DinaMia

Hi! We are first time international travelers. I was trying to decipher the rules and read about the oz. limitations on your soap items, which is fine, cause many "travel" size items you can buy are below that amount. But, do I really have to transfer them to a clear bottle? I was just going to stash the store bought travel size shampoos and gels into a zip-loc. Any feedback on this?

Thanks!!

flgirl0817

Your store bought travel size bottles are fine. You do not have to transfer them to clear bottles.

janisj

"<i>But, do I really have to transfer them to a clear bottle?</i>"

Where did you hear/read that? The containers don't need to be clear. The baggie they are in must be clear, but not the individual containers.

kayd

Whether your trip is domestic or international, the TSA screening is the same, as far as I can tell. Has anyone here seen anything suggesting different TSA lines or procedures based on the traveler's destination?

J62

TSA procedures are no different for domestic or international flights. The agents screening bags don't know if I'm going to gate 1 or gate 2.

DinaMia

Thanks. I can't remember whereI read it. Also, at Target and near the travel size products, there is a clear bag with clear bottles in it. Maybe I just read that the bag needed to be clear and then I saw the bottles and it led my mind in that direction. But, thanks for the clarification!

J62

You don't need any fancy clear bag. A 1qt ziploc bag is just fine. You used to have to take the bag out of your luggage and place it separately on the x-ray belt, but that's no longer the case. You can just leave it inside your carry-on.

qwovadis

3 oz max all liquids semi-solids

aerosols in a clear bag

presented outside your luggage best.

Actually got caught with a 4 oz bottle

of Pepto Bismol in my luggage forgot it was

a liquid they took it away from me had to

go with the tablets next flight.

So they can be very picky even on domestic flights.

suze

The only rule is nothing larger than 3 oz. in size and all fitting in a 1-quart ziplock.

Doesn't matter clear or not. Or if you buy it or package it yourself from larger containers.

mrwunrfl

>near the travel size products, there is a clear bag with clear bottles in it<

I suppose that people would buy that bag of empty bottles and then pour shampoo and stuff from big bottles into those small bottles. You can do that and then reuse the bottles.

Of course, you can buy travel sized bottles of stuff and then reuse those bottles too.

Cranachin

Maybe people know this tip, but I request product samples and use them for travel. There are entire websites that are dedicated to showing you who has samples of what on offer currently.

You can get small containers of shampoo, conditioner, body wash, lotion, toothpaste, and such that meet the requirements for carry-ons.

Another tip - you can also use conditioner for shaving, so that you don't have to pack shaving cream/gel/foam. Works both for ladies on legs and for men on faces.

Cranachin

Deodorant is another item that is sometimes available as samples.

kybourbon

>>>>The only rule is nothing larger than 3 oz. in size <<<

It's actually 3.4oz.

talentsfromindia

You need not to transfer them to clear bottle,but you can give a try to zip-loc them as you are going for the first time.

LT

Here are my travel tips:

- Target & Walgreens are especially good for finding a wide variety of travel-size items.

- Go to your local department store & get "matchbook" samples of cologne/perfume

- Lush sells all-natural solid shampoo bars (http://www.lushusa.com/shop/products...olid-shampoos/). I usually get one if I'm staying somewhere where they either don't have shampoo, or it's not so great.

suze

3.4 really? the things you learn on Fodor's!! thanks.

kayd

3.4 oz is 100 ml, the standard in the rest of the industrialized world.

suze

But aren't the liquids on flights rules from the TSA (a U.S. agency)? As far as the "rest of the industrialized world" comment above.

kayd

I do not expect a TSA agent to look closely enough to see the difference between 3 ounces and 100 ml. I went for a couple of years before noticing that one of my travel liquids was clearly marked 3.4 oz/100 ml; it had been in my clear baggie and never questioned by TSA.

At the same time, I would not be surprised if the occasional agent did scrutinize every small bottle. It happened to one of my friends -- an agent gave her grief because the capacity was not marked on each of her tiny containers, all of which she purchased specifically for their TSA-appropriate size.

NoFlyZone

>But aren't the liquids on flights rules from the TSA (a U.S. agency)?

Yes. And the TSA rule is 3.4 oz, which is equivalent to 100 ml. You can look it up!

They say 3-1-1 because too many travelers are simply too stupid to understand decimals. Plus 3.4-1-1 is really dumb as a catch phrase.