As we reported yesterday, the AAA are predicting record levels of travellers this holiday season, and getting through the TSA checkpoint can be especially difficult during this time of year.
Ahead of the busy Christmas and New Year travel period, the TSA has issues a helpful naughty list of items not to bring through security, and some may surprise you, and just like Santa Claus, people who will travel with gifts and other holiday goodies this month need to check their carry-on list twice!
If you have decided to head to the airport to enjoy this holiday season it’s important to know what items can be taken through a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) checkpoint and what items should travel in a checked bag.
Don't Wrap Your Gifts
TSA’s elves - who double as officers the rest of the year - recommend that passengers don’t wrap gifts. Wrapped items are screened like any other item.
If a wrapped item alarms the security screening technology, it will need to be unwrapped to determine if it is a security threat.
Consider traveling with unwrapped items, placing them in a gift bag or gift box or use a festive bow for easy access and resolution.
Take Your Electronic Gifts As Carry On
Electronics are popular gifts and can travel in carry-on luggage. However, all electronics larger than a cell phone should be placed in a bin with nothing above or below it so that TSA can get a good X-ray image to ensure that it has not been tampered with.
So if you have a tablet, laptop or the latest gaming console, you can carry it onto the airplane.
TSA allows drones through the checkpoint, but check with your airline for drone-specific travel policies.
With electronics often come batteries and “dry” ones such as AA, AAA, 9-volt, C and D batteries can all can be carried through a checkpoint.
Lithium batteries with 100 watt hours or less installed in in a device are okay, but loose lithium batteries are prohibited in checked bags. The Federal Aviation Administration has very specific regulations on lithium batteries, so if you’re planning to travel with them, visit the FAA web site.
What Food & Drink Is Allowed As Carry On
Baked goods—cookies, pies and cakes can be carried through security checkpoints. Tins of cookies, pretzels and popcorn are all okay too, as are boxes of chocolates - Carry them on!
Advent calendars are good to go in the cabin of the aircraft too. Don’t worry, TSA won’t open the flaps on the calendar and reveal your daily dose of holiday cheer!
Mini-bottles of alcohol are allowed in carry-on luggage and they must fit comfortably in a single, quart-sized bag. Limit one-quart bag per passenger.
While it’s not required, the TSA recommends you consider removing your food from your carry-on bags and placing it in a separate bin to expedite the screening process.
What Food & Drink Is On The Naughty List
Homemade, store-bought and delicious preserves, jams, jellies and syrups fall in the category of a liquid, if you can spill it, spray it, spread it, pump it or pour it, then it should be packed in a checked bag if the container is larger than 3.4 ounces.
Soft, spreadable cheese should be packed in a checked bag.
Beverages such as egg nog, sparkling schnapps, mulled wine, buttered rum punch, champagne, and peppermint chocolate martinis should be kept in their original unopened packaging, and be packed in a checked bag, plus, make sure to only bring 5 liters or less.
Alcoholic beverages with 24% alcohol or less are not subject to any limits in checked bags.
Holiday Plants Are On The Nice List
Yes! You can bring a plant as a carry-on as long as your plant fits in the overhead compartment or under your seat.
Strings Of Colorful Lights Are Good To Go
You can bring your string of multicolored twinkling lights in either your carry-on or checked bags!
Menorah & Chanukah Candles Are Allowed
A menorah and Chanukah candles can be carried-on, however, if your menorah uses oil to light the candles, make sure it follows the 3-1-1 liquid rule or go ahead and put it in your checked bag.
Holiday Snow Globe's Are Encouraged!
Ornaments, shimmering decorations, and snow globes are what holidays are made of. And all of these these whimsical objects are fine to bring in your carry-on, however it’s important to remember this rule of thumb: snow globes can only have 3.4 ounces of liquid or less and need to fit in a quart-sized resealable plastic bag.
If not, the Grinch will be paying you a visit at the checkpoint and you may opt to leave your prized snow globe behind!
For more information, go to the TSA website to check on all of the items you might want to know about regarding putting in your carry-on bag.
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