Me and Mrs. G2244 were on a recent run through the checkpoint which had a surprising outcome. In order to somewhat protect the innocent, I don’t want to specify the airport. Since we were switching airlines after one hop and on a long journey with more connections to come, we had decided to pick up our luggage at our first stop. We kind of wanted to know the luggage had made it that far. In the first airport of the day, she had purchased (after security) a bottle of BBQ Sauce and a jar of Hot Sauce to bring as a gift to someone overseas. Once at our connection point, we checked our luggage and went off to screening again. As her carry-on went through the scanner, it picked up our mistake of not putting the gifts into the checked luggage. We just simply forgot. She explained what it was and why we still had it. They gave us the option to ship it, etc. but it would not have been worth it. After begrudgingly giving it up for “disposal” we moved on through and stopped near the end of the screening area to put our shoes on, etc.

Out of nowhere, the same TSA agent that had taken the items away motions us over out of the way. She said after she had unwrapped them she decided we could take them if we wanted to. Although she did mention that we were on our own for any future checkpoints, etc. I was kind of shocked really. I was very glad that we were able to keep them but I was more shocked that they let us. I have had a number of regular interactions with the TSA (and none too horrible) but I have never had one bend the rules in my favor before. I just thought I would share what was for me a positive experience since it seems like there aren’t many of those discussed here. I realize there are implications beyond our side of things, but it really did make our day.

you are right in wanting to "protect the innocent" and major kudos to the tsa agent ^ (and hope that they "weren't observed" and got in any trouble)

I predict a short career for the screener in question. A TSA employee who simultaneously: a) has common sense and b) is willing to use it on the job, is a rare jewel; one that TSA management cannot tolerate.

I thought that TSO's were to be given the authority to make a decision as to allowing liquids in provided that they were tested, but no TSO really wanted to do that.

As a connoisseur of BBQ and hot sauce around the country, I applaud the TSO for using common sense. I wish this would be the rule, not the exception.

Yes and no.

There still needs to be compelling and extraordinary circumstances involved for making the decision to allow it to go. A lot of TSOs were given just enough rope to hang themselves with, since "because the passenger wanted to keep it" is neither considered compelling nor extraordinary.

Goldsboro, NC Wilbur's BBQ.
St Louis look up Miss Piggies BBQ. (East off of Lindburg).

Sadly good BBQ is hard to come by and those two places have some pretty good stuff. FYI, if you are by yourself, do not attempt to eat the full rack of ribs at Miss Piggies. You won't get even half way through before running out of room. Good food, ample portions, but unimpressive so don't plan on dining in.

It certainly is the travel and dining forum

That is what doggie bags and wet naps are for. Damn it, now I want some ribs, thanks a lot.

Memphis - Interstate BBQ, just off I-55, not far from the airport.

and of course,

Lexington, NC - anywhere you want to stop. The worst BBQ there is better than the best BBQ in most other towns.

This place has some GREAT BBQ. Rotate the image 180 to see the BBQ joint.

The only real BBQ is in Texas. Don't even get me started.

Rudy's - San Antonio.

Not to take away from the niceness of the incident but (to the OP)

Ummm...I'm not clear how getting your bags and rechecking them was helpful. If the bags hadn't made it what were you going to do? Unless you were going to discontinue your trip I don't see the point.

Couldn't you just ask an agent (inside security) to track if your bags were there? This woud also have kept you in transit and you'd have your good sauces for sure

Yes, it was admittedly an odd situation. We were eventually flying into LHR. It was award travel in First and was as close as we could get get to where we wanted to be (EDI) due to limited award availablity. So the plan was to then immediately transfer from LHR to a train to go to EDI. The train part was as much about site seeing as it was getting to our final destination. So, if our bags hadn't made it we would have specified they be delivered to EDI (our actual destination) as opposed to LHR (our flight destination). We have had delayed luggage several times going to Europe and tracking it down while on the move has proved very difficult.