I always take coins for my destination with me -- you may need them for luggage carts, toilets, vending machines, etc. That's why I always grab a few extra kippie bags at security -- I use them to keep my coins organised by currency, so I just grab the one for whichever country(ies) I am going to when I travel.

I do the same thing the OP has done. It sounds like the TSO was making up their own rules.

The only problem I’ve had was with coins. At the end of the day in my hotel room, I put all my loose change in a pouch in my rollaboard. As stated previously, that looks like a mass of metal in the x-ray if I don’t dump it out on a regular basis when I get home.

Me too. I dump whatever change I have left into my bag and just forget about it. Comes in handy when I need quarters to do laundry. I'm pretty sure I have at least $10 in change in my bag at the moment.

Did they offer any suggestions as to what you were *supposed* to do? Leave it in your pockets and set off the MD? It's totally fine to have all that stuff in there if you pack it in your bag before you leave, so what difference does it make if you put it there at home or just before security?:rolleyes:

No, because they'd probably just yell at me and tell me to move on. It's a lose lose situation asking the TSA ANYTHING

Another Clarification: To further clarify my OP, I had arrived into DTW from KIX, went through passport control, picked up my luggage, handed my immigration card to the security guard, rechecked my baggage for my connecting flight, and then I was re-screened at a TSA checkpoint. So after a 10+ hr flight, I really don't want to deal with crap. I don't think anybody else would either.

... and makes it difficult for TSO's to STEAL $$$$ FROM YOUR WALLET ...

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If a screener were to treat me the way the OP says the screener treated them, then that screener would get a two word invective from me. Not loud, not angry, just a calm FO.

Americans treating Americans very poorly. Only the US government could oversee such outlandish behaviour.

I always put everything metal in my bag before entering TSA or courthouse checkpoints. It's much faster and easier than the alternative, and nobody has ever been stupid enough to complain.

Totally disagree here about DTW. Mean screeners. Even the three-striper gave me the "Do you want to fly today?" just for having the audacity for asking a simple question about her subordinates procedures. :td:

Oh yes, I second that about DTW. Never had a pleasant screening experience there.

The TSA was WAAAAAAY out of line on this one. I would recommend complaining, except I know you'll just get a form letter back with some nonsense that doesn't even acknowledge the problem. Or Blogdad Bob will make up some inane excuse if you post to the TSA blogs. Sigh. :mad:


Some toll booths only take exact change, and EZ Pass doesn't work everywhere. I carry about $4 in quarters with a few dimes and nickels, all in a small bag tucked into a pocket of my laptop bag. I've used them more than once.

The last time I took a bunch of quarters ($100 or so *) through security the screener made a funny comment about them, but completely missed (or did not care about) my collection of things like these (PDF) (mostly the extremely pointy variety). While they're explicitly allowed, I was rather shocked that these fine weapons.. sorry... tools, were allowed through.

*: I was delivering them to Mrs. ralfp; she didn't have time to go to the bank. :)

Same here. If I don't, I'm gonna set off the metal detector and have to empty my pockets anyway. Why shouldn't I put all of my stuff (wallet, watch, keys, change) in my briefcase or book bag rather than leave it all out in the open in one of their stupid trays? The X-ray machine is gonna pick up the stuff anyway. I don't get it. :confused:

I also do that every time - Watch, belt, wallet, coins, pen, keys - Everything goes in my carry-on bag, usually in the security queue.

I used to put my passport and boarding pass in there too, but after it became evident that the security theatre requires my boarding pass to be checked sixteen times between arriving at the airport and sitting in my seat on the aircraft I've stopped doing that.