How much can I cram in my 1-qt. bag?

Old Nov 21st, 2006, 07:57 AM
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How much can I cram in my 1-qt. bag?

So I hear toiletries have to fit "comfortably." Not to anthropomorphize my toiletries, but I don't think the shampoo will mind the squeeze.

All my toiletries are less than 3 oz (most are under 2 oz - thanks minimuz.biz!) and I can get about 10 small items into the bag, with a little squishing. Ziptop closes with no prob though (even though there is some overlap in the bag.)

Question: Is there a limit to the number of goods in the bag? No where am I finding an answer to this.

Also - do baby wipes count as a liquid? (they are wet.) And...does my other toiletry bag that contains things like toothbrush, q-tips need to also be in a clear bag too?

Any assistance would be most helpful!


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Old Nov 21st, 2006, 08:36 AM
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Do not cram things into the 1 qt bag. TSA wants to be able to see container size print info.There is no specific number of items you can put in bag, don't squeeze them inside.

Are you checking a bag? IF SO, why the need to take all that stuff as a carryon? Realistically, take only the things you need on plane, secure the other things by unscrewing caps, putting a bit of plastic wrap over the opening, replace caps and tape shut. Put these in larger baggies in your checked suitcase. I recently did this with all out stuff [including OFF!, shave cream, shampoo, liquid soap etc] on trip to HI which included 3 different planes. Nary a spill or leak.

I put hand sanitizer, hand lotion, chap stick in my carry on and was set for all the flights.

A bonus is that your carryon is so much lighter!

Seriously, don't cram. especially this time of year. Why ask for problems?

Wipes won't count, it's not the wet issue, its a quantity of liquid that they are concerned with here. And no, other items go in whatever kind of bag you want. But again, lighten your load and check that stuff.
Hope this helps...
Debi
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Old Nov 21st, 2006, 08:47 AM
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Hi there...

I wouldn't mind checking my bag if I was flying non-stop. going from JFK-MIA - layover for 4 hours, then flying to Guayaquil Ecuador. Then two days later flying to the Galapagos where there is a lb. limit for the plane anyway, and therefore I am packing extremely light.

Since DH only will be taking a small bottle of shave cream, I'll just load up his 1 ziplock bag with the rest of my girlie items then.

Last thing - chapstick - a liquid/gel? or can I keep in my pants pocket? (a bit addicted to the stuff.)

Thanks!
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Old Nov 21st, 2006, 10:02 AM
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When I flew..chapstick kinds of stuff had to go in baggie.
Debi
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Old Nov 21st, 2006, 10:34 AM
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I just had chapstick in my purse, when I flew to Austin two weeks ago. No issue with that. I just had a checked back, so I didn't have to worry about the quart size bag. Although it looked like people had about 5 or 6 of the 3 oz. or less sizes in their baggies. I agree with Debi. Don't cram them in.
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Old Nov 21st, 2006, 10:35 AM
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a checked bag.
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Old Nov 21st, 2006, 11:16 AM
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I just returned from North Carolina. I went through two airports to get there. After this trip, I still can't figure out what goes where b/c each TSA check told me two different things.

Most everything was in my checked suitcase, except for my purse, with a small make up case (lipstick, lipgloss, blush, comb, make up brush) and this:
In a ziploc clear bag:
Nasonex nasal spray
Saline nasal spray (over the counter, in clear see thru bottle)
Small saline solution for contacts
Small re-wetting drops for contacts
hand lotion
tiny, clear hand sanitizing lotion
-all less than 3 oz and in original containers

I went thru the security check on flight down just fine, no problems, zipped through.

On way home, I was stopped after going thru the check line:
I was told:
First, I had a gallon ziploc bag, not a quart size
(I wasn't paying attention when I grabbed it out of the kitchen drawer) and that was a no-no, but they'd let it go this time.
Second, the following did not belong in my ziploc bag:
my nasonex nasal spray (prescription)
my saline nose spray
my saline eye solution
my re-wetting drops for contacts
(last 3 all non-script and over the counter)

They said they did not belong in the ziploc bag, but in my pocketbook, b/c they were medications and the TSA guy filled out a slip, wrote down the 'meds' told me to put the slip in my pocketbook with the 'medications' and not in the ziploc bag and I would be fine.

He took out my make up bag from my pocketbook and told me the lucite handle on my make up brush looked like liquid to them thru the machine, but it was ok and that my lipgloss had to go in the clear plastic ziploc bag.

So next week when I go to LA, I am still confused why over the counter saline, re wetting drops, etc don't go in the clear plastic (and I'll make sure it's quart size) bag.....


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Old Nov 21st, 2006, 11:35 AM
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IF you want to bring more than a 3 0z sized bottle of contact lense stuff, you can, but it goes in a sep. bag and must be declared. 3 oz or less can go in as part of 1 qt baggie if you want to not have to declare it:

http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtrav...d-items.shtm#1

Hope this helps...
Debi
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Old Nov 21st, 2006, 11:48 AM
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I just came back from a 1-night biz travel trip and didn't want to check a bag.

I actually fit quite a bit in my quart sized bag all in the 3 oz. or less size (sunscreen, lip gloss, makeup, mascara, shampoo, conditioner, etc.) and I believe as long as the ziploc closes comfortably they have been OK with it at least so far for me.
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Old Nov 21st, 2006, 12:08 PM
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thanks for all your replies.

The website thinks to put ice pick, but not baby wipes. it's just all so confusing and makes someone not want to go anywhere.

I hate checking my bag and so I'll have to work around these new rules! (if i need to leave the hair anti-frizz home cause it doesnt fit in my baggie, so be it.)
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Old Nov 21st, 2006, 12:16 PM
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Have you considered just taking less stuff?
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Old Nov 21st, 2006, 12:40 PM
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Sorry Mike - I'm a woman. Not possible.

I have - and I will - just want to get as much as I can in my 1-quart bag!
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Old Nov 21st, 2006, 01:11 PM
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thereadbaron--We are heading to FL soon, and my teenage daughter is so afraid that all her stuff won't fit in a quart size bag, lol! She has already plotted to use her brothers allowance for it. We are already stocked up on the little bottles from the Container Store, but we too are anticipating cramming a lot in that little bag, lol!
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Old Nov 21st, 2006, 02:50 PM
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Debi: that is why I was confused - I had a 3 oz or less saline, etc and this tsa guy told me it could not go in my plastic ziploc bag, it had to go in my pocketbook and be a 'medication' - i don't get it.
one says it's ok in the ziploc, the next security check in on the way home said no. I am filing this under go figure. same for my less than 3 oz re-wetting drops and my saline nose spray, he said all had to go in my pocketbook on the 'med list'.
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Old Nov 21st, 2006, 03:31 PM
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I've flown with my daughter a few times recently and baby wipes are not counted at liquids.

However, more than one airline tried to tell me that my 2 year old paying passenger wasn't entitled to her own ziplock bag (with her liquid tylenol, purell, etc.). I thought it was one per passenger, not one per family, but rather than fight that battle, I managed to get all of her stuff and mine into the same ziplock.
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Old Oct 23rd, 2007, 10:54 PM
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I am an airline employee so I have a very comprehensive knowledge of the TSA restrictions. I impacts what I can bring for lunch. But when traveling, these are the rules, at least as of 24Oct2007.

Anything liquid, gel or cream that is a "medical item" (that would include all liquid, cream or gel prescripton items, contact lens solutions, most over the counter cream, liquid or gel medication--say preparationH, KY, cough syrup) is not restricted to the the 3oz/1quart baggie restriction. Passengers traveling with infants and people with diabeties have additional exemptions. Check the TSA website.

My procedure is to pack my liquid, cream, and gel cosmetic items in the "official one quart" baggie, but place my disposible contact lenses (they are packed in saline), small bottle of contact lens solution, and hemoriod cream (total disclosure here) in a separate baggie, and then pull both the "official baggie" and the "medicianal baggie" out of my carry on for inspection at the checkpoint. I have never been stopped! Except for the 8oz water bottle that I forgot I had in my purse.

Trust me...my "official baggie" is stuffed to the limit...barely any airspace left, and no on has ever stopped me. I am speaking from a traveler not employee point of view. I was traveling from ORD thru JFK (and I left the secure area for a delicious smoky treat and had to re-clear security) to BCN to MAD and back from MAD to ATL to ORD. Trust me, by having those items out and available separate from the hair products, toothpaste, petroleum jelly, lip gloss and cologne, it was a breeze.

And, to all of you who think that all prescriptions are restricted from carry-on luggage...the original restriction was only on liquids, gels and creams, never pills. PILLS ARE NOT SUBJECT TO INSPECTION!!! You can have hundreds of solid pills. AND LIQUID, GELS AND CREAMS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN ALLOWED...as long as they are in their original packaging and exhibited outside your carry-on luggage. I put them in a baggie just to make it convenient.

Does this clear things up?
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Old Oct 24th, 2007, 07:34 AM
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I have travelled pretty extensively in the past 6 months for both business and pleasure and have found that regardless of what the "official" site says, every airport is slightly different in their interpretation of the rules.
I had one agent remove my mascara (not exactly a liquid or gel) and tell me to put in into my quart-sized bag. Then on the return trip, when my quartsized bag was full and couldn't zip all the way, another agent took my mascara out of the bag and told me it belonged in my purse, then helped me cram everything else into the bag so that it would zip.
They are nice, but inconsistent, so if you don't want the hassle of being stopped or trying to figure it all out, just check the bag and only take what you MUST have until you get your luggage.
Regarding lip items, I have never had lipstick or chapstick pulled out. Only lip gloss that could be squeezed out.
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Old Oct 24th, 2007, 09:12 AM
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This is interesting about some TSA screeners telling people what can't go in their zip lock bags. I haven't run into that. For short trips, I don't fill my baggie all the way with liquids, so I just throw the other toiletries in there too - toothbrush, eye shaddow, eye liner pencil, etc. It is just easier to have 1 bag of stuff. No one has ever questioned that.

On many occasions, my baggie has been stuffed so that it is a challenge to close it. No one has ever taking issue with that either.
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Old Oct 24th, 2007, 09:20 AM
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I fly very frequently and haven't checked a bag since having my luggage lost 3 times in 6 months several years ago. I have found it helpful to print the most recent rules off the TSA website (the date printed will be noted on the bottom) since in my experience and as others have pointed out, many TSA officers do not correctly or consistently apply the rules. For example, once when I tried to declare my 4 oz contact lens solution as per the regs I was told I had to throw it away because it exceeded the 3 oz limit. After pulling out the rules and requesting a supervisor, I was allowed on my way. I was also once told that my unlabeled bottles (i.e., clear generic toiletries bottles I'd purchased - 1 oz. size) were not allowable because they were unlabeled. I won that fight but it took quite a while, so now I just keep and reuse hotel bottles for my shampoo, conditioner, etc.

Also, if it doesn't look like a liquid, they don't know it is one (i.e. a credit-card shaped palatte of lip gloss stays in my purse without problem, as does a pen-shaped spritzer of hand sanitizer). I've never had a problem with lipstick or chapstick in my bag - per the TSA website that's ok.
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Old Oct 24th, 2007, 10:14 AM
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While you are trying to bend if not abuse the rules, please be so kind as to not be the person in front of me.

Seriously....have some consideration for your fellow travelers. This is not all about you.
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