My interpretation of this TSA page quote

Is that you can bring a 4 oz bottle of contact solution.

The screener by the name of Haidee at SJC Terminal A disagreed with me and insisted I throw it out.

I read that right, right?

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As usual, the TSA "public servants" don't understand their own guidelines. You are correct. It's happened to me several times, but I've managed to keep my contact lens solution.

They have yet to even notice my 4oz bottle of solution, but I also have not flown since the "declare it" rules took effect the other day.

I'd buy a replacement bottle and file a claim with the TSA for the cost. I doubt you'll ever see a dime, but at least it's worthwhile to let them know that some front-line screeners are not following policies properly and have confiscated allowed items.

To take it a step further, I would argue that it is not limited to 4 oz either.

From here: http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtrav...rial_1059.shtm

You may bring all prescription and over-the-counter medications (liquids, gels, and aerosols) including KY jelly, eye drops, and saline solution for medical purposes.

Additonal items you may bring include:

- Liquids including water, juice, or liquid nutrition or gels for passengers with a disability or medical condition;
- Life-support and life-sustaining liquids such as bone marrow, blood products, and transplant organs;
- Items used to augment the body for medical or cosmetic reasons such as mastectomy products, prosthetic breasts, bras or shells containing gels, saline solution, or other liquids; and,
- Gels or frozen liquids needed to cool disability or medically related items used by persons with disabilities or medical conditions.

You are not limited in the amount or volume of these items you may bring in your carry-on baggage. BUT if the medically necessary items exceed 3 ounces or are not contained in a one-quart, zip-top plastic bag, you MUST declare to one of our Security Officers at the checkpoint for further inspection.

We normally X-ray medication and related supplies. However, as a customer service, you may ask that Security Officers visually inspect your medication and associated supplies.

You must ask for visual inspection before the screening process begins; otherwise your medications and supplies will be X-rayed.

If you would like to take advantage of this option, please have your medication and associated supplies separated from your other property in a separate pouch/bag when you approach the Security Officer at the walk-through metal detector.

Ask the Security Officer to visually inspect your medication and hand your medication pouch/bag to him or her.

To prevent your medication, associated supplies or fragile medical materials for contamination or damage, we will ask you to display, handle, and repack your own medication and associated supplies during visual inspection.

Any medication and/or associated supplies that we can�t clear visually will be X-rayed. If you refuse, you will not be permitted to carry your medications and related supplies into the sterile area.

So after the incident I asked for a complaint form, and a TSA rep gave me the biz card for the Customer Support Manager for San Jose and Monterey airports. I emailed her with my story, and a few hours later got a response saying that I was right.

Woohoo. I wrote back saying that it was pretty silly to have the flyers saying what's allowed, and what's not, 10 feet past the liquid-screening station, next to the xray station.

She also sent me a stack of pdf forms to fill out. I'm not sure if this is worth my time to claim $5 (6? 7?) especially since it is suggested that I find a receipt for this item.

Pretty responsive!

Claim it by explaining that the receipt you enclose is for the un-necessary replacement they forced you to go out and buy.

^ ^ to the leadership for admitting that you were right.

to the piss-poor leadership for not properly educating their screeners on the rules.

It's a sad day when frequent flyers know the rules inside and out yet the enforcers of the rules don't. Professionals? Hardly.

If it were me I might skip the reimbursement request - the victory (for me, at least) is in the acknowledgement that you were correct all along.

IME, she (I can't recall her name off the top of my head--the SJC/MRY FSD) is a decent person and knows her stuff. I sent her compliments a couple of times about the MRY screeners for their professionalism (to make sure the compliments actually made a difference, to wit, reinforcing "good behavior" and following the SOPs, which sending the compliment to the TSA itself would certainly NOT do)

I have had the same experience in DFW. The screening station didn't have any complaint forms so after looking for them for about 5 minutes the supervisor gave me that CSM contact information. I had a follow-up telephone call within a few days. I was impressed!

FYI... the OP's TSA link is now dead.

My TSA link is still active. We'll see what happens with my 8oz, half-full bottle of contact lens solution tomorrow.

It's gotten more vague.

http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtrav...ted-items.shtm

I love how that URL reads

what does it mean? Can I bring a full 12 oz bottle onboard now as long as I "declare" it?

Allow me to help confuse you even more ...

I believe that non-Rx eyedrops are allowed in whopping 4 ounce containers! Grandfathered in prior to The Baggie Act. Thus, containers of 3.1 - 4.0 oz cannot be summarily jettisoned by "officers" as "TOO BIG!" (much as some might itch to do so).

Although they might claim now that those 4 oz containers "should have been declared" and might confiscate them if not declared. In a sick way, this makes a little bit of sense, because what terrorist is going to declare his or her liquids? I still disagree with it, though, for several reasons.