ChazeFroy

On Monday, I was able to take a 9 oz bottle of mouthwash through TSA that only had about a week's worth of product inside it (about 2 oz). I was told it was fine because it was obviously less than 3 oz.

On Thursday, I was not able to bring that bottle of mouthwash through TSA because they changed the rules, saying the entire container must be 3 oz or less because "terrists" could potentially take several 3 oz of liquid explosives and mix them into a 9 oz mouthwash bottle.

This is where the contradiction comes into play: People can purchase a 1.5L bottle of water or a 20 oz Coke inside the airport (after TSA) and bring it onto the plane. Why is my three-fourths-used bottle of mouthwash considered a viable container for explosives, but the 1.5L bottle of water is not? Doesn't TSA think of scenarios where a "terrist" might dump out the water (*gasp*) and replace it with his and ten of his friends' 3 oz of explosives?

The current situation with the liquid/gel issue is really in flux, and I wish the TSA could make policies that actually make sense. As it stands now, TSA looks completely confused as their policies do not make sense. Additionally, there is no consistency among airports, or even with the same airport week-to-week.

[Edit: changed subject]

Travellin' Fool

Which begs the question, you are surprised, why?

Points Scrounger

"Confused" isn't the term that springs to mind for me.

aamilesslave

You can also bring empty containers without any liquid (even before the Freedom Zips were introduced) and mix whateverthehell you want.

Points Scrounger

Any reports as to whether the YVR drinking fountains are back on now?

par

As someone else pointed out. There is no ban to bringing empty containers of any size onboard the airplane. Their logic is flawed.

exerda

Was this the TSA itself (through e-mail, etc.) that told you the container could be "used to mix several 3oz substances," or the screener/supervisor? Though I do not put such idiocy past the gents and gals in their Crystal City HQ, I suspect it was more a case of a screener/supervisor trying to make up some twisted "logic" to justify their actions. That unfortunately happens all the time, and often clashes with the published rules on the TSA's website.

jonesing

I wonder what would happen if someone brought a rollaboard filled with empty Nalgene bottles of varying sizes?

wr_schwab

Heck, the TSA's own rules would give someone a decent sized container to mix something with onboard. Just pour the contents of your unmarked 3oz containers into the QUART SIZED ZIP TOP BAG that you are supposed to transport them in and shake well. No need for any other container.

If I can figure that out in the time it took me to read this thread, I'm sure someone who is intending to attempt to cause us harm could also figure it out. I'm not anti-security, but I am anti-idiotcy, and this entire liquid episode is idiotcy.

FWAAA

Oh, great - now you've done it; from now on, the TSA will probably require that the bag be perforated with a certain number of certain sized holes. Too few and your stuff gets tossed in the trash. Too many, or the wrong size, and your stuff gets tossed in the trash.

bmr12

My, uh, somebody I know, recently (post-3 oz rule) traveled with a 16 oz nalgene bottled that was empty when they went through security without an issue.

Flaflyer

And you really expect different from Kips Keystone Kops?

ivyspice

Hush, don't give them any ideas!