DCA TSA: Your Pie Can't Fly

Old Dec 20, 2018, 9:05 am
  #1  
In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Durham, NC (RDU/GSO/CLT)
Programs: AA EXP/MM, DL GM, UA Platinum, HH DIA, Hyatt Explorist, IHG Platinum, Marriott Titanium, Hertz PC
Posts: 33,857
DCA TSA: Your Pie Can't Fly

My sister in law baked me a banana cream pie. It's your standard type of pie: graham cracker crust, bananas and cream. I had eaten one slice then packed up the rest to take home to RDU. Unfortunately, DCA TSA determined this cream was "too much of a liquid". I said this was ridiculous and that pie was a food and the agent said in a baffling argument "so is water". I said by his argument I couldn't take a meatball sub through security and he said that was true as marinara was a liquid too.

So I had to throw out 7/8s of a pie. Utterly ridiculous.
CMK10 is offline  
Old Dec 20, 2018, 9:28 am
  #2  
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: NCL
Programs: BAEC and Hilton mostly
Posts: 652
I hope you made sure the pie was totally trashed and inedible!
rickg523 likes this.
Tocsin is offline  
Old Dec 20, 2018, 10:59 am
  #3  
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 3,526
Originally Posted by CMK10
My sister in law baked me a banana cream pie. It's your standard type of pie: graham cracker crust, bananas and cream. I had eaten one slice then packed up the rest to take home to RDU. Unfortunately, DCA TSA determined this cream was "too much of a liquid". I said this was ridiculous and that pie was a food and the agent said in a baffling argument "so is water". I said by his argument I couldn't take a meatball sub through security and he said that was true as marinara was a liquid too.

So I had to throw out 7/8s of a pie. Utterly ridiculous.
https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-...pies-and-cakes

I hope you did as the poster above said and made sure it was not edible. If what the screener said was so, then few pies would ever be allowed through a checkpoint. However, "screener discretion" prevails.

That said, here's a perfect example of TSA nonsense regarding pies and cakes: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/26188997-post1.html

Why don't you file a complaint with the DHS IG: https://hotline.oig.dhs.gov/hotline/hotline.php Name names if you can.
Spiff likes this.
petaluma1 is offline  
Old Dec 20, 2018, 2:03 pm
  #4  
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: South Park, CO
Programs: Tegridy Elite
Posts: 5,678
I've noted before, an adult human is about 60% water (kids and babies even more)...not sure how that compares to the liquid ratio of a cream pie filling, but don't let TSA know or they'll ban all human beings as being a security risk!
GUWonder and Spiff like this.
84fiero is offline  
Old Dec 20, 2018, 6:29 pm
  #5  
Suspended
 
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Watchlisted by the prejudiced, en route to purgatory
Programs: Just Say No to Fleecing and Blacklisting
Posts: 102,095
Originally Posted by CMK10
My sister in law baked me a banana cream pie. It's your standard type of pie: graham cracker crust, bananas and cream. I had eaten one slice then packed up the rest to take home to RDU. Unfortunately, DCA TSA determined this cream was "too much of a liquid". I said this was ridiculous and that pie was a food and the agent said in a baffling argument "so is water". I said by his argument I couldn't take a meatball sub through security and he said that was true as marinara was a liquid too.

So I had to throw out 7/8s of a pie. Utterly ridiculous.
DCA’s TSA are the only characters whom I have ever seen seize travel size Tide liquid laundry detergent pouches that fit into the 3-1-1 Kippie bag rule bags.

DCA TSA: so close to management HQ and yet so far from being closely managed.
GUWonder is offline  
Old Dec 20, 2018, 7:39 pm
  #6  
 
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: NT Australia
Programs: QF WP
Posts: 4,159
If it makes you feel better I had a bar of soap taken off me at Heathrow because “when it melts it will be a liquid”.

i did point out that this was true of every substance on earth but to no avail
Spiff and 84fiero like this.
nancypants is offline  
Old Dec 20, 2018, 8:18 pm
  #7  
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: on the path to perdition
Programs: Delta, United
Posts: 4,782
I would have stepped out of line, emptied out my Kippie bag and put the largest slice possible in there. Then ate a slice or two. For giggles, file a claim for a replacement pie.
Spiff and 84fiero like this.
FlyingUnderTheRadar is offline  
Old Dec 21, 2018, 6:58 pm
  #8  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Programs: AA Gold AAdvantage Elite, Rapids Reward
Posts: 38,310
You can file a complaint to TSA on Facebook. Go to AskTSA and talk to them. Leave your PM to TSA.

Here's a link: https://www.facebook.com/AskTSA/
N830MH is offline  
Old Dec 22, 2018, 5:51 am
  #9  
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Baltimore, MD USA
Programs: Southwest Rapid Rewards. Tha... that's about it.
Posts: 4,331
Originally Posted by CMK10
My sister in law baked me a banana cream pie. It's your standard type of pie: graham cracker crust, bananas and cream. I had eaten one slice then packed up the rest to take home to RDU. Unfortunately, DCA TSA determined this cream was "too much of a liquid". I said this was ridiculous and that pie was a food and the agent said in a baffling argument "so is water". I said by his argument I couldn't take a meatball sub through security and he said that was true as marinara was a liquid too.

So I had to throw out 7/8s of a pie. Utterly ridiculous.
As stupid as this is, it's at least consistent with previous TSA stupidities, such as prohibiting peanut butter and Nutella, and cupcakes in jars, because they are "gel-like" and can conform to the container.

I hate it, but let's be honest, a banana cream pie is certainly gel-like and the cream definitely conforms to the container (the crust).

What we need to do is figure out some strategy for ending the ridiculous war on LGAs. TSA's fondness for fancy electronic gizmos may actually work in our favor if they ever get those liquid screening machines they were drooling over a few years back, so they can loosen the restrictions on liquid quantities and simply start screening the darn things for explosives.

Of course, I won't be holding my breath on that one. Or on any other potentially sense-making moves by TSA.
nancypants likes this.
WillCAD is offline  
Old Dec 22, 2018, 10:37 pm
  #10  
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: where the chile is hot
Programs: AA,RR,NW,Delta ,UA,CO
Posts: 41,629
Originally Posted by WillCAD
As stupid as this is, it's at least consistent with previous TSA stupidities, such as prohibiting peanut butter and Nutella, and cupcakes in jars, because they are "gel-like" and can conform to the container.

I hate it, but let's be honest, a banana cream pie is certainly gel-like and the cream definitely conforms to the container (the crust).

What we need to do is figure out some strategy for ending the ridiculous war on LGAs. TSA's fondness for fancy electronic gizmos may actually work in our favor if they ever get those liquid screening machines they were drooling over a few years back, so they can loosen the restrictions on liquid quantities and simply start screening the darn things for explosives.

Of course, I won't be holding my breath on that one. Or on any other potentially sense-making moves by TSA.
Except to the best of my knowledge, some TSOs regularly and knowingly allow pumpkin pies to pass at Thanksgiving.
chollie is offline  
Old Dec 23, 2018, 12:21 pm
  #11  
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: South Park, CO
Programs: Tegridy Elite
Posts: 5,678
Originally Posted by WillCAD
What we need to do is figure out some strategy for ending the ridiculous war on LGAs.
Come on now, that's just pie-in-the-sky thinking!

But seriously I fully agree with you. Long past time for doing so.
Spiff likes this.
84fiero is offline  
Old Dec 24, 2018, 2:26 pm
  #12  
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Happily living in Frenaros Cyprus having escaped the near-death experience called Sofia Bulgaria
Programs: Etihad Guest Gold, DL FO and 1MM, and a bunch of others at a low level
Posts: 2,052
You missed a perfect opportunity to throw a pie into the face of a TSA agent. The applause would have been spectacular.
STBCypriot is offline  
Old Dec 25, 2018, 7:56 am
  #13  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: DFW
Posts: 28,079
Originally Posted by STBCypriot
You missed a perfect opportunity to throw a pie into the face of a TSA agent. The applause would have been spectacular.
I understand how satisfying delivering the pie to the screener as you state but would it be worth the assault charge and trip to jail?
Boggie Dog is offline  
Old Dec 26, 2018, 3:23 am
  #14  
 
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Seat 1A
Programs: Non-status paid F/J (best value for $$$)
Posts: 4,123
I would have just simply ate as much of the pie as I could before throwing it out.
lowmiles likes this.
daniellam is offline  
Old Dec 26, 2018, 7:23 am
  #15  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: An NPR mind living in a Fox News world
Posts: 14,160
Originally Posted by STBCypriot
You missed a perfect opportunity to throw a pie into the face of a TSA agent. The applause would have been spectacular.
Originally Posted by daniellam
I would have just simply ate as much of the pie as I could before throwing it out.
This would have been a fitting ending:

84fiero and WillCAD like this.
FliesWay2Much is offline  

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

This site is owned, operated, and maintained by MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Designated trademarks are the property of their respective owners.