Anybody hassled by TSA for too much formula?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2009
Programs: AA EXP, HH Diamond, SPG Plat, Hyatt Diamond
Posts: 231
Anybody hassled by TSA for too much formula?
The official TSA policy is “When traveling with your infant or toddler, in the absence of suspicious activity or items, greater than 3 ounces of baby formula, breast milk, or juice are permitted through the security checkpoint in reasonable quantities for the duration of your itinerary”.
I love rules that have vague terms like “reasonable” in them. Just curious if anybody has had TSA tell them that they’ve exceeded the magic quantity of “reasonable”.
I love rules that have vague terms like “reasonable” in them. Just curious if anybody has had TSA tell them that they’ve exceeded the magic quantity of “reasonable”.
#2
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: YOW
Programs: AC E75 / Marriott Titanium Elite
Posts: 951
We didn't have any problems traveling a number of times with our infants from Canada and through Las Vegas, Los Angeles and San Francisco on a number of occasions in the past 12 months. Having 12 hrs of travel in total with twins, we were carrying about 10 baby bottles with boiled water without the formula mixed in yet and didn't have any problems. A few times they did the litmus type tests.
#4
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: France
Programs: United Plus
Posts: 1,761
I've combed the net and people contact me through the article. I've had parents who have told me that they've flown halfway around the world with formula for the whole journey and they have not run into any problems with security.
What has been a problem is the age of the child. Once they hit about age 3, security can get sticky. What was allowed on one flight, just a few months later is not, which can be confusing to kids. But those of you with small, formula fed infants seem to be fine.
What has been a problem is the age of the child. Once they hit about age 3, security can get sticky. What was allowed on one flight, just a few months later is not, which can be confusing to kids. But those of you with small, formula fed infants seem to be fine.
#7
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Minneapolis
Programs: Delta Gold
Posts: 622
In January before boarding my flight to the US in Amsterdam, security made me dump my bottle of apple juice into a sippy cup for my toddler, saying I couldn't carry it on unless it was clearly in a container for the child. But otherwise I haven't had any problems.
#8
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: NorCal
Posts: 658
I haven't had any problems (but I only fly relatively short flights with my kids), but there have been reported problems in the news. Specifically, I remember a doctor, an actual MD, being told he had too much formula for his child.
Apparently, "reasonable" means your run of the mill barely employable TSA agent knows more about what a child needs than a medical doctor.
Apparently, "reasonable" means your run of the mill barely employable TSA agent knows more about what a child needs than a medical doctor.