M&M tube of quarters and TSA

[kristytru]

Just wanted to let everyone know that I had my daughter's carryon searched in Newark because of the M&M tubes of pennies and quarters. The agent was very nice about it, but you may want to put these in an accessible place to show the agent or take them out and put them in the bin to be scanned.
The agent got a chuckle when he saw what it was

 

[dburg30]

You know, lol, that would look very suspicious in the machine I bet. Probably made the TSO heart skip a beat. And if you had electronics or something like head phones with wires around it would've looked like a pipe bomb.

 

[Lewisc]

I had a roll of quarters in a carryon bag. After the bag went through X-Ray I was asked if I had change in the bag. The agent said no problem when I said a roll of quarters. That's what he thought it was. I had them in a side pocket and was ready to take them out.

 

[disneyfaninaz]

We carry a film cannister full of quarters with us in our carryon when we fly. (Never know when you'll find pressed penny machines for souvenirs.) Anyway, we have never had TSA question or inspect our bag further.

 

[NotUrsula]

Best to put them in an outside pocket, but I don't think that you need to put them out in a coin bowl. Of course, I don't put anything in a coin bowl. I keep ziplocs in the outer pockets of all our carryons just for our pocket contents; we empty our pockets into the bag when we arrive at the airport and don't load back up again until we get to the gate.

The worst innocent thing to be carrying in terms of looking suspicious is a Costco-sized package of AAA alkaline batteries. The package is long and thin, and in silhouette looks VERY like a clip of bullets.

 

[Kiwini]

Yeah, I had my bag searched in Vegas because of a roll of quarters. In Vegas. Really?

 

[bear_mom]

Yeah, I had my bag searched in Vegas because of a roll of quarters. In Vegas. Really?

Leaving Las Vegas in October the TSA agent was really looking at my backpack in the x-ray machine, then she called another agent over and they conversed for a few minutes, and I was sure they were going to search my bag by hand (happens to me all the time) and finally the TSA agent asked me if I had sunglasses in my bag. Ummm yes, I did just spend four days walking around Las Vegas.

Another time while leaving MCO I had my bag hand searched because I had one of the large chocolate covered carmels from Goofy's Candy Co.

Emily

 

[bevgray]

Before 2001, when x-rays were relatively new, I got stopped at security. Three very LARGE gentlemen showed up and I was whisked to a private area along with my little carryon. I was perplexed and frightened when the agent in charge said, "Ma'am, it is illegal to carry firearms."

My response was, "Huh? I don't own any weapons?!!"

Turns out that in my small cosmetic case, a round compact and a tube of lipstick had rolled together. On the screen, it looked exactly like a derringer. The agents were very apologetic when they opened the cosmetic case and discovered the "fearsome" rosey lipstick and little compact with a jewelled kitten on the lid.

We had a very good laugh. They were sorry to have scared me and I was happy that they were doing their job.

Nowadays, I'm not sure there would be as much levity.