Ziploc bag limit?
 

PAX are required by law (law? or regulation? anyway...) to place all 'liquid' toiletry items (even if they gels or solid) in a closed bag of a certain size.

I do that. I also carry extra ziploc-type bags in case the bag in use breaks or rips.

Preparing to return from Paris recently through Calgary (don't ask) I used one of these ziploc spare bags to hold cosmetics and makeup I had purchased.

Departing Calgary, I was put through a 'bag search' in a private cubicle (my request). The agent amateurishly pulled everything out of the bag in a jumble including the regulation small bottle/liquid in bag--and when she came to my second ziploc bag holding only lipsticks and powders etc, she said 'You're not supposed to use those bags except for liquid." I never make any response to these agents. She found nothing of interest in my bag, so I began to repack it.

Is this so? Yes, I know, it's required to put all liquids in a ziploc bag.
But--is there also a second unspoken regulation--'don't use ziploc bags for anything else' or 'don't use ziplocs for other purposes'? Surely this cannot be correct.
Observations please.

I very often have a number of Ziplock bags, with various items in them, in both my checked luggage and my hand luggage.

Nobody has ever said a word about it to me.

Sounds like another highly trained TSO making up rules as they go.

I use an extra ziplock to put the change and other small items I have in my pockets then place that into my carry on. Never a question about doing that.

I've never heard of it.
Mrs G has been through LHR many times with other stuff in bags - tidy person.
She went through LHR Sunday with batteries in a ziplock bag in hand luggage.
No probs.
And the staff there are not known for their generosity, flexibility, or diplomacy (as my wife found out on a previous trip!).

Mind you, at LHR, you have to present your "liquids" bag separately from your hand luggage/carry on.
It might be a good tip for the future to approach the bag check with your "liquids" bag clearly visible in one hand, and your carry-on in the other.
It seems to re-assure the bag checkers that you know what you are doing.

At least the bag checker didn't try to confiscate anything :D

If there is anything official, it is likely to be here:
http://www.tsa.gov/311/index.shtm
and if there is, it is well hidden!

the TSA definition of liquid seems to be:
the Euro airport security definition of liquids (which is much more specific!) may have included your lipstick (my highlights):
with reference to the TSA standard, I suspect lipstick is a gel.

Wikipedia on lipstick (my highlights):
That sure sounds like a liquid/gel combo to me !

So it is possible that the bag checker was referring to your lipstick as a "liquid", and then you would have your "liquids" in two bags, rather than just one.

Hope this helps, and I hope, that other than that you had a nice trip to Europe.
I met Mrs G in Paris, so it always holds good memories for me!

p.s. of course, glass is also (technically) a (very viscous) liquid :D

Definitely another case of "make it up as you go along".

Ziploc bags are ordinary household items. There are no restrictions on taking ziploc bags on aircraft. This officer was talking complete nonsense. Just like the one I came across recently who tried to tell me that I wasn't allowed to take a 50 ml container of tap water through security because water is completely banned.

When people talk nonsense like that I now make a point of complaining about them (after the event). And any letters I receive from airport operators confirming that their security staff were talking nonsense live in my travel wallet.

Here's what you should say in those circumstances..

"I understand your job is boring, but I don't appreciate you making things up and I don't think your superiors would either. Now, tell me honestly, <insert name here>, is that really a regulation or would you like to pursue this further?"

CATSA has its "overachievers" just as TSA stateside, unfortunately. Leaving YEG a few months ago, unbeknownst to me my Kippie bag had developed a small split and birthed a 1/2-oz., nearly-empty cosmetic bottle into the depths of my carry-on.

Bag was pulled. Screener did not dump the bag but reached directly where they'd seen it, pulled it out & asked me with typical Canadian politeness what it was.

"Moisturizer."

"No problem, then. Let me just put this in a bag for you."

From behind his station he pulls an official CATSA baggie, labeled as per reqs in French and English. Pops my tiny empty bottle into it with visible satisfaction, carefully returns it to where he found it in my luggage, and wishes me a safe trip.

Delay to line of hundreds behind me, trying to escape Alberta winter for Mexico: 2-3 minutes.
Cost of imprinted official baggies that could have been used for curling scholarships: unknown.
Boggle factor: infinite.

I've kept the baggie as a souvenir. Plus, if I ever need to carry actual exploding shampoo or some such, I'm confident it will keep my plane safe. :rolleyes:

I had a spate of run-ins over the baggie. I use solid (real solid, not gel) deodorant. I'd leave it out of the baggie, then get yelled at by screeners for not having it in the baggie. So I put it in the baggie - and I had a couple yell at me for putting it in the baggie.

Haven't had an issue in some time, but I travel with multiple baggies - containing vitamins, etc. etc. with no trouble.

iirc, about three years ago the UK regulations were much tougher :)

What's a solid deodorant? I don't know any that are not technically gels.
What brand is it?
As lipstick seems to be a gel, it is difficult to see that deodorant isnt. :D

However, as some TSAs say in, and some TSAs say out, at least some must be undertrained :D

Sure Solid is one, but thankfully that’s always been my preference before the War On Water™.

As far as Kippie Bags go, I’ve got a ton of them in my laptop bag to keep all my cables and wall warts separated.

I have wondered for a while how often people sneak through with 2 baggies of liquids. I was successful at it once myself, when I needed to bring back some purchased "liquid" items from a trip.

1) Take baggie #1 from backpack, place in bin with shoes.
2) Place backpack behind bin in the queue.
3) Place roll-aboard behind backpack in the queue.
4) Place second baggie with jacket in a separate bin.

I don't think it's too likely the TSO's will notice this in a busy airport if there are lots of people in line, so long as you do each bag separately so as not to appear obvious. I bet you there are lots of people who do this.

Also, I have a generic stick deodorant that stays inside the bathroom bag in the middle of my roll-aboard. I've NEVER (knock on wood) had anyone inspect my bag because of it. I'm guessing it doesn't show up on the X-ray the same way a bottle of actual liquid (like water) does. They seem to find those pretty easily.

You mean I'm the only one who puts all my cables & chargers in Kippies? I've even got a couple of gallon :eek: Kippies that go w/me on a regular basis.

Gosh, who knew I was such a rebel...:p

"Who the hell are you to tell me what I can and cannot put into a ziploc bag??"

Now I wanna get one of those really big 4 gallon ziplock bags, rig it up with some duct tape for straps and use it as a purse to go thru YYC security. Just cause.