tsa & bar soap
Jun 11, 2009, 7:42 pm
#16
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: LAX/CWA/TOA/AUW
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Posts: 368
I actually collect the hotel soaps and lotions when I travel and donate them to our local Lutheran Social Services center to give out to people who need it. And if you have dry skin the oatmeal soaps are great (like Aveeno).....^
Last edited by AirlineBrat53; Jun 11, 2009 at 7:42 pm Reason: to add some clarification....
Jun 11, 2009, 8:39 pm
#17
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 2,428
My 2nd cousin's girlfriend had given me a couple of bars of soap that I put in my carry on and I threw in some sort of electronic gizmo on top of everything in my carry on- not thinking- my bag got pulled to be hand checked- of course they used the explosive indicators on it. The TSA guy was really nice about it- I told him I didnt think about what it looked like under xray. and I did not tell him what it looked like- not using those words! so yeah ,it can get checked.
Jun 11, 2009, 10:31 pm
#18
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 146
Just to update, I did bring the soap through FLL tonight. I made sure I packed it away from my phone charger & ipod, the only electronics I traveled with. It didn't trigger a bag check. A TSA lady did run off with my shoes before I could put them back on and swabbed them. I've never had that happen before, but they seemed to be swabbing random items that were loose in bins. Cellphones, shoes, etc. They must've been overstaffed or something.
Jun 12, 2009, 12:00 am
#19
Join Date: May 2005
Location: MIA/SJU/MCO
Programs: AA LT PLT; DL GLD, UA nothing, B6 Mosaic; Emerald Club Executive
Posts: 3,331
This didn't happen in the US, but I feel it's related enough to comment.
Last week, returning to SJU from GUA (via PTY), the Guatemalan TSA equivalents (not sure what their agency name is) took away my bar shampoo and soap I've been traveling with for some time. No explanation, nothing. She let go of the cologne I had deeper in the bag, but took away my bars of soap/shampoo stating that they were liquid (even though they were clearly solid).
I didn't bother to fight it, since I didn't (and still don't) know what power the Guatemalan TSO equivalents have.
Funny thing though, they have crappy photocopies of US TSA 3-1-1 flyers and posters at the checkpoint,
Last week, returning to SJU from GUA (via PTY), the Guatemalan TSA equivalents (not sure what their agency name is) took away my bar shampoo and soap I've been traveling with for some time. No explanation, nothing. She let go of the cologne I had deeper in the bag, but took away my bars of soap/shampoo stating that they were liquid (even though they were clearly solid).
I didn't bother to fight it, since I didn't (and still don't) know what power the Guatemalan TSO equivalents have.
Funny thing though, they have crappy photocopies of US TSA 3-1-1 flyers and posters at the checkpoint,
Aug 3, 2009, 11:52 am
#20
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 1
I just returned from Guatemala to the US this past Saturday. At the carry-on baggage security check they took out the little hotel bar soaps I was going to bring back as souvenirs, and did not return them. They also confiscated two small pump spray containers; one was insect repellent and the other was "Afterbite", a treatment for insect bites. Was this legit or a small-time scam? (such as for the baggage handlers to keep or resell them)
Aug 3, 2009, 2:36 pm
#21
Join Date: May 2005
Location: MIA/SJU/MCO
Programs: AA LT PLT; DL GLD, UA nothing, B6 Mosaic; Emerald Club Executive
Posts: 3,331
I just returned from Guatemala to the US this past Saturday. At the carry-on baggage security check they took out the little hotel bar soaps I was going to bring back as souvenirs, and did not return them. They also confiscated two small pump spray containers; one was insect repellent and the other was "Afterbite", a treatment for insect bites. Was this legit or a small-time scam? (such as for the baggage handlers to keep or resell them)
Dec 2, 2012, 8:39 pm
#23
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: PDX (wish I was in HNL)
Programs: Platinum
Posts: 1,687
This triggered a search on a recent trip:
http://www.lushusa.com/Dragon%27s-Eg...gid=bath-bombs
Apparently, the x-ray machine noticed "something organic", so my wife's bag was searched.
I'm glad she didn't buy this: http://www.lushusa.com/Blackberry/02...gid=bath-bombs
http://www.lushusa.com/Dragon%27s-Eg...gid=bath-bombs
Apparently, the x-ray machine noticed "something organic", so my wife's bag was searched.
I'm glad she didn't buy this: http://www.lushusa.com/Blackberry/02...gid=bath-bombs
Dec 3, 2012, 2:58 pm
#24
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Join Date: Oct 2006
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Welcome to FlyerTalk! 
I've never had a problem with a full-size bar from home. How many do you want to pack? The only issue I could think of is them showing up as a big solid mass on the x-ray and perhaps customs thinking you may be trying to artfully conceal something in the bars or cover up a smell.
I've never had a problem with a full-size bar from home. How many do you want to pack? The only issue I could think of is them showing up as a big solid mass on the x-ray and perhaps customs thinking you may be trying to artfully conceal something in the bars or cover up a smell.
Dec 17, 2013, 7:25 am
#26
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: DFW, SEA and AA in between
Programs: AA-3MM-ExPLT
Posts: 1,146
If they question it as a liquid or gel, you can declare it as medication - http://www.tsa.gov/traveler-informat...essary-liquids
Dec 17, 2013, 2:43 pm
#27
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Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Marriott or Hilton hot tub with a big drink <glub> Beverage: To-Go Bag™ DYKWIA: SSSS /rolleyes ☈ Date Night: Costco
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Oh, and a few little bottles of shampoo, conditioner, etc. that I "forgot" about and were loosely floating around in my rollaboard. 
Lay them flat in the bottom of your bag, or otherwise in a fashion to not show up as a big solid blob on the x-ray.
Dec 18, 2013, 2:15 am
#28
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: BOM, Ex-TX/ CA
Programs: Ex CO/ UA Gold, Hotels.. TBD
Posts: 734
CARRY-ON:
Gray - Square-ish Duffle Bag (Should I be concerned about Overhead Space?)
L W H
24 11 14
- Stacking them up together on a "side" or "side pocket"
- Spreading them on the side wall
- Spreading them flat on bottom - TOGETHER in LINE/ MATRIX? SPREAD OUT? at CORNERS?
Bag Shape most similar to this:
- Squarish: http://www.evo.com/imgp/1500/69394/3...ndependent.jpg
- Side & End Pockets similar to this: http://www.4discounttravel.com/conte...duffel-bag.jpg
Dec 21, 2013, 10:38 pm
#29
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Marriott or Hilton hot tub with a big drink <glub> Beverage: To-Go Bag™ DYKWIA: SSSS /rolleyes ☈ Date Night: Costco
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Posts: 12,509
Just spread them out evenly on the bottom of your bag. Note that most of the posts in this thread are from 2009, so the x-ray machines in use should be able to discern a non-threat, TSA predictable unpredictability duly noted.