Checkpoints and Borders Policy Debate - Should we take pasta shells through at TSA checkpoint??

Hi All,

Should we will take pasta shells through at checkpoint? Is that okay with TSA? We won't have any problem at all. We are flying back to PHX tomorrow afternoon. Is that okay that I can allowed to take pasta shells along with me?

Let me know if you have any question. Thanks all.

I think you should be fine, however, it would be easier to say 100% if you told us which country you're flying in from.

Hi All,

Should we will take pasta shells through at checkpoint? Is that okay with TSA? We won't have any problem at all. We are flying back to PHX tomorrow afternoon. Is that okay that I can allowed to take pasta shells along with me?

Let me know if you have any question. Thanks all.
Do you mean dry uncooked pasta shells, or cooked pasta shells in a sauce?

Pasta with sauce is probably considered a liquid (especially if the checkpoint screener is hungry).

Dry uncooked pasta should be okay (unless you go through this checkpoint (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/practical-travel-safety-issues/911617-pasta-liquid.html) at Gatwick in the UK. But they couldn't be that stupid twice, could they?)

Should we will take pasta shells through at checkpoint? Is that okay with TSA? Is that okay that I can allowed to take pasta shells along with me?

I'm confused. If you read the list of prohibited items (below for your future reference), which category did you think pasta falls into as a "dangerous" item ?

Item Prohibited
Carry-on? Checked?
Box Cutters X OK
Ice Axes/Ice Picks X OK
Knives - except for plastic or round bladed butter knives X OK
Meat Cleavers X OK
Razor-Type Blades - such as box cutters, utility knives, and safety razor blades (disposable razors and their cartridges are permitted) X OK
Sabers X OK
Scissors - metal with pointed tips and blades shorter than 4 inches are allowed, but blades longer than 4 inches are prohibited X OK
Swords - cutting or thrusting weapons, including fencing foils X OK
NOTE: Any sharp objects in checked baggage should be sheathed or securely wrapped to prevent injury to baggage handlers and inspectors.

Sporting Goods
Item Carry-on? Checked?
Baseball Bats X OK
Bows and Arrows X OK
Cricket Bats X OK
Golf Clubs X OK
Hockey Sticks X OK
Lacrosse Sticks X OK
Pool Cues X OK
Ski Poles X OK
Spear Guns X OK
For more information, please read our Traveling with Special Items section.

Guns & Firearms
Item Carry-on? Checked?
Ammunition - Check with your airline or travel agent to see if ammunition is permitted in checked baggage on the airline you are flying. Small arms ammunitions for personal use must be securely packed in fiber, wood or metal boxes or other packaging specifically designed to carry small amounts of ammunition. Ask about limitations or fees, if any, that apply. Read our Firearms & Ammunition section. X OK
BB guns X OK
Compressed Air Guns (to include paintball markers) - Carried in checked luggage without compressed air cylinder attached.
X OK
Firearms - firearms carried as checked baggage MUST be unloaded, packed in a locked hard-sided container, and declared to the airline at check-in. Read our Firearms & Ammunition section. X OK
Flare Guns - May be carried as checked baggage MUST be unloaded, packed in a locked hard-sided container, and declared to the airline at check-in. Read our section on Camping and Firearms & Ammunition section. X OK
Flares X X
Gun Lighters* X OK
Gun Powder including black powder and percussion caps* X X
Parts of Guns and Firearms
Read our Firearms & Ammunition section. X OK
Pellet Guns X OK
Realistic Replicas of Firearms X OK
Starter Pistols - can only be carried as checked baggage and MUST be unloaded, packed in a locked hard-sided container, and declared to the airline at check-in. Read our Firearms & Ammunition section. X OK
NOTE: Check with your airline or travel agent to see if firearms are permitted in checked baggage on the airline you are flying. Ask about limitations or fees, if any, that apply.
*Permitted in checked baggage only if it does not contain lighter fluid.

Tools
Item Carry-on? Checked?
Axes and Hatchets X OK
Cattle Prods X OK
Crowbars X OK
Hammers X OK
Drills and drill bits (including cordless portable power drills) X OK
Saws (including cordless portable power saws) X OK
Tools (greater than seven inches in length) X OK
Tools (seven inches or less in length) unless otherwise prohibited OK OK
Screwdrivers (seven inches or less in length) OK OK
Wrenches and Pliers (seven inches or less in length) OK OK
NOTE: Any sharp objects in checked baggage should be sheathed or securely wrapped to prevent injury to baggage handlers and Security Officers.

Martial Arts & Self Defense Items
Item Carry-on? Checked?
Billy Clubs X OK
Black Jacks X OK
Brass Knuckles X OK
Kubatons X OK
Self Defense Sprays - One 4 ounce (118ml) container of mace or pepper spray is permitted in checked baggage provided it is equipped with a safety mechanism to prevent accidental discharge. Self Defense Sprays containing more than 2% by mass of Tear Gas (CS or CN) are prohibited in Checked Baggage. For more information visit www.faa.gov., click on Passengers, then Preparing to Fly. X OK
Martial Arts Weapons X OK
Night Sticks X OK
Nunchucks X OK
Stun Guns/Shocking Devices X OK
Throwing Stars X OK
NOTE: Any sharp objects in checked baggage should be sheathed or securely wrapped to prevent injury to baggage handlers and Security Officers.

Explosive & Flammable Materials, Disabling Chemicals & Other Dangerous Items
Explosive Materials Carry-on? Checked?
Blasting Caps X X
Dynamite X X
Fireworks X X
Flares (in any form) X X
Hand Grenades X X
Plastic Explosives X X
Realistic Replicas of Explosives X X
Flammable Items Carry-on? Checked?
Aerosol (any except for personal care or toiletries in limited quantities) X X
Fuels (including cooking fuels and any flammable liquid fuel) X X
Gasoline X X
Gas Torches X X
Lighter Fluid X X
Common Lighters - Lighters without fuel are permitted in checked baggage. Lighters with fuel are prohibited in checked baggage, unless they adhere to the Department of Transportation (DOT) exemption, which allows up to two fueled lighters if properly enclosed in a DOT approved case. If you are uncertain as to whether your lighter is prohibited, please leave it at home. OK X
Torch Lighters - Torch lighters create a thin, needle-like flame that is hotter (reaching 2,500 degrees Fahrenheit) and more intense than those from common lighters. Torch lighters are often used for pipes and cigars, and maintain a consistent stream of air-propelled fire regardless of the angle at which it is held. Torch lighters continue to be banned. X X
Strike-anywhere Matches - One book of safety (non-strike anywhere) matches are permitted as carry-on items, but all matches are prohibited in checked baggage. X X
Flammable Paints (See Other Items below for non-flammable paints) X X
Turpentine and Paint Thinner X X
Realistic Replicas of Incendiaries X X
NOTE: There are other hazardous materials that are regulated by the FAA. This information is summarized at www.faa.gov, click on Passengers, then Preparing to Fly.
Disabling Chemicals & Other Dangerous Items Carry-on? Checked?
Chlorine for Pools and Spas X X
Small compressed gas cartridges
(Up to 2 in life vests and 2 spares. The spares must accompany the life vests and presented as one unit) OK OK
Fire extinguishers and other compressed gas cylinders X X
Liquid Bleach X X
Spillable Batteries - except those in wheelchairs X X
Spray Paint X X
Tear Gas - Self Defense Sprays containing more than 2% by mass of Tear Gas (CS or CN). X X
Vehicle Airbags X X
NOTE: There are other hazardous materials that are regulated by the FAA. This information is summarized at www.faa.gov.

I was going to ask if I could take a sandwich through security:confused:

I've always wondered about Reese's peanut butter cups. I'm just waiting for the day when I have to put the package in my freedom baggie because peanut butter is considered to be a dangerous liquid. I was wondering if the candy that was supposedly confiscated from the deaf passenger was peanut butter cups.

I've traveled with Reese's peanut butter cups with no issues. Yet.

Did have an issue with gummy vitamins!

I think you should be fine, however, it would be easier to say 100% if you told us which country you're flying in from.

The OP will be flying Seattle to Phoenix and unless there was a recent deal to sell the former to Canada or the latter to Mexico, I don't believe he will be crossing any international borders.

I'm confused. If you read the list of prohibited items (below for your future reference), which category did you think pasta falls into as a "dangerous" item ?

Doesn't matter if it falls into one of those categories. The TSA can still decide it's a threat.


Did have an issue with gummy vitamins!

Hmmm....guess I have to find new prenatals. Too expensive to get confiscated! How ridiculous.

Are the shells stuffed with Ricotta? if so are they frozen?
Are they left overs from Lunch/Dinner at the Airport or else where?

I've seen sandwich's clear with no problem at MCO, ATL, FRA, DXB, CLT, MCI, MHK. Both 'Subway' and 'home made' style.
Thankfully FRA let me slide with a 2kg bag of Haribo gummy bears :D

Do you mean dry uncooked pasta shells, or cooked pasta shells in a sauce?

Pasta with sauce is probably considered a liquid (especially if the checkpoint screener is hungry).

Dry uncooked pasta should be okay (unless you go through this checkpoint (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/practical-travel-safety-issues/911617-pasta-liquid.html) at Gatwick in the UK. But they couldn't be that stupid twice, could they?)

Actually, it is uncooked pasta shells and there is no issue from TSA. We went to the market in downtown Seattle.

We went through at TSA checkpoint. So there is no problem at all. She didn't lookout a suspicious things in my carryon bag. It was absolutely no problem at all. Uncooked pasta shells is okay and she didn't look inside my carryon bag. Lucky day for us!

PS. I am at SEA airport and wait for my flight to leave.

Sure, they let the pasta shells through, but if you tried bringing in uncooked spaghetti that would be a different matter. Those things are sharp!

The OP will be flying Seattle to Phoenix and unless there was a recent deal to sell the former to Canada or the latter to Mexico, I don't believe he will be crossing any international borders.

How did you figure this out ?@:-)

How did you figure this out ?@:-)

A combination of instinctive genius on my part and the fact that he posted it on another thread.

Remember pasta is a liquid (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/practical-travel-safety-issues/911617-pasta-liquid.html)?

I've traveled with Reese's peanut butter cups with no issues. Yet.

Did have an issue with gummy vitamins!

PDX confiscated my 95-year-old mother's nutritional yogurt, in its original container, the idiots.

PDX confiscated my 95-year-old mother's nutritional yogurt, in its original container, the idiots.

My mom, 84, gets through TSA with liquids all the time without trouble.

I've told her to tell them her Boost drinks and snacks are medically necessary
given she has diabetes and no meals of substance are served on the plane.

Remember pasta is a liquid (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/practical-travel-safety-issues/911617-pasta-liquid.html)?

Well, actually pasta starts life as a liquid slurry of milled wheat, water, maybe eggs and maybe some other good stuff, and since TSOs are very concerned about their own origins, what with people comparing them to blue tinted cartoon characters and such, who can blame them for forgetting that what you once were might not be what you now are. So, pasta once was a liquid and that is a good enough basis for exerting their bagel like authority and gratuitously asking whether that foodstuff really wants to fly today.

A combination of instinctive genius on my part and the fact that he posted it on another thread.

Ah ! I salute your instinctive genius and such dedication to reading so many threads.

Perhaps you also know why is dry pasta in Seattle is better than the ones sold in Phoenix ? ;)

Guys, please don't try to flame at me. Thank you.