Airport security questions

[hilwithonelary]

I'm flying for the first time in 5 years next week. I'm having a lot of anxiety mostly about security.

I've read that solid deodorant is officially ok in your carry on, but that lots of people say they are harassed if it's not in their ziplock bag. What has been your experience?

I like to keep a small amount of OTC stuff in my purse in this little plastic case. Is this going to be an issue?

Any tips that frequent travelers would like to pass on?

[cheezer]

I fly often, both domestically & internationally. I've never seen anyone get stopped for deoderant. I've never had a problem with meds and never heard of that domestically. I'd keep your liquids easily accessible and not buried in your suitcase. And security is easier with shoes that are easy to get on & off.

[aurora]

I have never been hassled for solid deodorant, and I fly all the time. I do not keep it in my ziplock bag.

I have also never been hassled for pills not in their original container, but I think the official rules there are to keep them in original containers. I just figure the (small, based on my experience) risk of having to throw away a few ibuprofins and some vitamin C is worth not having to lug all the containers on every trip.

[Deleted]

I have never put deodorant in my liquids bag!

I had my liquids searched the other day (because they counted my lip balm as a liquid, at Heathrow -- that's never happened to me before!). Since they were all the right size, and fit in the clear bag after I reallocated, it was fine. So I wouldn't sweat it.

I have the same pill case as you! Mine have never been searched, and they tend to have a mix of vitamins, OTC, regular rx, and controlled substances in them, unlabeled. I guess the rx and in particular the controlled substances would be better in their rx vials, but that seems wasteful for 2 xanaxes or whatever, so... But I wouldn't worry at all about OTC stuff unless you're traveling to a country where it is illegal (doubtful).

My advice would just be to give yourself extra extra time if you're anxious. Last thing you want to do is to feel extra anxious because the line is moving slower than you hoped (which can be a crapshoot -- sometimes security lines are negligible but you really never know). You'll feel much better if you know that you'll have time to linger at the gate, rather than having to rush. Also, planes board really early nowadays! So don't be surprised if you don't have as much time at the gate as you thoughts.

Don't worry if your stuff gets pulled aside for extra screening. If you have nothing to hide, they're just going to look through it to make sure and then will send you on your way. TSA people tend to be nice if you're nice to them.

If you have an iPhone, TripList is a great app for organizing your packing list (I get will-I-forget-something anxiety, and it really keeps me organized), and TripIt is a great app for your travel itinerary.

Good luck and have a great trip!

[pamela]

Nope, no stock deodorant in bag. Lately, they haven't even been asking that the bag be removed and scanned separately.

[mskitkat]

I fly a lot for work. I think once, in the past 5 years, have I ever been hassled about my liquids. I stopped pulling them out of my bag ages ago, but I do keep them separated (really, just in little makeup bags), on the off chance someone decides to throw a fit. I even accidentally flew with full size bottles of face wash and only had a problem on 1 part of a 4 leg trip, and even then, they let me keep it.

Definitely give yourself plenty of time. It's better to sit and wait at the gate than to freak out in the security line watching the minutes tick by. Good luck!

[y4m]

I never have problems with a pill case or solid deodorant. And I have all kinda of lip glosses etc loose in my bag.

[hilwithonelary]

Thanks for the help. I have 1 more question... Just this summer, I've started wear lots of dresses, and I'm wondering WTF I've been doing all my life because they're so much more comfy than pants or shorts. Does wearing a dress leave the potential for any patdown awkwardness? Should I stick to pants instead?

[VillainV]

I have definitely been asked to pull my liquids out of my carry-on, and even had them inspected. It's really not a big deal. Just make sure everything fits in your zip-lock and keep it at the very top of your bag (or put it in an outside pocket) so you can get to it easily. If I'm checking bags, I try to keep most of my liquids in my checked bag, but even then I like to have a small tube of hand cream or lotion, some deodorant, lip balm, etc for the flight. I would put deodorant in the baggie just because it MIGHT keep me from getting stopped in security, but that's me.

Also, if you get stopped, it's really no big deal. It happens for weird reasons, or even no reason sometimes, and it's just the security agents doing their jobs. Every time I've been stopped, they've either opened by bag to do a quick visual inspection, or taken a swab to test in the machine. Either way it's pretty quick and painless.

Re: Dresses, I don't think I've ever worn a dress to fly (I get cold easily), but it shouldn't make pat-downs weird. Also, I've flown a TON and never been patted down. I think the likelihood for a patdown is pretty low unless you decline to walk through the scanner.

[cheezer]

I wear dresses on planes when I travel for work and it's fine. I refuse to go through the scanners so I get a patdown. It's no different in pants than a dress.

[dreamcrisp1]

I have never put my stuff into a ziplock bag. I'm usually carrying a million different little products.

Never had a problem!

[Norticprincess]

Never had an issue with solid stick. If it is the gel type it is a liquid.

Only things I've had issues with in recent memory was DH's 4 oz contact solution at Heathrow - it was too big. domestically the tsa just tests it and consider it a medical liquid. It needed a prescription label in the UK- they made us toss it. He'd forgotten to stick it in his checked bag.

I fly with a giant bag of meds- I keep them in the original bottles for the prescription meds - I have some strange ones. A fair number of them are liquid meds I have them in a gallon bag and pull it out (if I forget it gets flagged). Tsa says they need to check them - they see the prescription label, hand them back, and say have a nice day. The OTCs I have a mini bottle of mixed meds (aspirin/Advil/Benadryl/Imodium) if I'm going out of the country I'll change to bubble packs of the same meds. Domestic I'll leave them in the single bottle.


Never had a dress be an issue on screening. I have tossed leggings in my bag if it is a long flight or temp change. I have a few little cotton dresses that are really comfortable to wear on long flights with leggings.

[sillygoosegirl]

The only difference when you get a pat down in a dress or skirt instead of pants is that they have you stand with one leg forward and one back, instead of apart side to side. Level of awkwardnessis the same.

[y4m]

Before I had precheck, I found I always got extra screening when I wore dresses. Maybe just my bad luck?

[raangoli]

I keep my OTC meds in a random ziplock bag and I've never been questioned about it, so I would be surprised if they ask you about your very organized container.

[Deleted]

Jul 11, 2014 9:22:41 GMT -5 @sfgal530 said:

Jul 10, 2014 20:38:49 GMT -5 pamela said:

Nope, no stock deodorant in bag. Lately, they haven't even been asking that the bag be removed and scanned separately.

Are you PreCheck?  If so, that explains it.  Otherwise, they're still screaming about removing your liquids.  

Agreed.  There have been plenty of times (when I haven't used pre-check) that I haven't taken out my liquids and no-one has asked (and I've carried illegally-sized liquids many times that haven't been caught), but that's because the TSA was being lazy/missed it, and not because the policy has changed.  You should still expect to have to take liquids out and for them to be confiscated if they're non-compliant.

[pamela]

Jul 11, 2014 9:22:41 GMT -5 @sfgal530 said:

Jul 10, 2014 20:38:49 GMT -5 pamela said:

Nope, no stock deodorant in bag. Lately, they haven't even been asking that the bag be removed and scanned separately.

Are you PreCheck?  If so, that explains it.  Otherwise, they're still screaming about removing your liquids.  

Nope.  It was odd. The first time I was distracted and just forgot. Realizes as I was picking up my bag and realized that no one around me was pulling them out either.  On the way back, I thought I'd try to just leave them there. 

[Deleted]

Jul 11, 2014 9:33:04 GMT -5 RockNVoll said:

Jul 11, 2014 9:22:41 GMT -5 @sfgal530 said:

Are you PreCheck?  If so, that explains it.  Otherwise, they're still screaming about removing your liquids.  

I haven't found this to be true at all.  I have no status/special programs whatsoever and I stopped removing my liquids bag a few years ago.  I even stopped using the bag altogether a year or two ago and have had zero issues.  Maybe I'm just lucky.

I'm not advocating taking the chance, especially if you're anxious already, but you've gotten great tips here, hilwithonelary.  Have a great trip!

I think that is just dumb luck/TSA being asleep at the wheel.

As I said above, my bag got flagged at Heathrow this week because I had two of these guys in the bottom of my carry-on, not in my liquids bag:



The (very nice) security guy made me unpack my whole liquids bag and put the stuff in one of *their* bags (which required taking out a few non-liquid things I had thrown in there so that everyone would fit).

But then my passport wasn't checked at security -- in fact, nobody looked at it until the gate agent glanced at it quickly as I scanned my boarding pass and got on the plane ^o)

Obviously, this wasn't domestic, but my experience has always been that experiences may vary.

[sicilygirl]

I carried on solid deodorant (not in my ziploc bag) and a ton of vitamins/advil/pepto/etc in my carry-on last week, and it wasn't a problem. I went through security 3 times (at IAH, in Quebec, and at JFK). H also had some maple syrup in a 4 oz. can that he put in his ziploc bag on the way back that we thought they would make us throw out, but they didn't in either Quebec or at JFK.

[definitelyO]

agree with everyone else - deodorant in your suitcase not in the quart sized Ziploc bag... you can take liquid medications of any qty - I travel with a 6oz thing of liquid Benadryl for DS plus epipen and keep the Rx there - but TSA is great and always tells me that I don't need any paperwork for medications.

have a great trip!!!

[Deleted]

Jul 11, 2014 9:40:27 GMT -5 v said:

Jul 11, 2014 9:33:04 GMT -5 RockNVoll said:

I haven't found this to be true at all.  I have no status/special programs whatsoever and I stopped removing my liquids bag a few years ago.  I even stopped using the bag altogether a year or two ago and have had zero issues.  Maybe I'm just lucky.

I'm not advocating taking the chance, especially if you're anxious already, but you've gotten great tips here, hilwithonelary.  Have a great trip!

But then my passport wasn't checked at security -- in fact, nobody looked at it until the gate agent glanced at it quickly as I scanned my boarding pass and got on the plane

Obviously, this wasn't domestic, but my experience has always been that experiences may vary.

I never have to show ID at security, only when going through the gate and initially checking in. At security, I only show my boarding pass. 

[Deleted]

Jul 11, 2014 9:46:15 GMT -5 @canadiandrone said:

Jul 11, 2014 9:40:27 GMT -5 v said:

But then my passport wasn't checked at security -- in fact, nobody looked at it until the gate agent glanced at it quickly as I scanned my boarding pass and got on the plane

Obviously, this wasn't domestic, but my experience has always been that experiences may vary.

I never have to show ID at security, only when going through the gate and initially checking in. At security, I only show my boarding pass. 

Even for international flights?

In America, it seems that ID is always checked at security, and for an international flight at least, passport is checked when you check your bag (or if you check in online/at a kiosk and don't check a bag, my recent experience has been that you get paged at the gate to have your passport checked by a gate agent).  And then there's a glance when you get on the plane.

We flew from Seville to Madrid to the US a few weeks ago and I was surprised that we didn't have to go through security again in Madrid (as we were going from a domestic terminal to an international one), but the area where the gates to the US were was roped off, and we had our passports checked there (and you couldn't go into that gate area if you weren't on the list of people on the US flights).

So maybe it is only the US who cares about this stuff?  I don't know.

[Deleted]

Jul 11, 2014 9:52:59 GMT -5 v said:

Jul 11, 2014 9:46:15 GMT -5 @canadiandrone said:

I never have to show ID at security, only when going through the gate and initially checking in. At security, I only show my boarding pass. 

Even for international flights?

In America, it seems that ID is always checked at security, and for an international flight at least, passport is checked when you check your bag (or if you check in online/at a kiosk and don't check a bag, my recent experience has been that you get paged at the gate to have your passport checked by a gate agent).  And then there's a glance when you get on the plane.

We flew from Seville to Madrid to the US a few weeks ago and I was surprised that we didn't have to go through security again in Madrid (as we were going from a domestic terminal to an international one), but the area where the gates to the US were was roped off, and we had our passports checked there (and you couldn't go into that gate area if you weren't on the list of people on the US flights).

So maybe it is only the US who cares about this stuff?  I don't know.

Yep, Canada follows the same rules as all the other countries except the US. Our airports have one security/terminal setup for all Canadian and International flights and then a separate security/terminal strictly for US flights. 

[cheezer]

Jul 11, 2014 9:40:27 GMT -5 v said:

Jul 11, 2014 9:33:04 GMT -5 RockNVoll said:

I haven't found this to be true at all.  I have no status/special programs whatsoever and I stopped removing my liquids bag a few years ago.  I even stopped using the bag altogether a year or two ago and have had zero issues.  Maybe I'm just lucky.

I'm not advocating taking the chance, especially if you're anxious already, but you've gotten great tips here, hilwithonelary.  Have a great trip!

I think that is just dumb luck/TSA being asleep at the wheel.

As I said above, my bag got flagged at Heathrow this week because I had two of these guys in the bottom of my carry-on, not in my liquids bag:



The (very nice) security guy made me unpack my whole liquids bag and put the stuff in one of *their* bags (which required taking out a few non-liquid things I had thrown in there so that everyone would fit).

But then my passport wasn't checked at security -- in fact, nobody looked at it until the gate agent glanced at it quickly as I scanned my boarding pass and got on the plane

Obviously, this wasn't domestic, but my experience has always been that experiences may vary.

Several years ago I accidentally carried mace on a plane to London and back that was in a hidden pocket of my work bag that I never check. Neither O'Hare nor Heathrow security caught it. My confidence in airport security is obviously very high.

[nsl]

Jul 11, 2014 9:52:59 GMT -5 v said:

Jul 11, 2014 9:46:15 GMT -5 @canadiandrone said:

I never have to show ID at security, only when going through the gate and initially checking in. At security, I only show my boarding pass. 

Even for international flights?

In America, it seems that ID is always checked at security, and for an international flight at least, passport is checked when you check your bag (or if you check in online/at a kiosk and don't check a bag, my recent experience has been that you get paged at the gate to have your passport checked by a gate agent).  And then there's a glance when you get on the plane.

We flew from Seville to Madrid to the US a few weeks ago and I was surprised that we didn't have to go through security again in Madrid (as we were going from a domestic terminal to an international one), but the area where the gates to the US were was roped off, and we had our passports checked there (and you couldn't go into that gate area if you weren't on the list of people on the US flights).

So maybe it is only the US who cares about this stuff?  I don't know.

I haven't had my ID checked at a U.S. security screening point in years.  ID at the check-in counter, then boarding pass only at security and the gate, and I fly at least 4-5 times a year.    ETA:  I'm an idiot and forgot about the TSA check before you go through the scanners.  No ID needed for those, but the nice agent who allows you into the screening area does always need to see ID.

More to the OP's point, based on my experience I'd say different airports seem to have different unofficial rules about liquids.  SFO, ELP, SLC, and LIH have let me keep my carry on liquids in my purse (and haven't cared a bit if they weren't in a plastic bag) but DIA nailed me to the wall for not separating them just last year even though they had no plastic bags available for me to use.  It appears to be totally arbitrary. 

[thedutchgirl]

Wait, where are people flying that they don't have to show ID with boarding pass at security/TSA? I fly for work all the time, and if I tried to march through security without showing my ID when they scan my boarding pass on my phone, I'd be tackled.

[nsl]

Jul 11, 2014 20:33:39 GMT -5 thedutchgirl said:

Wait, where are people flying that they don't have to show ID with boarding pass at security/TSA? I fly for work all the time, and if I tried to march through security without showing my ID when they scan my boarding pass on my phone, I'd be tackled.

Scratch my earlier post.  I'm an idiot who wasn't actually thinking before I posted just now.  Yes, you do have to show ID and a boarding pass at the TSA check before going through the scanners.