Theragun massage gun through TSA?

[Nick6300]

I have severe neck issues and use the theragun pro (it's in a 12"x12"x6" hard cover case with plug in and accessories) daily to help get by a little. Reading online it appears that non removable battery devices like this should be in a carry on and not checked. How likely is TSA going to let this through ok? My fear is that even if the smaller Midway Chicago TSA lets it through MCO may not, and I wouldn't feel good about losing a $400 item. We won't have a car nearby to run it back if need be.

 

[gottalovepluto]

TSA has an app you can look up lots of items. You can also message them on their very active social media (I’ve done this on Twitter, I’ve seen them on IG) and ask them or even send a photo and ask.

 

[Nick6300]

TSA has an app you can look up lots of items. You can also message them on their very active social media (I’ve done this on Twitter, I’ve seen them on IG) and ask them or even send a photo and ask.

Thanks. I did end up trying to call them and the TSA person thought most lithium batteries were a no go. I did try to look up the item on tsa.gov and had no luck, so did email them.

The newest Theragun has 2 removable lithium ion batteries and I think my massage gun's batteries are not removable. But maybe more digging on specs to find the type of lithium batteries vs. web site for restricted batteries.

 

[gottalovepluto]

Thanks. I did end up trying to call them and the TSA person thought most lithium batteries were a no go. I did try to look up the item on tsa.gov and had no luck, so did email them.

The newest Theragun has 2 removable lithium ion batteries and I think my massage gun's batteries are not removable. But maybe more digging on specs to find the type of lithium batteries vs. web site for restricted batteries.

Woah. I never thought to call TSA… kinda sounds scary talking to a TSA person… Didn’t realize DMing on Twitter feeds my introvert tendencies until right now

 

[WDWLODGE]

Typically, anything larger than a cell phone they ask you to take it out of your bag/case before you send it through the scanner. As long as you do that it shouldn't be a problem.

 

[EACarlson]

My colleague travels with one all the time in both his carry on and checked bag. He has never had an issue. https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/whatcanibring/items/massagers
The prohibition on batteries in checked bags is non installed batteries. You would be allowed to check the bag with the massage gun and the batteries installed. Personally I would fully discharge the batteries before putting them in a checked bag.

 

[Nick6300]

Typically, anything larger than a cell phone they ask you to take it out of your bag/case before you send it through the scanner. As long as you do that it shouldn't be a problem.

We never got good feedback from tsa. The live agent said likely no since it’s lithium battery… and I said aren’t most batteries lithium? My email back from tsa was just a reference to the tsa website - which I was on when I contacted them, after doing an item search, as I stated. Not helpful.

We’re likely chancing it in a tote bag carryon and plan on taking it out at midway and being early enough that worst case we have to Uber back to parked car and leave it there. We found that someone got an answer on social media from tsa chat that was a yes… so we printed that to show in case of issues.

 

[Nick6300]

My colleague travels with one all the time in both his carry on and checked bag. He has never had an issue. https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/whatcanibring/items/massagers
The prohibition on batteries in checked bags is non installed batteries. You would be allowed to check the bag with the massage gun and the batteries installed. Personally I would fully discharge the batteries before putting them in a checked bag.

Thanks. I did find something from tsa on general massagers being ok and printed that out too. I just hope this heavy duty one is ok and maybe it depends on the crew.

 

[Nick6300]

I was able to get through tsa ok with the massage gun, thanks guys. Really the stroller was the only issue where the only check person got caught up with bags and wouldn’t go check our stroller even after us asking a few times.

We were in a time crunch because we got stuck in an expressway accident for about an hour without moving and barely made it in time.