Yesterday I flew ORD-LAS on the early morning TED flight. Two women in my row each OPENLY had Starbucks cups that they had carried on with them. The FAs passed several times but either failed to notice the cups (which were quite visible) or failed to care....I'm happy to report that the flight was nonetheless uneventful and made its way without incident to LAS.

Just a few days before a colleague of mine was flying out of ORD to National; she too was on the first flight of the AM, around 6 and absent-mindedly carried a large soda on board with her. Although the soda must have been seen by the gate agent when she boarded, no one said anything to her to remind her to throw it away (perhaps the airlines might want to post signs and have trash bins near the jetway?) The FA saw it, and required her to leave the aircraft and be questioned in the boarding area. TSA came to the plane and insisted on seeing her id. She was allowed back on board and made the flight.

Same airport, same carrier, but completely different results....to me, pretty illustrative of the enormous problems with the "liquid ban."