<p>Contact lens solution is considered a ‘medically necessary liquid’ by the TSA, so it’s exempt from the 3-1-1 rule. I always put it in the bin and they may examine it, but it’s never been taken from me in the US. International TSA-equivalents don’t follow that rule, which is why I take nearly empty bottles with me, so I don’t care it they take it.</p>
<p>My husband nearly shut down a checkpoint in Newark last February with his high-powered scuba dive light - the batteries looked like a bomb & he had books in the bag, which scanned as organic material. Thankfully it was 10:30pm, so they had time to look at it.</p>
<p>If you really want to have your checked luggage searched, try to pack two 1-quart glass jars of Organic Hawaiian Honey side by side in a cardboard box on the bottom of your suitcase. The TSA did not even look at the plastic water bottle filled with the leftover rum, but they were all over the honey jars, like flies. How do I know? The plastic bottle was still wrapped in a black plastic bag inside DH’s snorkeling equipment bag, but the jars were stipped of their protective wrap and had “inspected by TSA” sticky tape all over them. The TSA even made a handle out of duct tape for the cardboard box that I put the jars in - why?! The good thing about that - our bags were the first on the conveyor belt!</p>
<p>We had a friend who had Hawaii black salt inspected, opened and TASTED by TSA, twice (once on the Big Island, where it was packaged) and once in Chicago (a different package of salt). It also got the female owners of the hand-carry bags a very up close and personal patdown. We could never figure out why, especially for the Big Island airport, where they SHOULD be familiar with it. When it was checked luggage, no problem, just an issue for carry on.</p>
<p>Wow, guess it pays to dress as conservatively as possible if one doesn’t want to have TSA too frisky. Thanks for the tip. Really does seem nutty!</p>
<p>Actually, my theory is that it’s because she’s a young woman travelling alone who isn’t going to give them any guff. Once she and I were flying together, and we got into two parallel security lines. She got to her agent first, and he was really giving her a hard time. “Have you ever travelled outside the US?” “Have you used this passport before?” “Do you have any other ID?” “What’s the purpose of your trip?” He got out a magnifying glass to examine her passport, and then called a supervisor over. About that time, my agent waved me through, so I went over to her line, put on my best mama-bear demeanor and said, “Is there a problem?” He said, “Errrrrr, no” and quickly stamped her boarding pass.</p>
<p>Maybe they have some kind of quota to meet; maybe they are trying to demonstrate to onlookers that they’re serious; maybe they like to feel tough; who knows, maybe he just wanted to spend a little time with my good-looking D. The only thing we can say for sure is that that little interrogation wasn’t because they actually thought she was a threat.</p>
<p>In Heathrow a few years ago, the screening agents were all over my travel-sized tube of Crest (in my quart zip-lock). They made me taste it. It makes no sense… </p>
<p>‘Best’ pat-down I ever received was in Amsterdam heading to Stockholm. Afterwards the agent could probably tell you my bra size and if I wear underwire.</p>
<p>This thread is very helpful. I have travelled quite a bit over the years, but still learned some things from the postings here. For example, I never would have thought to not indicate you are with a family or group, as much as possible.</p>
<p>nj2011mom, that is exactly the reason we avoid flying through Amsterdam as much as possible.</p>
<p>A friend said that the TSA equivalent at Heathrow found a Tampax in her purse and took the thing apart!!</p>
<p>When H was flying out of Moscow, he placed his shoes on the belt in the same basket with his wallet and got yelled at for doing that! They have special baskets for shoes that cannot be used for anything else to keep dirty shoes from contaminating other personal belongings and the screening machines. :rolleyes:</p>
<p>I went through security at Burlington Airport VT, and the security officer was professional and courteous. We exchanged the usual “beautiful city”, good mornings, thank yous, etc. Pleasant experience. In and out in a jiffy.</p>
<p>The person behind me started with something like be quick about this, okay, because I have a flight to catch, this isn’t going to take all day is it? I walked away and looked back as I came to the end of hall, and she was still going through security.</p>
<p>On my most recent trip, I was pulled aside for a so called random screening on both ends of the trip. I never beeped and I was told it was definitely not because of my jewelry (was wearing a few bracelets on the way there , a chunky necklace on the way back). Not so sure I believe it, though. I do seem to get targeted pretty often. TSA does discourage you from wearing metallic jewelry of any kind, but it’s not prohibited. So I’d recommend packing anything like that in your carry on, not wearing it.</p>
<p>Okay, my son wants to know if he can pack his razor in his carryon. It’s electric. My daughter wants to bring her razor as well (me, I’m just gonna wax…lol). I don’t think razors are allowed, are they? Down to the wire and now I’m gonna have a checked bag so they can bring razors…sigh
Although, businessmen never check a bag and I can’t imagine they travel without a razor, so maybe I’m wrong.</p>
<p>The worst problem I ever had was when I traveled with cheese – a block of cheese covered with black wax. It looks too much like a plastic explosive, I guess. I’ve learned to travel with cheese with transparent wrappers, and I always take it out of the bag and put it in a separate bin.</p>
<p>However, I have now twice gotten yogurt through security, even though it could be considered a liquid, I guess. (As much a liquid as toothpaste is.)</p>
<p>D2 told me the other day, the best way for them not to spend too much time searching your bag is to put all dirty clothes on top and spread tampons all over it. I think she has been travelling too much.</p>
<p>Coming back to US through Hong Kong last week was a real security ordeal. Hundreds of folks on the plane and each and every piece of carry-on was examined meticulously. They opened EVERYTHING-- my small box of ear plugs (silicon-- maybe looked like explosives…) and went through my change purse. There were 4 or 5 lines of checkers for this huge flight and even children’s small back packs were examined. I guess it’s because of flying from Asia to the US. But still, it was so excessive. Kind of odd, too, that they were doing that for a flight to the US, but a neighboring gate with a departure to Malaysia had nothing of the kind. Do we really think we rate particular treatment? And why do other countries’ airlines go along with this? I suppose they really want to fly into the US, so they have to agree to our terms. Are we the only country threatened by airline terrorists? I love the above post about locking the cockpit door and security clearance theatrics. That seems to be spot on!</p>
<p>There are many cases of lazy TSA inspectors, etc. But on the whole, I don’t like to be too critical of TSA. We never know what threats are out there that they’ve been advised to focus on. Don’t like them hassling pregnant young woman? The Lockerbee jet was brought down by a young, pregnant woman carrying a portable radio packed with C4 jelly that TSA thinks was given to her by her husband/boyfriend.</p>
<p>As for checking Americans with little tiny containers going through airports in Asia, I’m wondering if that was for drugs as well as explosives? Several times when I went through airports in Spain and asked why they inspected my lipstick case, and the inspector said, Americans are always trying to get through with illegal drugs. I don’t know if that’s true though, since you never know if the TSA folks are really giving you the truth, or just an easy explanation (which is probably what they did with the tie-dyed shirt).</p>
How do I know? The plastic bottle was still wrapped in a black plastic bag inside DH’s snorkeling equipment bag, but the jars were stipped of their protective wrap and had “inspected by TSA” sticky tape all over them. The TSA even made a handle out of duct tape for the cardboard box that I put the jars in - why?! 
The good thing about that - our bags were the first on the conveyor belt!</p>
Really does seem nutty!</p>