We are travelling to Europe for the first time since the new restrictions as to carry-on items were adopted.

I take five medications, all pills. In the Transit Security Agency announcement it says all medications must be in their own clearly marked containers. Does that include "pills" or just gels, creams, etc.? I ususally put all five kinds of pills together and put in my carry-on.

Please advise. Thanks.

I recently flew back and forth to the UK. Had medications in pill boxes..nobody said a word. But to be absolutely safe you cannot go wrong with using the indivdiual containers since some of these "security" precautions seem often to depend on individual agents and their judgement.

http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtrav...d-items.shtm#2

Please make sure your medications are properly labeled with a professionally printed label identifying the medication and manufacturer's name or pharmaceutical label. The prescription medicine must match the name on the passenger's ticket.

I've always done weekly pill containers but since the new regs have gone into effect, I plan on taking the individually labeled RX bottles. Ask your pharmacist for smaller, labelled bottles big enough to contain an ample supply for your trip. I doubt if they will open containers to check the actual pills so , if you can tell them apart , you might mix two different ones to save a bit of space. Do put the bottles in a qt size ziplock though, no sense asking for trouble

Unfortunately or fortunately depending on how you look at it i think you'll be scrutinized much more if mid-eastern looking or have an Arab name.

I returned 2 days ago. I left on 9/18. Myairports were..home-Asheville, NC to CVG to CDG to Toulouse and return from Biarritz. I can assure you that no one was the least interested in my zip lok bag full of pills. This is the only way that I have ever carried them!

I did mix up some baking soda and salt and put in my carry on bag to have just in case my luggage was delayed. When I was at my first stop I looked at that bag in my bathroom and thought that someone might take it for cocaine or something....I dumped it out!!

Only liquides and gels..no creams or toothpaste. You can have lipstick.

Have a good trip........

&quot;<i>I can assure you that no one was the least interested in my zip lok bag full of pills</i>&quot;

Just because some do carry medications loose in a ziplock - it doesn't mean that is good advice. Of course 80+% of the time that will be fine. BUT - TSA and others do say medications/prescriptions must be in their original packaging w/ the owner's name on the prescriptions.

So - IF you happen to get the one hard-nosed screener at such and such airport who sticks to the rules -- are you prepared to dump out all your meds, or not take the flight??

If the meds are important and you must have them - then carry them in original packaging . . . .

I have been doing it in zip loks for 20 years in all of western Europe with no problems whatsoever.....put the pills in a zip lok and print out the prescriptions and put in the bag if you are concerned....but you will find that no one really cares..........

Last trip I took, Tampa-Anchorage-Tampa, I had a 3.5 oz bottle of expensive cologne, but it was only 1/3 full and you could see through the bottle. At TPA, the TSA agent told me that even though the bottle was 1/3 full, it was still against regulations, but he will let it through because he could clearly see that it was only 1/3 full. In ANC, few days later, I was told that I either had to leave it behind or have it shipped. THE SAME EXACT BOTTLE.

The point is this, if you really need it, don't listen to &quot;nobody cares&quot; advice. All it takes is one agent that follows the rules to the letter and you are &quot;screwed&quot;.

I had to pay $7.50 to have my cologne shipped and it is still not here. It's been 5 days now.

Okay - If the TSA agent refuses your medication - have him/her phone gracejoan. She'll convince them for you Yeah - sure.

What any fodorite says doesn't matter - what TSA says DOES matter. Do what TSA says or do what gracejoan says. It is your choice.

I will repeat what I said previously...juat print out a copy of your prescriptions and put in the zip lok bag..that will have the name/number etc. of your prescription. Certainly much better than taking a bunch of prescription bottles.

You will find that they are not at all interested, but you may feel more comfortable doing that, if you are concerned about it.

Have a good trip...

I am sorry to ask what may be an obvious question but here goes: Can I bring my dinner on board in my carry-on? (JFK-CDG) (Planning a dressed salad in plastic container; probably a slice of frittatta; container of roast vegetables, etc.)

Sealed minis of alcohol if less than 3 ounces?

Thanks..will be traveling for first time with these new regs.

You've never been allowed to bring your own alcohol on the plane, only what you purchase on board.

Food is fine. But no liquids.

&lt; You've never been allowed to bring your own alcohol on the plane, only what you purchase on board. &gt;

Em - duty free.

Ya know - They will feed you on the plane . . . .

Thanks, but I cook a lot better than they do!

Suze, I have always wondered about this. I usually bring my own wine if I am flying an airline that does not offer it without charge. Before these current regulations, I was always told that there was no law to prevent travelers from bringing their own on board but that certain individual airlines discouraged or prohibited one from drinking what they bring on, be it duty free or from home. Obviously many of us carry home wine or liquor from overseas in our hand luggage, or we did prior to this ban. So the issue was not bringing it on, it was opening it on board and consuming it. I thought on-board consumption was not against international law, but was up to the individual airline.

(Now of course this is a moot point; I know I can't bring wine, but the minis are less than 3 ounces.....)

Sorry to hijack your thread - hi gracejoan, how was the trip? what did you think about hotel atalya?
sorry I didn't post you on our return ,but I've been really busy, not leat planning florence and venice. Hope you had agood time though, Ann

Annhig,

Hotel Atalaya was a bit shabby in some areas. It had a rather pretty dining room. My room was all right. The area is remote. A lot of hiking people there..of course. I only spent one night there..originally planned for 2. It was scattered showers. My next stop was for 6 days in the Dordogne and a rather long drive, so I took off for Moissac the following morning after making some calls to find a place to stay. Moissac has a lot of history. All in all, a good trip..ssome new areas and still doing some thinking about all the areas and when/if I would like to spend more time in some areas. Fun to check them all out.

<b>When flying out of the US</b>, the liquid rule right now is this:

- You cannot bring any liquid/gel through the primary security other than those approved by the TSA. Meaning baby formula, saline solution and under 3 fl oz of shampoo/mouthwash/etc, inside the qt-size ziplock bag.

- However, you can buy whatever drinks you want after security and bring them abroad. Coke, bottled water, whatever.

So, if you want to bring your own booze to the airport and bring onboard, you cannot do it, unless you fill them in a (mouthwash) bottle, put them in the zip-lock bag, and pretend that's your mouthwash, cough syrup or whatever.

If you get arrested, please don't say you learn it from me.

On the other hand, if you can buy alcoholic drinks after security, then you're dealing with old airline rules. Nothing to do with 9/11, 8/10, TSA or whatever.