A Look At the New Rules Of Flying
A LOOK AT THE NEW RULES OF FLYING
(IN AN AIRPLANE)
By Lee Degenstein
What do four packs of matches, eight screwdrivers, twelve knitting needles and a parachute all have in common? While you may be surprised at the answer, they are all objects that you are allowed to carry on a commercial aircraft! The “carry on” rules set forth by the TSA (Transportation Security Administration) have just changed again. With the holiday travel season rapidly approaching I checked out the TSA website at www.tsa.gov and here is some of what I found.
Let’s begin by looking at the rules that apply to make up and personal items. I don’t know about you but I breathed a sigh of relief when the TSA began allowing nail clippers back on board. Now one may also carry on knitting needles (as many as you want), scissors (less than four inches), corkscrews and toy weapons “as long as they are not realistic replicas”.
On the flip side you can not carry on more than three ounces of bubble bath liquid on board. Leave your non liquid lip gloss, mascara, and hair detangler at home or in your checked baggage. You can not bring more than three ounces of toothpaste on board even though the standard toothpaste tube holds close to six ounces. You are restricted to three ounces of mouthwash, but it’s OK to bring aboard three ounces of nail polish remover which in some cases is both flammable and toxic. Stewardess, I’ll have my nail polish remover on the rocks with a twist and a splash of security approved water.
What about tools? Glad you asked. You can bring screwdrivers, pliers and wrenches seven inches or less in length on board but you can not bring any type of pocket knife or letter opener. However drill bits are prohibited in your carry on bag. In spite of all of this, many airlines have returned to using metal utensils such as knives and forks and serve dinner on glass plates and serve wine in glasses. Go figure!
In the food category, you are not allowed to board with a jar of peanut butter, jars or canned vegetables, jelly, Jell-O, soup, pudding or for that matter a container of yogurt unless they were purchased in the airport’s secure section. But remember, you can have knitting needle and screwdrivers, just don’t try to stir your jar of vegetable soup with them. If you cooked it at home or brought it from there, leave it there. I always knew my mother’s cooking was lethal, I didn’t know the TSA ever ate at our house.
Just in case you were wondering, you are allowed to include in your parachute in your carry on luggage. Yes I said parachute! But according to the rules, “TSA security officers have a duty to thoroughly inspect any item that raises suspicion.” Now wouldn’t you be just a tad suspicious of someone trying to bring a parachute onto an aircraft in the first place? Just make sure they have a round trip ticket. I am sure that D.B. Cooper is smiling over this one where ever he is!
This just in, suntan lotion is not permitted in your carry on luggage. I guess there will be a lot of sun burned people on Florida’s beaches again this season. You can not pack matches in your checked luggage but you can carry on up to four packs of matches. Before you burn yourself be aware that most ointments are banned in carry on luggage.
It’s OK to bring your baseballs, footballs, basketballs and soccer balls on board an aircraft. Unfortunately there is no mention of hockey pucks, badminton shuttlecocks, Frisbees, shot puts, bowling balls or those stones used for curling. We need a ruling on Bocce balls! Mahjong tiles are acceptable as are scrabble letters so long as there are an equal amount of vowels and consonants.
I haven’t forgotten about you anglers out there in travel land. I quote from the TSA site “Fishing equipment should be placed in your checked baggage. Some tackle equipment can be considered sharp and dangerous. Expensive reels or fragile tackle such as fly's should be packed in your carry-on baggage.” Translation, if you own cheap lures or reels, put them in your checked luggage but if you have expensive lures take them with you on board. This says a lot for the agents that inspect the checked baggage.
On a more serious note, it’s easy for me to hide behind my computer and poke fun at the TSA. Anyone who has ever tried to board a plane in the last five years has experienced some level of frustration at the new security measures. The fact remains, that these measures have been put in place for our protection. It’s no coincidence that there has not been an attack on an American airliner since the inception of the TSA and these new regulations. They have a tough job and for the most part they do it well.
Finally, even though the TSA allows it, I would definitely feel uncomfortable if I saw the guy sitting next to me trying to fit his parachute into the over head bin, especially if a jar of peanut butter slipped out of his rig.
Lee can be reached by email at: lee723@verizon.net
© copyright 2006, Lee Degenstein. All rights reserved
(IN AN AIRPLANE)
By Lee Degenstein
What do four packs of matches, eight screwdrivers, twelve knitting needles and a parachute all have in common? While you may be surprised at the answer, they are all objects that you are allowed to carry on a commercial aircraft! The “carry on” rules set forth by the TSA (Transportation Security Administration) have just changed again. With the holiday travel season rapidly approaching I checked out the TSA website at www.tsa.gov and here is some of what I found.
Let’s begin by looking at the rules that apply to make up and personal items. I don’t know about you but I breathed a sigh of relief when the TSA began allowing nail clippers back on board. Now one may also carry on knitting needles (as many as you want), scissors (less than four inches), corkscrews and toy weapons “as long as they are not realistic replicas”.
On the flip side you can not carry on more than three ounces of bubble bath liquid on board. Leave your non liquid lip gloss, mascara, and hair detangler at home or in your checked baggage. You can not bring more than three ounces of toothpaste on board even though the standard toothpaste tube holds close to six ounces. You are restricted to three ounces of mouthwash, but it’s OK to bring aboard three ounces of nail polish remover which in some cases is both flammable and toxic. Stewardess, I’ll have my nail polish remover on the rocks with a twist and a splash of security approved water.
What about tools? Glad you asked. You can bring screwdrivers, pliers and wrenches seven inches or less in length on board but you can not bring any type of pocket knife or letter opener. However drill bits are prohibited in your carry on bag. In spite of all of this, many airlines have returned to using metal utensils such as knives and forks and serve dinner on glass plates and serve wine in glasses. Go figure!
In the food category, you are not allowed to board with a jar of peanut butter, jars or canned vegetables, jelly, Jell-O, soup, pudding or for that matter a container of yogurt unless they were purchased in the airport’s secure section. But remember, you can have knitting needle and screwdrivers, just don’t try to stir your jar of vegetable soup with them. If you cooked it at home or brought it from there, leave it there. I always knew my mother’s cooking was lethal, I didn’t know the TSA ever ate at our house.
Just in case you were wondering, you are allowed to include in your parachute in your carry on luggage. Yes I said parachute! But according to the rules, “TSA security officers have a duty to thoroughly inspect any item that raises suspicion.” Now wouldn’t you be just a tad suspicious of someone trying to bring a parachute onto an aircraft in the first place? Just make sure they have a round trip ticket. I am sure that D.B. Cooper is smiling over this one where ever he is!
This just in, suntan lotion is not permitted in your carry on luggage. I guess there will be a lot of sun burned people on Florida’s beaches again this season. You can not pack matches in your checked luggage but you can carry on up to four packs of matches. Before you burn yourself be aware that most ointments are banned in carry on luggage.
It’s OK to bring your baseballs, footballs, basketballs and soccer balls on board an aircraft. Unfortunately there is no mention of hockey pucks, badminton shuttlecocks, Frisbees, shot puts, bowling balls or those stones used for curling. We need a ruling on Bocce balls! Mahjong tiles are acceptable as are scrabble letters so long as there are an equal amount of vowels and consonants.
I haven’t forgotten about you anglers out there in travel land. I quote from the TSA site “Fishing equipment should be placed in your checked baggage. Some tackle equipment can be considered sharp and dangerous. Expensive reels or fragile tackle such as fly's should be packed in your carry-on baggage.” Translation, if you own cheap lures or reels, put them in your checked luggage but if you have expensive lures take them with you on board. This says a lot for the agents that inspect the checked baggage.
On a more serious note, it’s easy for me to hide behind my computer and poke fun at the TSA. Anyone who has ever tried to board a plane in the last five years has experienced some level of frustration at the new security measures. The fact remains, that these measures have been put in place for our protection. It’s no coincidence that there has not been an attack on an American airliner since the inception of the TSA and these new regulations. They have a tough job and for the most part they do it well.
Finally, even though the TSA allows it, I would definitely feel uncomfortable if I saw the guy sitting next to me trying to fit his parachute into the over head bin, especially if a jar of peanut butter slipped out of his rig.
Lee can be reached by email at: lee723@verizon.net
© copyright 2006, Lee Degenstein. All rights reserved
posted by Lee Degenstein | 6:01 PM
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