Bad passengers! I sound like I’m chastising a naughty dog, but –why are you still trying to bring machetes and more through TSA security lines??
Hard to believe, I know, but that’s what’s happening according to a fascinating article on CNN.com.
Why does it happen? Well, apparently even after all these years, folks don’t know any better – or they forget – like the new bride who didn’t know the wedding gift in her carryon was a banned item. The gift: a set of kitchen knives.
But what on earth can you say about the man who tried to bring two gallons of gasoline aboard a plane?
His explanation: he was worried he’d run out of gas on his drive home from the airport!
So – what happens to all this stuff? Keep reading…
Now, with the exception of the gasoline, passengers are allowed to keep most of the banned items, if they place them in a checked-bag. But by the time most learn this, they’re worried about missing their flight – so 90% just give them up. The stuff is then dumped or sold (on eBay for instance). The money goes to the state the airport is located in, not to the TSA.
What’s a popular “dumped” item in Orlando?
I’ll answer that by offering you a tip: If you’re visiting Disney World with the kids, and they have to have a souvenir pirate sword – be sure and pack it in a checked-bag. You don’t want to hear those little ones wailing the entire trip home, do you?
Scary and funny at the same time! I travel every other week, and still forget about the water bottle in my bag sometimes.
I’m curious to know what’s the sellers name on ebay for these items.
I am a frequent flyer (I typically average about 8 to 9 flight a month). As such I have a lot of experience with the TSA line. I would say that while 90% of the public seems to know at least the basic rules of what they can or can’t take on a plane and how to go through the line more or less efficiently; yet there are still about 10% of the public who just don’t fly very often and seem confused or frustrated by the TSA process. I would like to offer the following mnemonic to assist individuals to not LOSE time in the TSA line as you are heading for a flight:
Remember the word LOSE and use it to remember to:
L – Liquids – Remember to take all Liquids out of your bag and remember that you are limited on how much liquid you can take in your carry on bag
O – Outerwear – Remove all jackets, hoodies, scarves, etc and put them in a bin
S – Shoes – take off your shoes and then listen closely to the instructions (some airports would prefer you put your shoes directly on the belt, while others don’t mind if you put them in a bin – just listen to the instructions at your particular airport or watch what other people are doing)
E – Electronics – take all large electronics out of your bag (such as laptops, DVD players, big gaming systems, hard drives, etc.) and place them in a bin by themselves.
If you DON’T follow these rules the TSA guards will most likely make you either 1) correct your mistake and then put the items back through the x-ray machine or 2) they will demand that you step to the side so they can do a manual search of your belongs. Either way you LOSE time to get to your flight.
Follow these rules and it will help you get through security faster and more efficiently and on to your wonderful destination.
Even I, as a frequent traveler, have forgotten at times stuff that is in my back pack. I use it all the time and often forget to “sanitize” it of banned items before heading to the airport.
What I have seen in a couple airports (and I don’t know why they are not everywhere) are vending machines with envelopes and postage stationed right there at the checkpoint. That way a “forgotten” item can be mailed home or even to your destination.