnight. It's no hassle as we just nip to the drug store when we arrive which takes 10 minutes and it's job done for the trip. For us, it's more hassle to be working out container sizes, getting quart-sized bags or running to the store to buy travel sized versions etc. before a trip, so this works for us (and no hassle with hand baggage)

 

[pppiglet]

i've never had the detector go off when i was wearing an underwire bra.....

Not in an airport, but I've had it happen going into a court house.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I always thought that anything aerosol, regardless of size, was prohibited.

Personal items - hairspray, antiperspirant, etc. - are allowed.

Funny thing is, razors are allowed, but you can't even bring small nail scissors on the plane. My aunt had to toss hers years ago when she left her pouch in the carry on bag.

They're allowed now. Small, blunt (childrens') scissors are allowed, too. So are nail files and knitting needles

and if you have contacts and you bring the solution, it doesn't need to be in that bag. they consider that "medical" and any kind of medical things that you bring just need to be in a clear bag, it doesn't matter what size.

And that bag, with all your medical liquids, should be declared to a TSA person. Not necessarily shown, unless they ask to see it - but let somebody know that it's in your bag.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I've worn metal underwires for years and have never set off the detector. I usually also leave my keys & my change in my pockets & leave on my metal watch. I have never set off any alarms.

And yet, lately, the hooks on my bra have set off the metal detector. Go figure!

 

[Planogirl]

What about snack foods? I've never been clear on what is allowed.

 

[kaytieeldr]

What snack foods?

 

[Luv2Scrap]

OP here - thanks for all the tips! I never thought of bringing an empty water bottle through and then filling it on the other side. I've always bought the expensive one once I got inside. Great tip!!!