Tiny toothpaste and security
 

I just went thru security for an ultimately delayed flight to DFW (3760 if you were wondering). I haven't traveled since last month (went to RIO) and haven't opened my computer bag since then. For that trip I took a travel toothbrush and the small travel paste. These both made it thru several security check points last month. So it was with surprise that my bag today was pulled out because of containing some lotion. Turns out they caught my 1 oz of toothpaste that I forgot I had. When the guard pulled it out I explained truthfully that I forgot it was in there. He asked if I had a ziploc and I just told him to keep it. He wouldn't give it back unless I had a ziploc and he explained that we all get one and this was how they control things. I said keep it again but the nice lady beside me gave me a baggy into which I popped in my toothpaste and asked if it needed to be rescreened. They didn't say yes so I thanked the lady for her baggy, took my toothpaste out, gave her back the baggy and put the item back in my bag and walked away. Easy peasy. I admit I might have been slightly in the wrong but if my stuff didn't need to be rescreened, how much of a threat was it in the first place? Sorry this was so long, it just struck me as funny...and since my HOU-DFW is late anyway I had time to kill. Anyone else have similar experiences with potential contraband?

I had a similar problem going to LGA from MIA.

I went to Orlando for the weekend (driving) and had packed my regular sized toothpaste. I forgot it was there.

I flew MIA-LGA several weeks later - no problem. I cleared security in LGA for my return trip to MIA - no problem. When my MIA flight was delayed 2+ hrs I decided to go to food court for a bite to eat. When I went through security (Now the 3rd time), the TSA spotted it gave me a lecture about. I said I forgot it and told them to keep it.

Funny thing is that it cleared twice, one of the times the same LGA checkpoint.

Goes to show just how useful they are.

Zero.

I've had the same two (hotel size) botles of lotion in my bag for more than a year and never had a problem. My bag is hand searched (filled with electronics) about 50% of the time and even when they see the botles nothing has been said.

Interestingly, FlyerTalk provides a Travel Safety/Security forum where threads like this can/should be posted.

Well, I hate to, er, brush this off, but off to TS/S this thread will go for some more scrubbing and polishing in the appropriate forum.

JDiver, American AAdvantage Forum Moderator

The first thing to understand is that the TSA has absolutely no authority to take your property. You should have contacted a supervisor immediately.

It clearly does not make sense to require the bag if you only have one item of liquid of less than 100 ml.

SmilingBoy.

The only two liquids I carry these days, travel toothpaste and eye drops, go in my pants pockets.

I'm suppose my guilty visage will get me SPOTted soon.

If there's any reality to the Critical Diameter®™ concept, the kippey bag constrains the size of the container.

You are right, but just imagine a cylinder 1 mm high and 35 cm diameter.

SmilingBoy.

Actually its a significant threat. The whole TSA organization is based on the
assumption that toothpaste, lotions, baby formula, bottled water,
deodorants and even nail clippers are dangerous. If these things
were deemed safe, TSA's existence is at risk. Thousands of jobs are at
risk. Because of this, the convenience and common sense are banned from
TSA screening stations. I hope you understand and cooperate :rolleyes: :mad:

and yeah.. it has nothing to do with the aviation security...

The ziplock bag has magical properties - that's why the screeners require even one item to be in the bag. Once placed in the bag and run through the x-ray machine, the dangerous and volatile explosive chemicals they think are there in place of your tartar control Crest will be magically rendered inert.

The TSA's own scientists developed this theory on the heels of their claim that rogue, poorly educated terrorists can turn an aircraft lavatory into a multi-million dollar controlled environment for chemical processing and handling.

If you think of it, it is a multi-million dollar environment.... based on the
aircraft type.

True, but they can deny you entry airside.
The response from them would be "Do you want to fly today?"
Had it happen...... A supervisor would do nothing for you...