Originally Posted by redreusam
So my partner went through security this morning EWR in the elite line as he is CO silver. His bag was checked twice and items were taken including a 5 oz clear container of hair gel with about 2 oz remaining as well as a 5 oz mouthwash bottle with about half remaining - oh yes the deadly 5 oz container of toothpaste was confiscated as well.
...
And the TSA agents both mentioned that you can "buy it on the other side." (By the way - the TSA agents were rolling their eyes and laughing about the whole stupid mess).
Now who is this really benefitting - the stores airside or the flyer?!?! I mean I have never seen or heard of anything as ridiculous in all my life - meanwhile the TSA agent told my partner that a ban on laptops was proposed but it was felt that the lobby from the computer companies would have gone ballistic!!!
Thanks for the report. Looks like he would have been better off smuggling the items than presenting them for confiscation. I wonder if the TSAers get a commission for suggesting particular airside stores to replace stolen toiletries.
I have no doubt that a laptop ban has been proposed by
someone at DHS/TSA. Laptops are in fact more dangerous than toothpaste, and they've already banned toothpaste.
I would hope that the airlines and passengers would draw the line at bending over to such measures, but you never know.