I doubt this will ever happen but should the TSA give out clear plastic bags?

[MrsNick]

I don't believe TSA should give out baggies. I'd prefer that they stick to their primary function of screening passengers and their belongings to ensure the safety of all passengers. Can you imagine if something got past TSA and people were hurt or killed because one or more agents were busy handing out baggies? You have got to be kidding me. Their job is to keep me safe, not hand out baggies.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

I don't believe TSA should give out baggies. I'd prefer that they stick to their primary function of screening passengers and their belongings to ensure the safety of all passengers. Can you imagine if something got past TSA and people were hurt or killed because one or more agents were busy handing out baggies? You have got to be kidding me. Their job is to keep me safe, not hand out baggies.

The airports that I've seen them in don't have a security agent handing out baggies. They were at the beginning of the security line with a dispenser that you could tear one away from the pack. The hospital I work at has a similar device for umbrella bags on rainy days so people don't slip on wet floors.

I still prefer to pack completely before even heading to the airport. Any packing errors are my own fault and I can live with that.

 

[Tozzie]

ITA . . . the 3-1-1 "rule" does nothing for security.

The very fact that TSA just tosses all the confiscated liquid stuff into trash cans demonstrates that even they do not believe it could cause any harm.

That is very false information, many substances are innocuous by themselves yet when mixed with another substance they become harmful. You would be amazed at what you could do with ordinary household/grocery items you have in your house now.

 

[MrsNick]

The airports that I've seen them in don't have a security agent handing out baggies. They were at the beginning of the security line with a dispenser that you could tear one away from the pack.

The title of this thread is: I doubt this will ever happen but should the TSA give out clear plastic bags?

I was responding to the question should the TSA provide baggies, not whether airports should offer free baggies.

 

[Brian Noble]

I'm perfectly capable of understanding why they use the bags.

Then you're just being argumentative, because earlier you wrote:

It's a preposterous rule, actually: that somehow your item is illegal on its own, but ok in a stupid plastic bag. You should just be able to put the item on the bin and send it through.

That certainly suggests you didn't see a point in having the bag.

To be fair, I'm not TSA's biggest fan. Their principal job seems to be to make people feel safe about flying, rather than to make flying safe. But, if they are going to limit liquid volume, requiring the bags makes it easier for people to declare what volume they have without slowing down the line even more than it is already.

 

[Flossbolna]

I have never ever seen a litre or quart bag for sale in an airport shop. They would need to be landside to be effective.

Then again, I am responsible enough to not need to purchase one.

Actually I have seen this small box with three bags being sold at a number of airports here in Germany: http://www.melitta24.de/Produktkata...ategory_name=TOP_Flugsicherheitsbeutel&Page=1

And it is sold landside in those book stores/travel needs shops every German airport seems to have. I guess it is partly due to the fact that ziplock bags aren't commonly used in Germany, we just use bags which are open at the top. So even if people might be informed to some extent, they don't don't really understand the information, i.e. needing a ziplock bag. I think it is a good idea to have bags available for sale!

 

[CPT Tripss]

Sigh... "just" tossing the confiscated items in the trash succeeds in preventing those items from being brought into the plane cabin. 100% effective - any non-complying item tossed into trash bins inside the terminal therefore do not get onto the plane. To the best of my knowledge, those trash receptacles are then NOT transported anywhere by air.

That is very false information, many substances are innocuous by themselves yet when mixed with another substance they become harmful. You would be amazed at what you could do with ordinary household/grocery items you have in your house now.

Sigh? If, and a big IF, the stuff confiscated is dangerous, or potentially dangerous, when mixed with who know what, then why allow large amounts of it to accumulate at a crowded check point?

Aside from Mentoes and diet sodas (in very specific arrangements), we don't need to worry about innocuous substances bringing down air liners.

Then you're just being argumentative, because earlier you wrote:


That certainly suggests you didn't see a point in having the bag.

To be fair, I'm not TSA's biggest fan. Their principal job seems to be to make people feel safe about flying, rather than to make flying safe. But, if they are going to limit liquid volume, requiring the bags makes it easier for people to declare what volume they have without slowing down the line even more than it is already.

You are totally on target about "feel safe." But there really isn't a rational basis for the limits imposed. I'm eliminating risk is the desired outcome, then batteries, matches and flash cameras should also be prohibited in the passenger compartment of a plane.

All that said, the line at the airport government check point isn't the place to debate the issue.

 

[CPT Tripss]

Just how dangerous are confiscated liquids and gels if the airport just gives it away to "charity?"
http://www.westhawaiitoday.com/articles/2009/12/14/local//local01.txt

 

[Brian Noble]

As Michael Feldman might say, when you start replying to yourself on a thread, you're just itching for a fight.

 

[NHdisneylover]

No, I absolutely do not think the TSA should provide free baggies. If they started doing so for the "just in case I forget" travelers, more and more people would not bother to get their own at home becuase they would know they could pick one up for free at the airport and that leads to mroe and more costs AND more people slowing down the line to repack at the airport.

Many airport stores do sell them. Bavaria--I hate to tell you this but DH bought one in FRA in 2007. He totally forgot the rule comming home and was pointed to the duty free shop, which had them behind the counter (no sign--you would only know if TSA told you becuase of your lack of bag). I know becuase he had used up all of his Euros and I got a new watch out of his screw up (he could not put only the one Euro baggie on his credit card--but the liquid in question were his contacts in saline which he did not want to pitch).

Maybe I'm just reading too much in to it.

I think you most certainly are

I asked on another thread last week how a functioning adult in North America can not know the rules.

I honestly do not know--but my dad and his girlfriend pulled an idiot move and did not know when they flew from Mexico to Germany two weeks ago. Dad told me they had put all their liquids in carry ons to prevent leaking in the suitcase and had to throw it all out. To his credit he was not angry at security and just felt like an idiot for not having looked up what might have changed since he last flew in May 2006 None the less I am sure the people who were slowed down by them having to dig all their stuff our of bags were annoyed as heck by them (I would have been).

 

[Jestocost]

Sorry I'm not going to contribute to the personal responsibility side track.

But, FWIW, at least two airports through which I fly regularly that have provided baggies and booties to passengers now have signs up indicating that once the current supply is depleted they will no longer be offering those items to passengers.

 

[NHdisneylover]

Sorry I'm not going to contribute to the personal responsibility side track.

But, FWIW, at least two airports through which I fly regularly that have provided baggies and booties to passengers now have signs up indicating that once the current supply is depleted they will no longer be offering those items to passengers.

booties? Really?!?! I have never seen this and here you know of two airports that gave htem out regularly? I totally believe you but I am just so surprised. I assume this is for people who do not like walking without their shoes through security? I am not even sure what to make of this.

 

[Jestocost]

booties? Really?!?! I have never seen this and here you know of two airports that gave htem out regularly? I totally believe you but I am just so surprised. I assume this is for people who do not like walking without their shoes through security? I am not even sure what to make of this.

Yep. Actual little slippers like you see in hospitals. Weird, huh?

 

[NHdisneylover]

Yep. Actual little slippers like you see in hospitals. Weird, huh?

Oh that is too funny. I never did see that at an airport. Thank you for making me smile with the image of a bunch of bootied travelers at security

PS--note to Bavaria: I have tried to respond to your lovely travel advice, but your PM box is full!

 

[keishashadow]

Perhaps it's the 'mother' in me, but I always have extra quart size bags in my carryon and am happy to dispense to those who have the deer-in-headlights look @ TSA when they realize they aren't in compliance.

For those that do forget to bring one along, I suggest you merely step out of the line and nicely ask if anybody approaching the queue may have an extra one...then pay it forward

 

[NancyIL]

The Bloomington, Illinois airport has plastic bags by security.

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

One thread, so many issues...

First of all, we loves us our Bavaria. She's typically almost kinda sorta 100% dead on. (Higher rating only available with large quantities of chocolate)

Second, the baggies in SAN are provided before one's ID is checked, not in the area controlled by the TSA. The airport's customer service department provides them free of charge for unprepared or unaware travelers. Many airports do this.

I'm sure there were more issues, but I've already forgotten them. Happy travels!

 

[CPT Tripss]

Oh that is too funny. I never did see that at an airport. Thank you for making me smile with the image of a bunch of bootied travelers at security

PS--note to Bavaria: I have tried to respond to your lovely travel advice, but your PM box is full!

Just a question . . . do the German airport security forces require that all passengers remove their shoes in order to xray them and then require one to walk without shoes through the metal detectors?

 

[NHdisneylover]

Just a question . . . do the German airport security forces require that all passengers remove their shoes in order to xray them and then require one to walk without shoes through the metal detectors?

Generally no (I have seen it sometimes on flights to the USA). Nor did we have to remove shoes in Amersterdam or Barcelona (both times boarding flights heading to the USA). I have seen people pulled for addtional screening have to remove their shoes then and send them through the dectors while they (the people) are wanded or patted down. DS10's shoes (which do not have any obvious metal on them) set off the alarms in both Amsterdam and Germany every time this last trip (we assume it was the shoes becuase no alarms went off in the US when the shoes were off. He would then have to remove them and be either wanded or patted down. No biggie, other than we felt badly for holding people up--we had no idea the shoes would be an issue when we planned the trip.
I have flown through more American airports than European though (having only lived here for 10 months). I have never seen the footies and would have never thought about it. We just kick our shoes off and go in socks or bare feet (depending on if it is sandal weather or not).

 

[Flossbolna]

Just a question . . . do the German airport security forces require that all passengers remove their shoes in order to xray them and then require one to walk without shoes through the metal detectors?

As NHdisneylover said: generally no. I have travelled quite a bit in Germany and Europe by plane and never had this general rule that all shoes must be taken off. Not even in the UK immediately after the incident that brought us the 1-3-3 rule. We were flying out of London two days after that incident and they had just reopened the airports. It was absolute chaos the day before and the rule was: everything has to go into checked luggage! When we were flying, we were allowed to bring books, a wallet and a mobile phone, but everything else, including laptops etc. had to go into the checked luggage. If I remember correctly, even then I did not have to take my shoes off.

However, it does happen that shoes that are very sturdy will be screened. My family regular goes on hiking trips to the UK and we wear our hiking boots on the plane since any hiking trip without your well broken in boots will be horrible, so it is our most "valuable" thing for those trips. I have nearly always been asked to remove those. Now I just ask the security officer when I get to the x-ray-machine, wether the boots should go through it as well. There also appear to be different practices at different airports. I found security at Berlin Tegel airport especially strict.

The great advantage of security checks in Europe is however that people have much less hand luggage, so it is generally much quicker! I think Bavaria pointed this out numerous times, also with regard to space in the overhead bins.