Help with current carry-on regulations
 

I know there is a site that tells us what we may and may not do...but the initials escape me. Is it TSA, NSA or something else ?

I am especially curious about duct tape. I'm thinking I should have some on my mouth.

Politics aside, I'd appreciate current information.

Thanks !

Marion

http://www.tsa.gov/

That's the link, Marion. Where the distinctions are drawn are hilaroius and non-sensical, but unfortunately,not too surprising...but I digress.

MAH:

Thanks for the quick reply :-) It IS nice to have an attorney in the Fodor's family :-)

Marion

The Washington Post travel section today has a number of articles about packing given the new regulations. Here is a link:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...110300595.html

Oh, Marion, good luck! I feel so put out about the new regulations, especially when I read articles like the ones posted here under the Airlines section that say that explosives, knives, and guns are still sneaking by with alarming ease through security. But that I cannot carry on board more than 3 ounces of sunscreen when I travel. Have you ever tried looking for a regulation-size container of sunsceen?!

El-Al doesn't seem to have these problems. Maybe all airlines should get on board with their methods of screening.

Beachdreams...thanks for the link. I appreciate all the information I can gather.

EJ...My mantra for the next few days is "smile and agree".

I'm really not paranoid, but on my trip home from Nevis in July, the lady in the airline wheelchair was singled out. They found something "suspicious" in my purse. I watched as they tore the lining apart, broke the zipper and found nothing. My purse was returned as a pile of shredded straw, leaving me to try to carry it on.

Oh well, thus my mantra and the duct tape :-)

Marion

Ejcrowe,

I agree completely about the limited availability of 3 oz or less sunscreen products, and even if you can find them, those one quart bags are tiny, so it is hard to fit different SPF products and other essentials in them. Two thoughts, 1) Doctors may have some small samples(my dermatologist sometimes does), and 2)There was a link in one of the Washington Post articles I posted to a company that has lots of travel size products including sunscreen(http://www.minimus.biz/SearchResult....ords=sunscreen).

hi, beachdream. thanks for posting the link--i'll check it out right now!

The problem with taking 3 oz. of sunscreen (as allowed in your carry-on) is it won't go very far (it's certainly not enough for a week vacation) so if you need more you pretty much are resigned to either checking your luggage (which I never do) or buying it when you get to your destination. I guess those of us who do only carry-on have no choice but to budget an extra $15 to $30 for sunscreen.

A_Traveller, more like budget US $15 per bottle. For a week's vacation, my husband and I would go through at least one bottle each. While US $30 is not a lot of money compared to what the whole vacation costs, it becomes quite a drag.

I just came back from a long weekend in Memphis where I fit maybe 1/3 of the toiletries I need and use into that wretched 1-quart bag. Luckily I was staying with friends who could provide me with some items such as shower gel or toothpaste. I fear this marks the beginning of checked baggage for my future Caribbean travel. <sigh>

We plan on checking all our "liquids" on the way down only. We'll use almost everything, and whatever we don't use will get tossed. We'll pack it in a nylon tote that will fit in our carry on when empty. This way, on the way home, it's just carryone.

ejcrowe - you are right - I meant $15 to $30 per person for sunscreen. Funny how those little nuances sometimes get lost when we put our thoughts into words. For me the cost is not a great issue but I can cetainly see how it can effect a budget minded travellers. One has to remember though that if the on-island price is say $15 per bottle your "extra" expense is only the difference between the price back home and the price on the island - so it may not be as bad as it first sounds and hopefully not enough to spoil one's vacation plans.

Doesn't El Al profile? That's a big no-no in the U.S.

A_Traveller, I re-read your post and I think you were actually quite clear. I was just being momentarily obtuse! :D

It's definitely a drag all around, whether you're talking about per person or total cost for all toiletries that have to be purchased on vacation because one doesn't want to give up his or her carry-on only personal policy.

carrybean, I've never flown El-Al myself, but my husband flew them on a trip to Israel a few years ago. I don't know about the profiling, but every passenger is submitted to an inquiry by two highly-trained secret-service types who read people's eye-darts, their body language, their voice modulation, etc. And I think that every piece of luggage is sniffed by dogs.

I have no idea who foots the bill for that kind of cost, whether it's the airline or the government or both (is it perhaps a government-owned airline?), but they sure do have a fantastic safety record. I belive it is unequalled by any other airline...

Oh, I agree but I've always heard they profile. I'm not knocking El Al at all.

Here's a BBC report from a few years ago on El Al's security practices, including their profiling. It may be non-PC but I'm all for it, including profiling:

http://tinyurl.com/yg6bfv

If you can find sunscreen at an airport store located AFTER the screening process, you can absolutely carry it onto the plane. That's part of the latest easing of restrictions by the TSA. Although I'm pretty sure their prices will also be much higher than at Target or CVS. :-)

The only problem with this is that if you have a layover that involves going through the screening process, again, you won't be able to do this. :-(


A bit of a typo in their press release but there you go:
"We have also taken steps to ensure the security boarding areas after you pass through our security checkpoints. Therefore, you any liquid, gel, or aerosol purchased such as coffee or soda in the secure area after you process through a security checkpoint is allowed aboard your plane."
http://www.tsa.gov/press/happenings/..._guidance.shtm