travel size bottles/not original containers???

[camlace]

As others have mentioned, unfortunately it depends on the agent you get. I flew a couple of weeks ago with my 1 year old. I had 3 jars of baby food for her. The label had fallen off of one of the three jars. The TSA "pre-screener" for liquids gave me a hard time because she didn't know how much was in the jar....um...duh...look at the label on the other two jars. She let me through with it, but warned that the checker at the x-ray machine may take it away. You just never know

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

If you feel they are inappropriately interpreting the rules, ask for a supervisor-level TSA officer. You will know them by the ioncreased number of bars on the epilets of their shirts and sweaters. Politely but firmly request one. They are obligated to locate their supervisor for you, though they cannot abandon their post. They will have a radio by which they can communicate the request. Have a printout of the guidelines from the TSA website.

I have to go through security several times a week or more. If I have a bottle that is close to 3 ounces, I use an original bottle. Smaller items, I have store-bought empty containers that I fill with my cosmetics, etc. Since they began allowing the quart-size bags of toiletries, I have been through security roughly 80 times. Twice I have been told I could not bring the unlabeled items with me. I asked for a supervisor. Both times I was allowed to proceed through security with my unlabeled items. Smile. Be firm.

Good luck!

 

[ClarabelleCowFan]

I flew thru 3 airports last week and had totally different experiences.

In CHS (Charleston, SC) I had my items in a gallon sized ziploc bag and they let me thru just fine.

In BNA (Nashville, TN) the TSA agents were requiring anyone that didnt have their items in a quart sized ziploc bag to transfer their items into one from the airport gift shop - I am not sure if those were free or for sale.

In PHL (Philadelphia) I went thru security twice because my flight changed and I had to change terminals and BOTH times I had my liquids in a quart sized ziploc bag but forgot to pull it out of my carry on to place in the bin separately. Neither time did TSA even open my carry on to look at the liquids.

My advice - follow the rules as closely as possible so you dont have to worry about it.

 

[momsgoofy]

I'm also worried about my elderly mother getting thru security this Christmas.... she's 80+ with very poor eyesight (legally blind) and only flies once/year. At this point I'm debating flying out to get her myself (have FF miles to do this) just to make sure she doesn't arrive here a few days before the holiday having lost her medicine to security or some other disaster...... Grrrrr

I'm not sure exactly what can be done to assist you mother, but being legally blind should qualify her for assistance without much difficulty. This past summer I flew with my friend, who is Deaf-Blind and I was her interpreter/guide, on Southwest and they were great! As we were going thru security they guided us to the shortest line and offered us some assistance, but my friend declined. When we checked our bags, my friend was given one of the special assistance cards and we were both allowed to pre-board. I don't know if the airline can assign a person to assist her or not to get her from one gate to the other and such...but they should be able to especially if you request it.

You may want to pose a question on the DISabilities board to see what can be done to assist you mother in her travels.

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

When I went on a trip 2 weeks ago, if you didn't have the quart sized zip loc bags you had to leave this huge 1/2 hour long line to go buy a quart sized zip loc bag for .50 in the newstand store, then go to the back of the long line again.

Bringing some extra bags would sure be a random act of kindness for someone!

Back when this began, the airport (not the TSA) in San Diego placed boxes of quart-size baggies at the checkpoints for travelers who neglected to bring one. Now that's customer service...

 

[tjmw2727]

I flew thru 3 airports last week and had totally different experiences.

In CHS (Charleston, SC) I had my items in a gallon sized ziploc bag and they let me thru just fine.

In BNA (Nashville, TN) the TSA agents were requiring anyone that didnt have their items in a quart sized ziploc bag to transfer their items into one from the airport gift shop - I am not sure if those were free or for sale.

In PHL (Philadelphia) I went thru security twice because my flight changed and I had to change terminals and BOTH times I had my liquids in a quart sized ziploc bag but forgot to pull it out of my carry on to place in the bin separately. Neither time did TSA even open my carry on to look at the liquids.

My advice - follow the rules as closely as possible so you dont have to worry about it.

Interesting as my MIL flew into and out of Phi as it is our closest airport and I posted about her experience earlier. She did have all her liquids 3 oz or less in the quart size ziplock and forgot to take it out

For the poster with the 90yo nana, ~ On the return trip my dh was allowed to accompany my MIL through the security checkpoint with a special clearance card from US airways. We probably could have gotten one for Logan but she thought she would be ok so my SIL took her to security but not through.

For the rest of us...

Since the new restrictions in August I have flown 3 times r/t, as the solo adult with 2 kids and dh has flown numerous times, at least 10, for business. We both feel that in the interest of speed and compliance we will just use labled containers clearly stating they are 3oz or less regardless of what the contents are and put them in a quart size ziplock. Its about the same cost to purchase a clear travel size contaner as it is to buy a sample of shampoo, mouthwash etc. Just empty the container and put the "shampoo etc" of your choice inside. This way, even though the unmarked conatiners are allowed, if you get a TSA who needs to see the oz clearly printed on the container you won't be hassled. I have seen some great TSA agents who are clearly interested in doing the job without making it more difficult for passengers as well as those who think the opposite.

So ITA clarabel, just do as much as you can to make it easy for TSA = less stress for you.

TJ

 

[CPT Tripss]

Your tax dollars at work....

Not exactly . . . there is that pesky $2.50 September 11th security surcharge that they gets tacked onto your airfare that covers the TSA indignity heaped upon law abiding patriotic Americans (as well as those non Americans who fly using our airports).

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

Not exactly . . . there is that pesky $2.50 September 11th security surcharge that they gets tacked onto your airfare that covers the TSA indignity heaped upon law abiding patriotic Americans (as well as those non Americans who fly using our airports).

While technically not 'tax' dollars... they are levies imposed on those buying airfare. Perhaps a compromise would be 'user tax' as only those who fly pay the fee.

Hopefully people won't want their money's worth and ask for a full $2.50 wanding each time they pass through security.

 

[CPT Tripss]

I flew thru 3 airports last week and had totally different experiences.

In CHS (Charleston, SC) I had my items in a gallon sized ziploc bag and they let me thru just fine.

In BNA (Nashville, TN) the TSA agents were requiring anyone that didnt have their items in a quart sized ziploc bag to transfer their items into one from the airport gift shop - I am not sure if those were free or for sale.

In PHL (Philadelphia) I went thru security twice because my flight changed and I had to change terminals and BOTH times I had my liquids in a quart sized ziploc bag but forgot to pull it out of my carry on to place in the bin separately. Neither time did TSA even open my carry on to look at the liquids.

My advice - follow the rules as closely as possible so you dont have to worry about it.

$2.50 - I believe that the term of art these days is "user fee." Call it whatever you want as long as you don't say "tax."
Sure didn't get her money's worth in PHL
It sure makes me wonder about the competence of the folks looking at the xray machines when I read stories like this. But don't try to carry a used toothpaste tune on, they'll make you give it up.

 

[CPT Tripss]

Wish that wrote this, but comes from another poster on another board.
Props to Patrick Henry 1775 on Flyer Talk!

All of this talk about spare baggies is a sad commentary on the status of aviation screening in the United States. We are the richest, most powerful nation on the planet, and security is now concentrating on plastic Ziploc baggies. Did anyone in TSA ever consider that this scenario ... if liquids were a danger, three or four determined terrorists merely place their dangerous liquids in 3 oz. containers into compliant quart-sized baggies. Said terrorists proceed through the checkpoint, or checkpoints, after TSA has glanced at their "freedom baggies" and 3 oz. containers. Terrorists then meet in a restroom, or lounge, or restaurant, and pool their individual containers for the fateful flight. So much for baggies, whether torn or intact, primary or spare. For this we are paying 5.5 billion dollars per year? God help us!

 

[CarolA]

And if you are flying to Disney from Europe.. BRING A CONVERSION chart.. The TSA agents don't seem to understand metric.....


The TSA is run by folks who do things just to DO SOMETHING. Effective security is just a joke. While they are busy SCREAMING at you about your 4oz container the mail bags and other cargo that were NEVER inspected are being loaded on your plane... In the TSAs mind a TERROIST would NEVER use cargo.

And then there are the machines that actually detect explosive resisidue on you. The way the TSA is using them should get LOTS of folks fired.

1. You, the passenger PICK the type of machine you want to use... Which do you think someone playing with explosives would pick?

2. Experts have indicated that the BEST place to find explosive residue is often on shoes... So, if you have a machine that detects explosives you take your SHOES off and send them thru the X-ray that does NOT have that ablility instead of wearing them through the machine....