Me and Mrs. G2244 were on a recent run through the checkpoint which had a surprising outcome. In order to somewhat protect the innocent, I don’t want to specify the airport. Since we were switching airlines after one hop and on a long journey with more connections to come, we had decided to pick up our luggage at our first stop. We kind of wanted to know the luggage had made it that far. In the first airport of the day, she had purchased (after security) a bottle of BBQ Sauce and a jar of Hot Sauce to bring as a gift to someone overseas. Once at our connection point, we checked our luggage and went off to screening again. As her carry-on went through the scanner, it picked up our mistake of not putting the gifts into the checked luggage. We just simply forgot. She explained what it was and why we still had it. They gave us the option to ship it, etc. but it would not have been worth it. After begrudgingly giving it up for “disposal” we moved on through and stopped near the end of the screening area to put our shoes on, etc.

Out of nowhere, the same TSA agent that had taken the items away motions us over out of the way. She said after she had unwrapped them she decided we could take them if we wanted to. Although she did mention that we were on our own for any future checkpoints, etc. I was kind of shocked really. I was very glad that we were able to keep them but I was more shocked that they let us. I have had a number of regular interactions with the TSA (and none too horrible) but I have never had one bend the rules in my favor before. I just thought I would share what was for me a positive experience since it seems like there aren’t many of those discussed here. I realize there are implications beyond our side of things, but it really did make our day.