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TSA Adjusting Prohibitions/Designated "Ask Bart" Thread

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Old Sep 29, 2006 | 3:52 am
  #721  
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Originally Posted by Bart
Does this help?
This helps. It's what I thought the rules meant, but your version is much clearer and more direct.

I can work within these rules.

Thanks again for all your efforts, Bart. ^ ^
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Old Sep 29, 2006 | 10:54 am
  #722  
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Originally Posted by Bart
Here's how to look at it: in general, all liquids, aerosols and gels are prohibited. However, liquids, aerosols and gels in quantities of 3 oz or less are permitted if they are packaged inside a one quart resealable clear plastic bag in limits of one per passenger. There are three exceptions to the general 3 oz restriction:

1. Baby milk, baby formula or baby food (provided the baby is travelling).

2. Essential medications including prescription, non-prescription medicine and saline solution such as eye drops (your nose drops would fall in this category).

3. Liquids, gels and aerosols necessary for essential reasons. The example given pertain to diabetics but this is not limited to diabetics; it can include any legitimate medical reason.

The three exceptions I mentioned have to be declared at a designated point in front of the checkpoint. A TSO will record the declarations on the reverse side of the boarding pass.

Whether 3 oz items in a quart size bag or one of the declared liquids, gels and aerosols mentioned above, these items must be removed from the carry-on bag and x-rayed separately.

Does this help?
yes it does and thank you ^. now in line with that, if i can ask another question...yesterday, goalie-sis was msy-dca and had her 4oz bottle of saline ("not in the baggie" but in her briefcase) confiscated-even after declaring it. using your explanation, she should have been allowed to bring it with her in her briefcase am i right.

now on a related aside-she asked a supervisor after passing thru as to why and before she was given an explanation, she was asked for i/d so what does she pull both her dhs and retired military i/d's which really thru the supv for a loop as the supv asked she was a "plant". goalie-sis said no (she isn't) and just wanted a consistent answer-the one she got was "it's policy but if you want, i can make an exception for you and retreive the item for you" goalie-sis almost blew a gasket as a) you can't make exceptions-security is there for a reason but it needs to be done right and b)-"assuming you did make the exception, do think i would aactually use the saline after it had been sitting in a trash barrell"
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Old Oct 1, 2006 | 2:33 pm
  #723  
 
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I've got an 8 oz bottle of sunscreen. Can I pour it into a 3 oz unmarked bottle (actually two bottles one for my son and one for me).

Will they confiscate unmarked clear plastic bottles with 3 oz??

Thanks.

keith
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Old Oct 1, 2006 | 4:36 pm
  #724  
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Originally Posted by massiek
I've got an 8 oz bottle of sunscreen. Can I pour it into a 3 oz unmarked bottle (actually two bottles one for my son and one for me).

Will they confiscate unmarked clear plastic bottles with 3 oz??

Thanks.

keith
From others' experiences ... a definite maybe on that.
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Old Oct 1, 2006 | 6:57 pm
  #725  
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Unhappy my little botttles are all mismarked

Almost all of my little travel size 3 oz. bottles do not contain what the label says. I reuse them and fill them with other things. I may have shampoo in a hand lotion bottle, or facial toner in a shampoo bottle. Some of them have been used so much the writing has worn off-they are essentially unmarked. Almost none show the ounces.

Is TSA going to open and sniff to see if the ingredients match the label? If not, will my little bottles be taken away? What if the ounces aren't marked? Will screeners just eyeball size and let them through if the "look" to be about 3 ouces?
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Old Oct 1, 2006 | 7:35 pm
  #726  
 
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Based on what I have just read...better for your stuff to be in the original manufacturer's packaging...even if what is inside is not actually what came in the original bottle
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Old Oct 1, 2006 | 7:54 pm
  #727  
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Originally Posted by DADISGARYK
Based on what I have just read...better for your stuff to be in the original manufacturer's packaging...even if what is inside is not actually what came in the original bottle
Indeed, this was my experience. However, I'm going to try it again (bringing the same tiny containers in my Ziploc, which, btw, cleared SAT no problem, thanks to Bart!) this coming Wednesday, same airport, same time, same day of week. I'll be bringing a printout from TSA.gov plus Bart's recommendations from earlier in this thread. Let's see what happens this time. Because frankly, they don't make manufacturer-labeled bottles that are small enough that all my toiletries would EVER fit into that baggie. I just can't help it- I'm a high-maintenance girl!

GG
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Old Oct 2, 2006 | 6:49 am
  #728  
 
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Originally Posted by Bart
That supervisor needs to learn the SOP. There is nothing that says a container needs to have the manufacturer's label. The only situation I can see prohibiting an unlabelled container is when it alarms the ETD with a "strong hit" for explosives. It that case, it only makes sense to prohibit it. In all other cases, it does not.
I'm trying to find somewhere on the TSA web pages that says explicitly that liquids CAN be in unmarked containers. Is there such a place? Thanks.
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Old Oct 2, 2006 | 7:00 am
  #729  
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Last edited by Bart; Jan 6, 2008 at 9:28 pm
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Old Oct 2, 2006 | 7:10 am
  #730  
 
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That is a great analogy, Bart.

Cheers,

"Crystalysis1"
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Old Oct 2, 2006 | 7:18 am
  #731  
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Originally Posted by susiesan
Almost all of my little travel size 3 oz. bottles do not contain what the label says. I reuse them and fill them with other things. I may have shampoo in a hand lotion bottle, or facial toner in a shampoo bottle. Some of them have been used so much the writing has worn off-they are essentially unmarked. Almost none show the ounces.
Just make sure none of the reused bottles are labeled liquid explosives, or such.
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Old Oct 2, 2006 | 8:19 am
  #732  
 
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Went on a late night hunt for 3 oz plastic containers at wally world last night but all I could find is 4 oz plastic containers. I thought I'll try them and just fill them half way and thought all would be OK for my trip today. I was contemplating on taking off the label but I didn't.....Well stopped at the "liquid checkpoint" and showed my plastic bag with liquid containers. She looked over them and said I couldn't bring them through....I said well they are only half full (=2oz) but no change in her mind since the bottle said 4 oz. Luckily its only one night I'm going to be gone but I guess I'm going to have to try harder in finding 3oz bottles.
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Old Oct 2, 2006 | 8:25 am
  #733  
 
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I got some Sprayco "travel twins" 3 oz bottles at K-Mart (who had a whole section with travel-sized toothpaste etc.). They don't actually say "3 oz" on them but the label for the pair does. In case it helps, UPC is 4641210186.
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Old Oct 5, 2006 | 1:17 am
  #734  
 
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I love the Transportation Stupidity Administration.

Today, flying SJC-SEA, I printed out their list of approved and prohibited items. When they saw my 4 oz bottle of saline solution, they said I cannot fly with it. I argued with them, and pulled out their list I printed from their web site.

The lady stated, "We don't follow that list, we have our own." I asked for her name and badge number, and for her supervisor.

Supervisor comes over and apologizes, and lets me through with my contact lens solution. After screening, I ask what the issue is with the saline solution, which is expressly allowed.

He states that they only allow saline solution if it is medically required. I state that without my contact lenses, I cannot see. He kinda, sorta agrees, without expressly stating so.

Thank you Uncle Sam for making flying more difficult than doing one's taxes.
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Old Oct 5, 2006 | 1:28 am
  #735  
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Bart, are we talking about 3 ozs of weight or 3 liquid ozs (which is a size measurement)?

Also, will TSA screeners know what this translates into if I bring foreign containers with the sizes marked in grams or mls?
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