par

I used search but couldn't find the answer.

How does these ziplock bags improve security?

I came off a LH flight from kazakhstan yesterday in frankfurt. As i passed the checkpoint for the UA flight from FRA to SFO i was informed that any liquids had to be placed in a ziplock bag (i've been travelling in eurasia for the past three weeks).

I only had the amenity kit from LH which is a small lotion, a small lip balm and a small toothpaste (basically one time use only). I had it in my carry-on and it was the stuff from the previous flight. the staff at the checkpoint told me that the US requires that these three items are placed in a ziplock bag.

here is my question. How does this improve security? i mean, why not just require the items to be taken out and placed in the bin, why require a ziplock bag? Are they trying to limit quantity by requiring a ziplock bag or is there something else going on? It seems like restricting quantity can be done easier by just stating an absolute maximimum quantity.

Is the ziplock bag idea based on sound science or just someones silly idea?

It sort of reminds me of when the government informed the citizens that it would be good to fill up the bathtubs with water prior to the millenium change or when they told us that we should store duct tape at home in case we where attacked and needed to hermetically seal our homes...

Global_Hi_Flyer

It is all about administrative convenience and form over substance.

fly no more

Good question OP. Let us know when you find a valid answer. I don't think any of us can right now, except that maybe writing words on the ziplock bag may get you detained...

cpx

It has nothing to do with the security.. but they think making
passengers go through ridiculous procedure.. would make it look like
they are doing a good job

Points Scrounger

The "ziplocking" part would be a sort of "seal" so that nothing "extra" is added. The clearness of the bag is so that they can "determine" the size of conatainers without actually handling the goods directly. The reason for the 3 oz is so that folks who need several different products (toothpaste, mascara, shampoo, conditioner, gel, etc.) can have at least a couple of days' availability when their checked bags go missing. At least that's the best I can come up with. REMINDER - that's my "take" of it and absolutely, positively NOT an endorsement of this rediculousness!

I'm still waiting for a explanation of how the X Ray can "determine some things" about these substances enough to make us any "safer"? Could explosives "look" that different? I'm really, really having a tough time believing that!

The quart size is because the next standard size is a gallon.

Xyzzy

The reason for the bag is that they can then regulate and allow small quantities of newly-proscribed materials through the checkpoint. It all has to fit within one small plastic bag. Screeners don't have to use any amount of judgement at all to determine whether stuff fits. Some places seem to have been reasonable, like allowing in one or two items with no plastic bag. Others demand you have a bag and confiscate your stuff (even a single item) if you don't have one.

Just think of this as yet another scene in the ever-increasing Kabuki Security Theatre.

alanR

But won't that stop the explosive sniffers from detecting explosives put in the bag?

whirledtraveler

There's a hole in security!

par

err... I love the ironi of seeing the words "seal" and "hole" used to contradict each other.

goaliemn

Someone, somewhere must have determined that if you have more than 1qt of explosive liquid, you could take out a plane. Therefore, if it all fits in a 1qt bag, its not enough to take it down. Its alot easier/quicker to see stuff in a qt bag, rather than having to add up the size of each bottle to see if its a quart.

That's the only logical thing I could come up with.

Points Scrounger

That is the explanation one of our TSA regulars has put forth, yes.

A cellful of Jihadists, each with a few fake-toiletries bottle-ettes makes more than a quart of nastiness, no?

Business as usual

Personally, I think there's something about ziplock baggies that they're not telling us, and it makes me very suspicious.

Just what are they made of? How much explosive force can they contain? Does this explain why they don't ever degrade in landfills? How can I be assured that their massive power to overcome destructive force won't be turned against me?

Are these things safe to have in my kitchen?

Inquiring minds want to know!

ZeppoX

For the sake of discussion, let's assume the liquids limitations make sense. In that case, the baggie helps move things along in the security line.

nrr

In the last several days, I passed through security in lga and las--both of these had a supply of zip(top)-lock bags to provide a pax who had none.
I placed a zip bag with toothpaste (1 oz) and triple anti-biotic ointment (also 1 oz) in the scanning bin, I doubt that this was detectible by the scanner and so was not really seen. [From my reading of the tsa rules, these (non-liquid items) did not have to be placed in a zip bag and could have been carried in my carry-on--but I wanted to play it safe.]
Even if one placed items which required a zip bag in ones luggage, this only becomes an issue if the do a secondary inspection of carry-ons.

swag

Carry on bags do not go thru explosive detection.