Women Travelers - Static Guard - Discriminatory?

So, I am frustrated by the fact that as a female business travel many of the clothes that pack easily are also staticky when I try to wear them. For the past 18 months or so I have travelled with a small aerosol Static Guard (less than 100ml) in my carry on plastic baggie.

So going through YYC I am told that I can't travel with it, first because it's aerosol (I point out aerosols are fine if they're under the size, which the agent grudgingly acknowledges), then am told that I can't take it because it's not a personal item (meaning you spray it on clothes not yourself). I pointed out that I do spray it on my legs, to stop the pants from sticking, and occasionally use it for flyaway hair.

I called CATSA because I was sure this was wrong - turns out it is banned, both in carry on and in checked bag because it is treated like a spray starch laundry item (no matter what size).

I had a great CATSA agent on the phone (female) who agreed this was stupid, because the small size is sold with all the toiletry items etc.

She said it was likely because some man who had never experienced static cling while travelling made up the rules, and is getting back to me when she finds out the rationale, but filed a report saying the inclusion was discriminatory because it was impacting women travellers differently (men rarely wear jersey or lighter fabrics)...

I know that nothing is likely to change, but she did make me feel better!

Security regulations never cease to baffle me.

But, as a solution to the insanity, you could get something like http://www.amazon.com/Caldrea-Anti-Static-Spray-French-Lavender/dp/B0014E7E78/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1265671598&sr=8-4 and carry it in an unlabeled 3oz size spray bottle of your own. They'd never know it isn't something like hairspray.

Or, save some used fabric softener dryer sheets to carry with you in a ziploc. Rubbing those over clothes and hair can give the same results. I wouldn't recommend "new" ones that haven't been through a dryer cycle yet as sometimes the oils in them will shift onto clothing.

Good luck!

I second the recommendation on the dryer sheets. I use the thin white ones that look like a tissue and don't seem to be saturated with a liquid, and I stash some of them in a ziploc bag in my luggage. As an aside, they are also good for keeping paper from sticking together and jamming printers and copy machines. I learned this from a guy who ran a repro department at a company where I used to work. Just lightly wipe/dab it across the paper supply. I wouldn't use it elsewhere inside the machine though.

Good suggestions, thanks! Still wallowing in my frustration over stupid rules though :). You'd think I'd have the common sense not to look for logic in security rules :rolleyes:

I do think men get static cling too.

A tip I learned that does work is to take a wire coat hanger and run it over your clothes. I don't think a wire coat hanger would get taken away if you packed one in your carry-on and it takes no room to speak of.

Just searched and the hanger trick's on here. Looks like there are others too.
http://www.ehow.com/how_4842655_stop-static-cling.html

I do think men get static cling too.

A tip I learned that does work is to take a wire coat hanger and run it over your clothes. I don't think a wire coat hanger would get taken away if you packed one in your carry-on and it takes no room to speak of.

Just searched and the hanger trick's on here. Looks like there are others too.
http://www.ehow.com/how_4842655_stop-static-cling.html

Wire hangers?:rolleyes:

Just kidding. That is a great tip. Thanks.

Wire hangers?:rolleyes:


No more wire hangers!

So, I am frustrated by the fact that as a female business travel many of the clothes that pack easily are also staticky when I try to wear them. For the past 18 months or so I have travelled with a small aerosol Static Guard (less than 100ml) in my carry on plastic baggie.

So going through YYC I am told that I can't travel with it, first because it's aerosol (I point out aerosols are fine if they're under the size, which the agent grudgingly acknowledges), then am told that I can't take it because it's not a personal item (meaning you spray it on clothes not yourself). I pointed out that I do spray it on my legs, to stop the pants from sticking, and occasionally use it for flyaway hair.

I called CATSA because I was sure this was wrong - turns out it is banned, both in carry on and in checked bag because it is treated like a spray starch laundry item (no matter what size).

I had a great CATSA agent on the phone (female) who agreed this was stupid, because the small size is sold with all the toiletry items etc.

She said it was likely because some man who had never experienced static cling while travelling made up the rules, and is getting back to me when she finds out the rationale, but filed a report saying the inclusion was discriminatory because it was impacting women travellers differently (men rarely wear jersey or lighter fabrics)...

I know that nothing is likely to change, but she did make me feel better!

Did you ever think there was an actual security reason behind it? I find it hard to believe that this item is an oversight due to a guy's lack of experience with static cling. Sorry........

Wire hangers?:rolleyes:


Hehe ...yes, it's the only reason I know if to keep one around ... :)

No more wire hangers!

EVER!:mad:

Did you ever think there was an actual security reason behind it? I find it hard to believe that this item is an oversight due to a guy's lack of experience with static cling. Sorry........

If this is a security risk and my hairspray that is the exact same size (and also aerosol) isn't, I'm baffled.

The issue is that someone has decided it is not "worthy" of personal use status and is a laundry care item.

I wish I shared your confidence in the rationale of security rules :)

Another static electricity solution is to use a little hand lotion on your hands. Rub it in very briskly and then rub your hands over your thighs/legs. Static all gone, and it's easy to repeat during the day if it builds back up (which it's likely to do in cold, dry climates).

I've actually been using solid lip balm instead of hand lotion (on my hands, I mean) instead of lotion and it also works very well. You can carry the solid outside of your toiletries bag, so that's another plus.

...have you tried wearing non-rubber soled shoes? This is the only thing that works for me which eliminates the need for any sprays/sheets.

If this is a security risk and my hairspray that is the exact same size (and also aerosol) isn't, I'm baffled.

The issue is that someone has decided it is not "worthy" of personal use status and is a laundry care item.

I wish I shared your confidence in the rationale of security rules :)

Security rules and rationale? Those don't mix! :)

I just don't think it's fair to label the policy as discrimination against women. The fact that we use more liquids than men doesn't mean the liquid bans are targeted at women (as annoying as these rules are!!!). In fact I generally find that I'm treated better than male travelers by the travel industry.

Since this was a CATSA-related post, here's a case of CATSA discriminating against men after the Detroit incident:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/air-canada-aeroplan/1032026-air-canada-travel-advisory-new-u-s-security-procedures-40.html#post13097228

I would just like to say, good for the OP for at least calling and trying to find out the reason, and trying to get it changed.

I would just like to say, good for the OP for at least calling and trying to find out the reason, and trying to get it changed.

Thanks - I'm sure it was an exercise in futility :)

I'd be tempted to put a fake "Feminine Freshness" label on it --- good lord, now they're rummaging through our see-through baggie?

FWIW, the questions at YVR yesterday were bordering on offensive and I had a female screener pat down my underwire - but the place was also crawling with Olympic Athlete's heading back home.

Sorry for your frustrating experience.

Did you ever think there was an actual security reason behind it? I find it hard to believe that this item is an oversight due to a guy's lack of experience with static cling. Sorry........

I don't. I've seen people make a blow torch out of hairspray aerosol cans. Can't imagine that anti-static spray is any more volatile.

and hairspray is allowed :)

Here in Australia, we have a product called Statique http://www.sidaidi.com/page2.html which is in a pump spray bottle. It doesn't say it's flammable so would that be banned too?