As I posted in November '08, no TSA officer asked us to put our bags of liquids or gels directly on the belts on flts between Orlando and Boston. Since that time, we have flown a round trip between Boston and Chicago, between Boston and LA and between LA and Phoenix, so a total of 6 segments.

On none of these flts did we place the bag on the belt and on none of them did anyone ask us to.....I have not been monitoring the Airlines board, so maybe this is old info and all of you already know that the TSA seems to not be enforcing this restriction anymore.

Perhaps it is because they knew that the liquid in your carry on bag was less than three ounces.

My in-laws had over 3 oz liquid confiscated at AUS 2 weeks ago. I think that's because they took it out of their carry on. I've left over 3 oz products inside my carry on and no one said anything.

I haven't taken my 1qt bag out in over a year. First time I forgot, and since then I've never been asked. I figure they can see the size of the containers in the x-ray, and after enough training can learn to figure out the size that way.

On your next trip, don't take off your shoes when go through security. I wonder what may happen.

Well, rk....unlike the liquid thing, the TSA person still stands there bellowing, "Be sure to remove your shoes!" So I would be afraid to do that, I might end up in some back room being questioned! .....

We were surprised in Frankfurt earlier this month when not only weren't we asked to remove our shoes, but when I asked about it, the German equivalent of the TSA guy looked at them and told me not to bother.

I always put my quart bag full of less than 3 oz liquid containers on top of my carry-on; I don't want to do anything to slow down the line.

I had a water bottle with just a small amount of red wine in my bag. I knew that if I took it out, they would take it away from me. I left it in my carry-on bag and from the looks I got, they realized there was a little liquid but not enough to cause a problem so they let it go.

I had a nice drink when I got to the gate.

An update---just back from LA and this time I directly asked the TSA person in Boston if you have to take out your plastic bag of liquids and he shook his head no. Now I know Boston can be, shall we say laid back, but in LA no one was enforcing the plastic bag being out of your suitcase either.

Saturday at CLE, my plastic baggie was out (I once forgot to put it out and a friendly TSA agent asked what was in it and believed me. They had to run my computer through a second time, as I had put it in a tray with my shoes and they wanted it separate. They nailed a lady behind me for having too much perfume in her carryon, and a tube of toothpaste, but gave her the option of going back to the airline and putting it in her checked luggage. My wife got special scrutiny as she had brought a loaf of homemade bread, but they were satisfied with her explanation and a look. I thought we might end up having a picnic with the bread and a jar of jam they impounded a few months ago.

I have to say that the TSA agents I have dealt with have always been courteous and helpful, even when that have had to do some unpleasant work.

Sometime within the last year or so (sorry, don't remember exact date) the TSA stopped requiring that the quart bag be removed from your carry-on luggage. When I inquired about itI was told the screeners believe they are adept at identifying the contentens of the qt. bag by viewing on the x-ray machine.

So, while you are still limited to the 3-1-1 rule you can just leave it in your bag.

FYI - several airports I've been through recently have signs to that effect as you enter the security checkpoint.

I didn't take my qt. bag out at Orlando-Sanford a couple weeks ago. Also had a larger container of contact solution in another bag. No one blinked an eye.

Yep - still has to be in the baggie but doesn't have to be screened separately. But I still carry the baggie in an outside pocket of the rollaboard or in my handbag so it is easy to get out if the screeners want a closer look.

"<i>Also had a larger container of contact solution in another bag</i>" Contact lens solution/saline can exceed the 3 oz limit - as can liquid prescriptions

TSA at ATL stopped having you take your liquids bag out for separate inspection a very long time ago but smaller airports seemed to be doing it up until recently. So imagine my surprise this April when I (and, of course, my two teenagers) were all required to the stupid things out and show them. This wasn't just one agent or one line, but all of them. And as I recall we had to do it again when re-clearing security after arrival from abroad.

So I'm going to keep it where I can get to it easily.

"Also had a larger container of contact solution in another bag" Contact lens solution/saline can exceed the 3 oz limit - as can liquid prescriptions

That would depend on the TSA agent on duty at the time.

As with almost everything related to TSA the requirement to have your 3-1-1 bag out of your carry on varies by airport, according to my experience of the last several months.

I travel a lot and I've never had to take off my shoes and jacket anywhere but at a US airport.

I automatically pull out my bag of liquids and put them in the plastic tray things at US airports, but don't do this outside the US unless asked.

My husband decided to test the system about a month ago. He had about 2 ounces of toothpaste left in an 8 ounce tube and thought he could get away with it. NOT. They took it away from him (and this was at a tiny little airport in Colorado). Maybe he'll listen to me next time!

In my experience it's precisely the little tiny airports that are the most likely to catch things like partially used tubes of toothpaste. Can you imagine how stunningly boring that job must be?

I've been asked to remove my shoes in a number of European airports recently: Milan and Prague come to mind.

I wish I had read this before recent travels SFO to VCE and back through Rome FCO, both routing through ATL. A bit of a pain to pull out the bags and separate out the medical allotment (contact lens fluid, neosporin, etc.) in a separate bag (though I am grateful for the separate allowance),& stash them back in.

Everyone's shoes came off. One guy (at ATL) WOULD NOT let a lady through with her long thin scarf on despite her repeatedly not quite getting the directions.

In my experience LAX hasn't been enforcing bags out for almost 2 years now. They seemed to be one of the earlier ones to do this as I was still having to take my bag out at other airports. This year I haven't taken my bag out at LAX, DFW, JFK, MIA or SJU. However just last week SYR was still giving verbal instructions for bags out.