| Is it worth it? Is it really worth it? Trying to get | | | | pouring a few ounces of shampoo from a large |
| that bottle of Evian on board just isn’t worth | | | | bottle at home into a smaller plastic or metal bottles |
| the hassle anymore. And clinging to that cup of | | | | without any markings. Bad idea! The one thing a |
| Starbucks coffee as you wait to board a 6:00 a.m. | | | | TSA inspector doesn’t like to see are things |
| flight to anywhere only to be told to toss it before | | | | they can’t immediately identify or relate to. |
| entering the security check point is hard to handle. | | | | Place your liquids in a brand name bottle, even if the |
| In spite of all the stated rules for “liquids, gels, | | | | contents of the bottle do not match the label. |
| creams and similar substances” published by the | | | | --A lot of people make the mistake of carrying the |
| TSA, the actual implementation of these rules will | | | | allotted amount of liquid in bottles capable of holding |
| vary dramatically from airport to airport throughout | | | | liquids far exceeding the limits. No good! The |
| the US and abroad. Why? The reasons can vary | | | | container must be capable of holding no more than |
| from lack of training, personal interpretation of the | | | | three ounces regardless of how much is in it. |
| rules by individual TSA employees or just plain | | | | --Will you be flying between two non-US cities? If |
| laziness in adhering to them. After all, TSA | | | | you are flying on a US flag carrier the rules imposed |
| employees are looking for needles in a haystack as | | | | by those carriers are actually more stringent than |
| thousands of travelers pass their patrol. So getting | | | | they are in the US. For example, on a recent flight |
| through with your favorite beverage is really a toss | | | | from Tokyo to Singapore on United Airlines, no |
| of the dice. | | | | liquids, creams, lotions or pastes of any kind |
| As a traveler, you can either argue your case when | | | | regardless of size or where purchased were allowed |
| faced with a screener who insists you dump that | | | | to be hand carried onto the aircraft. |
| fresh bottle of water or you can simply take steps | | | | --Seriously consider checking your bags. No one likes |
| to avoid any unpleasantness that may ruin the start | | | | to do this if they don’t have to but no one |
| to that dream vacation or that important client | | | | should have to deal with the anxiety, inconsistencies |
| meeting. | | | | and uncertainties of trying to carry any sort of |
| Here are a few tips to make the experience a little | | | | non-solid item through security, or the second layer |
| more pleasant: | | | | of security which exist at most international airports |
| --Get a one quart plastic zipper bag – Not a | | | | servicing flights to the USA. |
| sandwich bag or a one of those plastic bags from | | | | In the end the bottom line is really quite simple. Use |
| the produce section of your local grocery store. A | | | | common sense and don’t try to cheat the |
| quart! And make sure it has as few markings as | | | | system. You just may face a TSA inspector who |
| possible. | | | | wants to make an example out of you. And |
| --Use brand name bottles to store your liquids and | | | | you’ll lose. |
| creams. A lot of people make the mistake of | | | | |