TSA and Candy

[KashasMom]

I've heard that MCO TSA is inspecting candy - swabbing each individual piece. What's been your recent experience? Any difference with TSA pre-approved passengers? We're doing a candy exchange with carry on bags only.

 

[IrishEye]

We came through security at MCO an hour ago with 4 long sleeves of candy packet (squares), 6 or 8 pellet size candies in each, and they did nothing. Put bag on belt for x-ray and picked it up when it came out the other end.

 

[rcchello]

I just came back from Europe and the inspectors there were told by the U.S. that they had to select 1in 10 and use those bomb detecting swipes on everthing. I had never had more parts of my carryon and body parts swiped.

 

[Lionsfan]

Went through mco on Friday tss pre check, they did not check any food items.

 

[Maggie'sMom]

We flew back from WDW in September. At least in our security line, they required all food items to be taken out of your carry on bags and placed in a separate bin for inspection. We had two large bags of candy from the MNNSHP plus a few additional movie-theater type boxes of candy. The boxes of candy were individually swabbed. The one TSA agent seemed flustered by the large amount of individually wrapped candy and told us each piece was supposed to be swabbed. Another agent came over and had her dump both bags out into a bin and toss it all together. Then they ran the swab over the top of the candy.

We were told these procedures were going to roll out nationwide soon. In addition to swabbing food items, they also had us remove all books from our bags and have them in a bin. It was a big pain!

 

[rcchello]

Quoted from a recent news article:

Farbstein added, though not required, the TSA is also asking passengers to consider removing food items and placing them in a bin. Those foods can often trigger alarms and lead to bag searches. https://wtop.com/travel/2017/10/dulles-phases-enhanced-tsa-screening-electronics/

I assume as the TSA gets more information additional requirements will become mandatory. Some airports require removal of belts when going through screening, others do not. Expect some randomness and you won't be surprised.

 

[Dug720]

MCO pretty much sets their own rules and is obnoxious about it.

When Kindles and nooks first came out, pretty much no airport - including those in NYC - was making you take them out of your bag. So I left my nook in my bag coming home from Disney. Go through the people scanner and was waiting for my bag when they start yelling "Who left their DVD player in their bag?" and finally held it up and yelled "Whose bag is this?" I said it was mine, and they yelled at me for not saying I left my DVD player in my bag AND for leaving it in my bag. I said very politely that I was sorry. I did not have a DVD player, I had a nook and had not had to take it out flying down, so I didn't know I had to." And then they started yelling "Well, this isn't wherever you came from" and never once even acknowledged that they had no signage and NONE of them said to remove e-readers.

After that, I fight the urge to totally empty my bag and strip naked at MCO.

(And yet after WDW Marathon Weekend, one of my friends got through with a 1 liter bottle of water she forgot was in her bag, and it was NOT caught by TSA at MCO.)

 

[darnheather]

@Dug720 I would walk through the airport naked if I could keep my blooming shoes on!

 

[Dug720]

@Dug720 I would walk through the airport naked if I could keep my blooming shoes on!

Pre-Check!! I'd been hesitant about it, but then United let me swap some of my mileage points for a code to cover the cost!

 

[MUN]

MCO pretty much sets their own rules and is obnoxious about it.

When Kindles and nooks first came out, pretty much no airport - including those in NYC - was making you take them out of your bag. So I left my nook in my bag coming home from Disney. Go through the people scanner and was waiting for my bag when they start yelling "Who left their DVD player in their bag?" and finally held it up and yelled "Whose bag is this?" I said it was mine, and they yelled at me for not saying I left my DVD player in my bag AND for leaving it in my bag. I said very politely that I was sorry. I did not have a DVD player, I had a nook and had not had to take it out flying down, so I didn't know I had to." And then they started yelling "Well, this isn't wherever you came from" and never once even acknowledged that they had no signage and NONE of them said to remove e-readers.

After that, I fight the urge to totally empty my bag and strip naked at MCO.

(And yet after WDW Marathon Weekend, one of my friends got through with a 1 liter bottle of water she forgot was in her bag, and it was NOT caught by TSA at MCO.)

Freedom isn't free.

 

[Dug720]

Freedom isn't free.

I never said it was.

I said the TSA agents at MCO seem to make their own rules.

 

[Maggie'sMom]

I said the TSA agents at MCO seem to make their own rules.

I agree. Several years ago I had a very similar experience to yours with a portable DVD player. When we were flying down, a TSA agent at our home airport told me I didn't need to take out our portable DVD player. He said only laptops needed to come out. On the way back, at MCO, an agent got really snippy with me because I didn't take the DVD player out. Like you, I said I was told on the way down it didn't need to come out. She accused me of lying about that and very loudly berated me for not following the rules. MCO is my least favorite airport for TSA screening. My bad experiences there far outnumber my good.

 

[Dug720]

I agree. Several years ago I had a very similar experience to yours with a portable DVD player. When we were flying down, a TSA agent at our home airport told me I didn't need to take out our portable DVD player. He said only laptops needed to come out. On the way back, at MCO, an agent got really snippy with me because I didn't take the DVD player out. Like you, I said I was told on the way down it didn't need to come out. She accused me of lying about that and very loudly berated me for not following the rules. MCO is my least favorite airport for TSA screening. My bad experiences there far outnumber my good.

I wonder if we got "blessed" with the same woman. Sounds just like the gem I encountered.

 

[TestingH2O]

My friend just flew back from WDW and their daughter’s candy all got inspected.

They also made pre-check take computers out of bags.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

We just flew back to LA. Our connecting flight in San Francisco we had to go through security again, TSA line, didn't have to remove jackets, belts, take laptop out of backpack, or pull liquids bag out of carry on. Nothing different.

 

[darnheather]

Pre-Check!! I'd been hesitant about it, but then United let me swap some of my mileage points for a code to cover the cost!

I just don't fly very often anymore. It's been 5 years since I've needed to. Next time will probably be 2019. I have flown all over the world and nowhere is the security as ridiculous as here.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I just don't fly very often anymore. It's been 5 years since I've needed to. Next time will probably be 2019. I have flown all over the world and nowhere is the security as ridiculous as here.

Well, I don't know about that. Just returned from a trip to China, with 3 flights inside China, and one flight in & out of US/China. The security on the US side was easy, and no issues.

In China, each security location (I think each security guard) pretty much decided what he/she required. Using the metal detector wand on the soles of your feet (with shoes OFF) seems a bit odd.

And a quick swipe of the "explosives detection" wand as you enter each airport (quick swipe at top of suitcase & carry on) doesn't really seen adequate.

 

[darnheather]

Well, I don't know about that. Just returned from a trip to China, with 3 flights inside China, and one flight in & out of US/China. The security on the US side was easy, and no issues.

In China, each security location (I think each security guard) pretty much decided what he/she required. Using the metal detector wand on the soles of your feet (with shoes OFF) seems a bit odd.

And a quick swipe of the "explosives detection" wand as you enter each airport (quick swipe at top of suitcase & carry on) doesn't really seen adequate.

I stand corrected, I should have said, "Any airports I've flown through."

 

[dcassetta]

I just don't fly very often anymore. It's been 5 years since I've needed to. Next time will probably be 2019. I have flown all over the world and nowhere is the security as ridiculous as here.

I shared the story in another thread also. Several years ago we were coming back from London and there was a significant terrorist threat. They permitted no carry-on items at all. The only thing we were allowed to have with us with our passports. Because of that, the security lines went really quickly because no one had to have anything at all inspected.

 

[NZMUM]

I just don't fly very often anymore. It's been 5 years since I've needed to. Next time will probably be 2019. I have flown all over the world and nowhere is the security as ridiculous as here.

We have decided to avoid the US (unless going to Disney, of course). My DH has just gone through LAX to Europe. Said never again - had to get the "special checks" done (he was transiting only and spent 40 minutes with TSA). Unfortunately we booked our next trip (to Europe) before the changes, otherwise we would be travelling in the other direction.
It has also affected flights leavng from here to the US - TSA has requested extra security checks, so there is now talk of having to arrive even ealier for flights.
Have to say LAX is the worst security we have been through. Grumpy and sloooow (as in they move really slowly). We haven't had any issues at MCO yet.