Have you ever unknowingly passed a prohibited item through security?
Feb 25, 2021, 2:58 pm
#16
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My step-father, back in the early 80's, brought a gun through security in BOS enroute to BDA. Ended up throwing it, and the ammunition, in the Atlantic after discovering it at the hotel.
In the early 90's, as a young ATC, FAA security had a few of us attempt to go through CLT screening with suitcases which contained either fake guns, bombs, etc to test the airports security.
All of us passed through without a problem. My suitcases contained a fake bomb and a hand-grenade. Just chatted up the screener telling her how excited I was for my first Intl trip.
In the early 90's, as a young ATC, FAA security had a few of us attempt to go through CLT screening with suitcases which contained either fake guns, bombs, etc to test the airports security.
All of us passed through without a problem. My suitcases contained a fake bomb and a hand-grenade. Just chatted up the screener telling her how excited I was for my first Intl trip.
Feb 26, 2021, 9:49 am
#17
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: DFW
Posts: 522
It's all fun and games until the TSA DOES notice it and then there will be a thread about how mean they are and your friend got charged for something that was repeatedly missed, bla, bla, bla.
The bottom line is she's playing with fire. Don't come crying here when she gets burnt.
The bottom line is she's playing with fire. Don't come crying here when she gets burnt.
Feb 27, 2021, 4:40 pm
#19
Moderator, Air Canada; FlyerTalk Evangelist
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Before I started flying frequently, I always carried a mini Swiss Army knife on my keychain. Far less dangerous than the knife, and even the fork, the airline gives me to eat my meal with, but prohibited.
I used to be pretty good about taking it off the keychain and leaving it at home, but as my travel frequency ramped up, I did forget it a couple of times. A few times I made it through, but I also had it found and taken away a couple times.
But I've probably been through security at least half a dozen times with one of those things.
I used to be pretty good about taking it off the keychain and leaving it at home, but as my travel frequency ramped up, I did forget it a couple of times. A few times I made it through, but I also had it found and taken away a couple times.
But I've probably been through security at least half a dozen times with one of those things.
Feb 28, 2021, 10:05 am
#20
Join Date: May 2015
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Some 7 years ago I made it thru with 5 20oz water bottles in a 6pk at MIA in the non-Pre√ line. I drove down from Orlando the day before and bought water at a gas station, I stuffed them in my backpack once I got to my hotel in Miami and forgot about them. At the gate I was shuffling some items in my bag and chuckled when I realized what had happened. TSO was barely looking at the X-Ray monitor so this is how it went unrealized. Add in the crowd who cannot seem to follow any instructions or do any research on airport formalities. When you have such a jumbled group of people, savvier travelers like me go unnoticed.
Last edited by TWA884; Feb 28, 2021 at 5:43 pm Reason: FT Rule 12.2
Feb 28, 2021, 5:02 pm
#21
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Yes
Back in the daze of the TSA’s ban on lighters, I found a BIC lighter when emptying my jacket pockets at my hotel room.
I can’t tell you how many times I flew with that lighter during the ban and on my return trip, I decided to test the waters after that day by leaving the lighter back in my jacket pocket throughout the ban on lighters.
Score: goalie 1-TSA zero as it was never found hiding in plane sight
Back in the daze of the TSA’s ban on lighters, I found a BIC lighter when emptying my jacket pockets at my hotel room.
I can’t tell you how many times I flew with that lighter during the ban and on my return trip, I decided to test the waters after that day by leaving the lighter back in my jacket pocket throughout the ban on lighters.
Score: goalie 1-TSA zero as it was never found hiding in plane sight
Feb 28, 2021, 9:44 pm
#22
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: KSUX
Posts: 906
I had a fairly decent sized Swiss Army knife that made one if not two round trips before finding it in the bottom of my bag. Glad they didn't find it because I'd had that knife for over 10 years at that point and still have it 10 years later.
Mar 1, 2021, 11:56 am
#23
Moderator: Travel Safety/Security, Travel Tools, California, Los Angeles; FlyerTalk Evangelist
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Moderator's Note - Topic Drift
That thread is about members' personal experiences of passing through TSA airport security checkpoints with prohibited items; it is not about TSA screening failures in general.
We have plenty of of other threads discussing TSA screening failures.
Posts have been deleted.
TWA884
Travel Safety/Security co-moderator
We have plenty of of other threads discussing TSA screening failures.
Posts have been deleted.
TWA884
Travel Safety/Security co-moderator
Mar 5, 2021, 6:42 pm
#24
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About 30 years ago we flew from LAX-SFO-BKK. The flight was arriving from LAX (SFO UA domestic) at the same time that our flight to BKK (SFO UA international) was departing. (It was a major UA mess-up. The pilot (LAX-SFO) was so upset that he told us to stand by the door while we were still taxiing so that we would be the first off.) We got off and began to run, full speed, to our next flight. When we got to the international terminal my wife ran right past the security checkpoint. No scan, no stop. One of the screeners chased her to the gate, holding a wand (what they used to scan at that time), scanned her at the gate, and went back to the checkpoint.
Mar 8, 2021, 3:06 pm
#25
Join Date: Nov 2007
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About 30 years ago we flew from LAX-SFO-BKK. The flight was arriving from LAX (SFO UA domestic) at the same time that our flight to BKK (SFO UA international) was departing. (It was a major UA mess-up. The pilot (LAX-SFO) was so upset that he told us to stand by the door while we were still taxiing so that we would be the first off.) We got off and began to run, full speed, to our next flight. When we got to the international terminal my wife ran right past the security checkpoint. No scan, no stop. One of the screeners chased her to the gate, holding a wand (what they used to scan at that time), scanned her at the gate, and went back to the checkpoint.
Mar 10, 2021, 12:09 pm
#26
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I've taken tools through one airport (EWR) on one part of my trip that I was then told were abs
lutely forbidden on my next segment (BOS). It took about 5 minutes of carefully measuring for them to make that determination. (Adjustable vicegrips were most confusing because by screwing it to one position it was smaller than their magic "safe" size) ... That resulted in my decision to put the tools into my bag and check them, which made TSA rather unhappy as I was not going to surrender them. They grudgingly escorted me out and then rolled their eyes 3min later when I showed up again, having checked my bag.
So, were my items prohibited? I guess that depends on at which airport one asks.
lutely forbidden on my next segment (BOS). It took about 5 minutes of carefully measuring for them to make that determination. (Adjustable vicegrips were most confusing because by screwing it to one position it was smaller than their magic "safe" size) ... That resulted in my decision to put the tools into my bag and check them, which made TSA rather unhappy as I was not going to surrender them. They grudgingly escorted me out and then rolled their eyes 3min later when I showed up again, having checked my bag.So, were my items prohibited? I guess that depends on at which airport one asks.
Mar 12, 2021, 1:29 am
#27
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From a casino promo I was gifted a Swiss knife, < 1 inch long, the blade was about 0.5 inches. I made numerous trips through TSA without issue. Departing Zurich, the knife was confiscated.
Mar 12, 2021, 1:54 am
#28
Join Date: Feb 2001
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I have coworkers who have accidentally brought loaded handguns through security undetected on three occasions. Twice in SEA, once in SFO.
Mar 12, 2021, 5:58 am
#29
Join Date: Nov 2010
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I hope they've learned their lessons and are more careful with their firearms.
Mar 13, 2021, 12:47 am
#30
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