Narcotics for migraine confiscated by TSA
#31
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: DFW
Posts: 28,110
I presume you didn't have enough time to press the issue without missing your flight, because that's 100% wrong. You could have even pointed TSA to their own article and their own words specifically on nitroglycerin:
https://www.tsa.gov/blog/2014/09/05/...ing-medication
I read 260 pills in a 100 pill bottle... kind of hard to follow the exact details here though.
https://www.tsa.gov/blog/2014/09/05/...ing-medication
I read 260 pills in a 100 pill bottle... kind of hard to follow the exact details here though.
I’m sure it didn’t help that the pharmacy decided to be lazy and just put a label on the 100 capsule bottle, it was even still sealed, they receive from the manufacturer but I’m still stuck.
#33
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: WAS
Programs: enjoyed being warm spit for a few years on CO/UA but now nothing :(
Posts: 2,507
I said quite clearly only that I was afforded an opportunity to make other arrangements for an item that was not permitted past the checkpoint, an opportunity which is often not available and that it was not made available to me because of my job.
I will say that I do believe that had I been at an airport where I do have credentials AND been known to a supervisor then the possibility of being able to retrieve and make alternative arrangements for an item not being allowed through the checkpoints once having completed screening would be somewhat more likely than typical. But I would expect mostly that I would not be able to retrieve the item after inspection - that it would have been "confiscated."
#34
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: where the chile is hot
Programs: AA,RR,NW,Delta ,UA,CO
Posts: 41,668
Schnikes, where did that come from? No, that is absolutely not correct and I clearly said nothing of the sort.
I said quite clearly only that I was afforded an opportunity to make other arrangements for an item that was not permitted past the checkpoint, an opportunity which is often not available and that it was not made available to me because of my job.
I will say that I do believe that had I been at an airport where I do have credentials AND been known to a supervisor then the possibility of being able to retrieve and make alternative arrangements for an item not being allowed through the checkpoints once having completed screening would be somewhat more likely than typical. But I would expect mostly that I would not be able to retrieve the item after inspection - that it would have been "confiscated."
I said quite clearly only that I was afforded an opportunity to make other arrangements for an item that was not permitted past the checkpoint, an opportunity which is often not available and that it was not made available to me because of my job.
I will say that I do believe that had I been at an airport where I do have credentials AND been known to a supervisor then the possibility of being able to retrieve and make alternative arrangements for an item not being allowed through the checkpoints once having completed screening would be somewhat more likely than typical. But I would expect mostly that I would not be able to retrieve the item after inspection - that it would have been "confiscated."
#35
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: DFW
Posts: 28,110
Schnikes, where did that come from? No, that is absolutely not correct and I clearly said nothing of the sort.
I said quite clearly only that I was afforded an opportunity to make other arrangements for an item that was not permitted past the checkpoint, an opportunity which is often not available and that it was not made available to me because of my job.
I will say that I do believe that had I been at an airport where I do have credentials AND been known to a supervisor then the possibility of being able to retrieve and make alternative arrangements for an item not being allowed through the checkpoints once having completed screening would be somewhat more likely than typical. But I would expect mostly that I would not be able to retrieve the item after inspection - that it would have been "confiscated."
I said quite clearly only that I was afforded an opportunity to make other arrangements for an item that was not permitted past the checkpoint, an opportunity which is often not available and that it was not made available to me because of my job.
I will say that I do believe that had I been at an airport where I do have credentials AND been known to a supervisor then the possibility of being able to retrieve and make alternative arrangements for an item not being allowed through the checkpoints once having completed screening would be somewhat more likely than typical. But I would expect mostly that I would not be able to retrieve the item after inspection - that it would have been "confiscated."
#36
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: where the chile is hot
Programs: AA,RR,NW,Delta ,UA,CO
Posts: 41,668
It does appear as though the right 'credentials' do get some folks special treatment at the checkpoint.
#37
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Greensboro
Programs: TSA
Posts: 2,424
This is correct. (Bolding mine)
#38
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: An NPR mind living in a Fox News world
Posts: 14,165
#39
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: DFW
Posts: 28,110
I'd like to think that people posting here are sincere in what they are saying, at least from their perspective. I do question if OP understood who his encounter was with. Unfortunately OP hasn't been back with any follow up or questions so guess we'll about be left wondering what really happened.
#40
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: WAS
Programs: enjoyed being warm spit for a few years on CO/UA but now nothing :(
Posts: 2,507
Interesting, because I believe the "official" TSA line has always been that I always have the option of completing screening and being escorted back landside to dispose of an item I don't want confiscated (with the exception of firearms, of course). I have exercised this option a couple times when I had time, simply because I decided I wanted to make sure my item ended up in the garbage and not on ebay. Some airports even installed mailing stations for people to mail items to themselves rather than have them confiscated. Obviously these mailing stations assumed the pax wouldn't know his/her item wasn't allowed until a screener tried to confiscate it.
My reference to credentials was exactly that they did NOT result in "special" treatment - the special treatment of course, only being what TSA is supposed to do in the first place - give an opportunity to make other arrangements for the item.
It was Ghiradelli chocolate sauce.....
#41
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: where the chile is hot
Programs: AA,RR,NW,Delta ,UA,CO
Posts: 41,668
And that is my point and essentially what I wrote in my first response - TSA does not "take" items (in the sense of a governmental taking/seizing/confiscation) - the passenger chooses to abandon/forfeit/surrender the item to TSA who is supposed to (but is not required to always) offer an opportunity to make other arrangements for the items.
My reference to credentials was exactly that they did NOT result in "special" treatment - the special treatment of course, only being what TSA is supposed to do in the first place - give an opportunity to make other arrangements for the item.
It was Ghiradelli chocolate sauce.....
My reference to credentials was exactly that they did NOT result in "special" treatment - the special treatment of course, only being what TSA is supposed to do in the first place - give an opportunity to make other arrangements for the item.
It was Ghiradelli chocolate sauce.....
... an opportunity which is often not available
I do believe that had I been at an airport where I do have credentials AND been known to a supervisor then the possibility of being able to retrieve and make alternative arrangements for an item not being allowed through the checkpoints once having completed screening would be somewhat more likely than typical
#42
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: DFW
Posts: 28,110
And that is my point and essentially what I wrote in my first response - TSA does not "take" items (in the sense of a governmental taking/seizing/confiscation) - the passenger chooses to abandon/forfeit/surrender the item to TSA who is supposed to (but is not required to always) offer an opportunity to make other arrangements for the items.
My reference to credentials was exactly that they did NOT result in "special" treatment - the special treatment of course, only being what TSA is supposed to do in the first place - give an opportunity to make other arrangements for the item.
It was Ghiradelli chocolate sauce.....
My reference to credentials was exactly that they did NOT result in "special" treatment - the special treatment of course, only being what TSA is supposed to do in the first place - give an opportunity to make other arrangements for the item.
It was Ghiradelli chocolate sauce.....
I think your statement is inconsistent with TSA policy. I believe screeners are always suppose to offer the opportunity to do something with prohibited (None WEI) items.
#43
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: WAS
Programs: enjoyed being warm spit for a few years on CO/UA but now nothing :(
Posts: 2,507
I am not TSA, maybe GSOL can better answer when for operational reasons it is not possible for a passenger to retrieve a prohibited items left at the checkpoint for alternative arrangements after screening is completed. But I do know that somewhere on TSAs website FAQ they state prohibited items might not be returned.
#44
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: where the chile is hot
Programs: AA,RR,NW,Delta ,UA,CO
Posts: 41,668
I am not TSA, maybe GSOL can better answer when for operational reasons it is not possible for a passenger to retrieve a prohibited items left at the checkpoint for alternative arrangements after screening is completed. But I do know that somewhere on TSAs website FAQ they state prohibited items might not be returned.
1) The screener is holding a personal item s/he has just removed from my bag. Screener takes said item, says it can't go, and tosses it directly in the trash can without giving me the option to complete a particularly rigorous screening and be escorted back landside with my item.
2) The screener confiscated something of mine, I complete screening, leave the checkpoint, and want to come back at a later time to get my item - maybe I called someone from the sterile area who has agreed to come pick up the item. That is not allowed.
Last edited by chollie; Feb 15, 2019 at 3:29 pm
#45
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 38,410
I am very surprised that this happened. The SOP for any item which is or is suspected of being contraband is to detain the passenger and the bag for a LEO. Even if OP is a drug-smuggler, the act of tossing the substance deprives law enforcement of the physical evidence it would require to make the case.
As a starting point, have you filed a complaint (online and simple) with TSA. They tend to be highly responsive and the passage of time is not a good thing.
As a starting point, have you filed a complaint (online and simple) with TSA. They tend to be highly responsive and the passage of time is not a good thing.