Liquid packing a farce ? Others' experiences ?
 

(Not sure if this belongs on this Board, but perhaps moderators will move it if it should be posted elsewhere).

Does anyone share my frustration at the seemingly-random and diminishing attention being paid to the supposedly-vital necessity of packing one's liquid toiletries in the small plastic bag that is to be removed from one's carry-on, examined for adherence to "the rules" and then scanned separately ?

I think we would all agree this is a hassle, especially in terms of carrying one's favorite brands in hand luggage - and as I never check bags, the alternative doesn't exist. I was resigned to do this if indeed there was a security imperative. BUT, on my last eleven legs involving four countries (Canada, USA, UK and France) NOT ONCE has my baggie been looked at - in fact I had it zipped into my toiletry case where it sat content).

The legs where this examination happened (or more accurately, didn't happen) were YYZ-BOS (twice, as a canceled flight meant I passed through security 2X on one occasion), BOS-YYZ, DTW-LAS, LAS-DTW, YYZ-PVD, PVD-YYZ, BUF-JFK, JFK-BUF, YYZ-GTW, CDG-YYZ - NOT ONCE was my baggie looked for, asked for or examined - on one leg I recall that an agent asked "are your liquids separately packed ?" or words to that effect, but then took my word for the answer !

Was the requirement foolish to begin with ? (I happened to be flying YYZ-ORD-LAX-LAS-LAX-HNL-ORD-YYZ the day it was imposed and the three days after and it was TIGHTly enforced !)

If now it is no longer necessary, why not say so ? If it is, why not enforce it ? Or am I missing something ? Are my experiences common to other travellers on this Board ?

Yes, beyond foolish - criminally stupid.

Because the pathetic little know-nothings in the UK and US government are sniveling cowards who will never admit their mistakes. They should be severely and publicly humiliated when their junk science harassment is proven wrong.

Are they still following this rule? My last 3-4 flights this year I have kept liquids/gels in the separate plastic bag. However, I never take the bag out, and just leave it in with the rest of my shaving kit. Nothing happens.

i didn't realize until after i read this post that i had forgotten to remove my freedom baggie from the front pocket of my rollaboard this morning at LGA.

oops!

usually, i comply, but sometimes i forget. i was challenged once at DCA when i forgot, but usually no one notices.

It all depends on the TSO at the xray. Most can tell by the image that the bottles are small, and when they are clumped together most can tell that they are in a baggie, or at least an acceptable amount. They won't waste their time calling a bag check.

Cee is correct. :)

I would caution flyers to think twice about bending the rule regarding sizes, however ... generally, if something is noticeably over about 4 ounces, we will spring into action! ;)

Very recently, after breezing through the TSA checkpoint, I discovered that I had a full 20 oz. pepsi bottle in my carry-on. (I did not do this intentionally!)

DRZ,

That's kinda scary!

let's hope the TSO running the X-ray was subversive, not merely incompetent ... :mad:

Of course, you are still assuming that there is a credible threat to security caused by 20 ounces of a liquid in a plastic bottle.:rolleyes:

20 oz of gasoline or some other propellant could bring down an airplane, I should think, if placed in the right place, or at least start one heck of a scary fire in the cabin ?

Unlikely and gasoline is detectable by ETD.

Or he's a assuming that if said screener can't discern a 20oz pepsi bottle, he can't find much else in an X-Ray image...

Someone could be the finest x-ray operator on the planet and some explosives will still elude that person because the x-ray doesn't detect explosives. It's the wrong tool for the job.

Not to mention that the odds of the finest x-ray operator being found in the TSA's ranks are right up there with Comrade Chertoff joining the Libertarian Party.

Sure, some could, I won't argue that our X-Rays are poorly suited to the job -- however, someone who can't recognize a 20oz coke bottle is probably much more likely to miss a real threat.

That and gasoline as well as many other accelerants will eat through a pop bottle. In fact a large number of consumer plastics wont hold up to petroleum distillates.