Originally Posted by
gsoltso
I am not going to say that something like this could *never* happen at GSO - that would be unrealistic based upon human nature. I have no reason to believe that it would happen based upon my experiences here and the way I have seen my co-workers engage passengers on a regular basis.
The TSA website has consistently produced a result about nitro pills indicating that they are allowed - I have included the link that gives you the green go indicator before, several times. As for your interaction with other TSA employees that are not up to speed on the SOP and create a situation where you feel that you are unable to take the nitro with you - I apologize, they are wrong and you should never find yourself in a situation where it is not allowed. If it happens again, then I certainly hope that you will file complaints until you get satisfaction.
I can tell you right here, right now, if you carried nitro pills with you into my checkpoint, it would recieve nothing more than a cursory glance by myself to insure it was consistent with the hundreds of other nitro bottles I have seen here over the years. Other folks that follow the SOP would do the same - anyone that does anything other than a cursory inspection (to make certain it is a little pill bottle with pills in it), is wrong. I cant say it any plainer than that.
No, the website does not say that medical nitro is permitted.
Someone added 'nitro' to a list of recognized words, but the response addressed
medical liquids only. Hint: nitro pills are not liquid, hence the liquid rules do not apply. The response also added the usual disclaimer: nothing on the website is binding at the checkpoint and the screener(s) make the final decision (as they did when they took my pills).
The pills contain a prohibited substance, not unlike the peroxide in Clearcare contact solution. It is the only contact solution I am aware of that is banned in any quantity - because of a single ingredient.
For the hundredth time,
my pills were confiscated under the 'banned substances' rules - the same rules that prohibit me from flying with a small vial of gunpowder or a firecracker.
With all due respect, I have your word on an IBB vs. the in-person words of multiple TSOs, LTSOs, STSO and suits. Actions speak much louder than anonymous words on the internet.
If it's such a non-issue, why is Blogger Bob reluctant to address it? You know, big laughs all around, big misunderstanding, TSOs saw nitro pills and instead of handling them like any bottle of pills they treated them like live mini-bombs?
I did file a 'complaint' at the time. It only happened one time - the experience was so unsettling, the threats so scary, that I haven't dared to carry my pills since.
Needless to say, I never received a response to my concerns.
I do think it's interesting that you have seen 'hundreds' of these pill bottles. You must do a lot of very thorough bag searches at GSO - taking pill bottles out and reading labels. I only had it happen one time (taking the contents out of each baggie and reading labels, opening bottles, etc.)