Since FT folks use the TSA checkpoints so frequently, we might be in a position to collect anecdotes or maybe even real data about TSA detection. Do people feel comfortable talking about how often TSA detects or misses things it says it detects?

I'm kind of reluctant to ask this question, since my personal experiences are consistent with the red-team detection percentages that so embarrass the TSA. If TSA detection's detection percentage is so low on the things they say they detect, why should anyone expect it to be better on more important things?

How often do you fly with:

• Undetected/unexamined water
• Unexamined oversize LGA (saline, water...)
• Unbagged 311
• Anything "dangerous"
• Wrong boarding passes / ID
• etc....

I've accidently done them all, but don't recall how often.

Personally, I've flown with my knifeless tiny swiss army penknife at least 30 times over the last two years and it has been detected only once. (In case you think it isn't catch-worthy to the TSA, the TSO who bag checked it scolded me that I'll have problems with it every time and I should present it specially and separately before the x-ray.)

I'd rate this a <3% detection rate for penknives packed similarly.