Entry bubble The Airport Security Maze

By: Nancy | February 07, 2008 | Category: Travel

airport security lineI sure hope Sam's walk through the security line on her upcoming trip goes smoother than my last one did. 

The TSA airport security screener looked at me sternly. "Miss, I'm going to need to open up your bag for a closer look."  

"Sure thing."  I'm Nothing-to-Hide-Nancy. The worst she was going to find in my carry-on was a stack of neatly-folded dirty clothes and souvenirs from my trip to Albuquerque. The latex-gloved screener carefully and respectfully shifted the contents of my bag until her expression itself shifted from serious to more of a suppressed grin.

"Ma'am," (I was now Ma'am and not Miss. That should have clued me in that there was a problem.) "do you have any, maybe, toiletry samples in your carry-on?" she probed.

"Noooo, I always put those in my checked bag," I said as she unearthed a pile of little bottles of hotel shampoo, conditioner, lotion and mouthwash. Oh no! I forgot. I didn't need to check a suitcase on this short trip and I'd just tossed all the lovely little bottles right into my carry-on bag. I'd dutifully put all the make-up and other gels and liquids I'd brought from home back in a quart-size zip lock bag for their return trip. But those new little bottles of sweet smelling designer toiletries were all over the place.

The screener held up my quart bag and announced "Decision time." My face burned as I made jokes and rushed to stuff a couple of the shampoos and conditioners into the remaining space in the plastic bag and bid a woeful goodbye to the mouthwashes and a lotion. I was raised by parents who lived through the Depression and World War II and who engraved on my soul the idea that you didn't throw useful stuff away. Ever.

Now, I'm a frequent enough flyer that I know the Transportation Security Administration's "3-1-1" drill: liquids and gels can be in containers of three ounces or less, as many as will fit into a one-quart size zip lock bag, one bag per person. But I got greedy with those little bottles of peppermint goodness from my fancy hotel and I just plain forgot that my bag checking routine had changed.

Whether airplanes are a regular part of your life or you're only on them for an annual vacation, save yourself and everybody in line behind you time and do what I did when I got home from my trip: bookmark USA.gov's Air Travel page. It's got the most up-to-date information on what you can and can't take, wear or do on a commercial airplane.  And you know, those rules are always changing. For instance, as of January 1, fliers are no longer allowed to pack spare lithium batteries in checked luggage. They're ok in your carry-on bag but rattling around in your checked bag, they can be a fire or explosion hazard. I'm an amateur photographer. I was going to pack spare batteries for my trip to LA next week. Now I know how to do it.  

Are you a smoker?  You can carry a working cigarette lighter onto an airplane, but you can't put one in your checked baggage unless it's in a special carrying case. Matches? One pack only, and only in your carry-on.

Those comfy gel shoe inserts? Leave them home. They won't make it through security. Built-in gel heels in your shoes? Those are ok.

There are so many no-nos to keep track of!  But TSA has a brand new way that you and I can help them figure out how to make traveling by air a little easier: a new blog, Evolution of Security. Check it out and chime in. After only a week online, changes are already being made in screening procedures, thanks to reader comments. Congratulations, to the Evolution of Security gang, and welcome to the world of government blogging! 

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