bramsole

We are leaving Friday for Italy. I have packed my quart bag and it is full of potions, creams, and all manner of goodies to maintain my lovely complection.

What about lipstick and roller-ball pens or regular cheap pens? Do I have to cram them into my quart baggie, or will they be able to travel in my handbag?.

I use the pens on the flight over, when I am reading my travel guides. I always lose then, so I like to take several with me.

Do y'all think I am o.k. to put my lipstick in my purse? When we flew to Paris last year, I didn't give this a thought, but after reading around a few sites it seems like this is something people rant about.

I see businessmen writing all the time when we fly in the states and I know they sale thought.. I have had several things confiscated early on, but no one has paid attention to the pens, that I know of anyway.

If it makes any difference, we always fly Delta and carry on everything.

Thanks for replying to the last minute question.

janisj

Solid "bullet shaped" things like lipstick, chapstick, solid deodorant are fine - not considered liquid/gel (back in the beginning these types of products had to be in the baggie - but the rules changed quite some time ago)

Pens/shapries/etc are absolutely fine in your handbag.

Jean

I've left lipstick and pens in my purse with no problems.

The only prohibited items that surprise me are the gel inserts I like to put in some of my shoes. They can go in checked luggage but not carryon. If the shoes have gel heels (or whatever) built into them, you can wear the shoes onto the plane, but they must be screened.

Have a great trip!

bramsole

Janisj and Jean,

Thanks so much for the quick replies. Now ladies, I can go to bed.

What are we doing up at one o'clock? I bet most of the men are sound asleep and snoring.

Girls, thank y'all once more.

Jean

bramsole, I'm West Coast, so my post was "only" at 11:00 p.m.

janisj

Me too

SeaUrchin

I have had a gel pen explode from cabin pressure on the plane, seems like a few friends have had this happen to them too. Spoiled my purse with the ink. Now I take just regular ball point pens.

CarolA

OK.

Does ANYONE else "LOVE" the TSA inconsistencies.

Ink pens are "not liquid" Mascara is. (Having bused an "ink pen" there's a LOT more liquid in the things but don't tell the TSA)

Shoe get inserts are banned. Gel inserts in your bra.. bring 'em on!

(And this makes us safer... heck the terrorist will just give women "exploding bra packs" LOL!)

takemealong

I don't think that the TSA cares about pens. However, like SeaUrchin, I have had pens leak on a plane. I try to remember to take ballpoints for that reason.

annhig

on our recent trip to Barcelona, at Bristol airport they were assiduous in checking that liquids were carried in that little bag. [and they made me check my "carry-on" bag too, despite the fact that it was only the wheels that made it too big!]

on the way back, they didn't give a fig for liquids, or the size of the bag, but they were determined that we only carried on one item of hand-luggage.

so just because a rule applies on the way out, don't count on its applying on the way back. or vice versa!

Jean

Inconsistent rule enforcement isn't really new. Both before and after 9/11, we've experienced varying levels of airport security (and sometimes no security at all) around the world.