Glittter Glue and the TSA
 

DH, DS15, and I are going to fly from JFK to Dublin in early December. I am sincerely hoping that DS will sleep, but if he does not, I need something to distract him with. He has an HFA diagnosis, and is intellectually extremely high-functioning, but childlike and quirky. Activity books are hard (I've only ever seen a couple of Usbornes that were complex enough to keep him busy for more than a few minutes) although I may grab one of those Dover coloring books, and an adult-oriented word search book is a good idea. I'll have a logic puzzle book for myself, and I might introduce him to those, too. I'm also going to bring emergency candy bars, a couple of Star Wars novels, and some new toys, but I would like a little craft project of some kind, since he loves those, and it will tend to keep him really busy.

I keep seeing little packages of paper cut-out Xmas ornaments in the craft store, which come packaged with markers and a couple of little tubes of glitter glue. The amount of glitter glue is very small, and I don't think I'd have trouble keeping it neat (since I don't think Aer Lingus wants its plane covered in glitter glue), but am I going to have trouble with the TSA? Do I have to open the package, take out the glitter glue, and put it into the ziplock? Can I put the whole craft package in a ziplock and have that be DS's liquids ziplock?

Yes I think you need to put the glue into your ziplock 1-quart bag carry-on allowance, because it would be considered a "gel or liquid". And tubes should be no more than 3 oz. in size.

I figured. I'd prefer not to open the package (or let DS see the surprise) but the stuff is definitely a gel, if not a liquid. The tubes are tiny, probably no more than an ounce, so that's not a problem. The whole thing would fit in the ziplock, but I'm wondering if the TSA would object to having all of those non-liquid items in there. I also may be overthinking all of this, but I (and the other passengers, I'm sure) have a major investment in a peaceful flight with a happy, quiet child.

The whole thing would fit in a 1-quart ziplock? That's only "sandwich" size.

Are you taking any other toiletries or cosmetics in your carry-on? That would also need to be part of your 1-qt allotment.

I'm thinking if you aren't carrying anything else AND it really fits into a 1-qt. ziplock, then you wouldn't need to open it. Just pull it out and show TSA.

But IF you have any thing like your own hand lotion or whatever, then that needs the space in the ziplock.

Hopefully this makes sense. :-)

Good luck. :)

I doubt the TSA would care if you had non-liquids in with the liquids.

Do remember something to cut/pierce the top of the glitter glue (often you have to snip the tip or pierce with a pin or some such) and have some way of resealing the tubes. A tiny bit of duct tape, an extra ziplock bag (or a few extra ziplocks) and maybe some paper towels might be a good idea to pack in carryon as well. Fingernail clippers would probably work fine and I'm pretty sure that TSA doesn't have issues with those.

Thank you, Redhead! I had forgotten that you usually have to open those little tubes! I was thinking tissues would do, but the extra ziplock is a good idea.

I'm pretty sure it'll go in the ziplock, since it's really not a large package, and DS should be entitled to his own ziplock. I'll need mine for my make-up, but my husband doesn't have 12 items and can tuck anything else DS needs in his.

Of course, he'll see it if he has to take it through security, buy DH could probably switch bags with him.

If you want to surprise him with it, surprise him at the airport or when you get ready to leave for the airport. That way there's no issues with him seeing it or not at security, but you'll still get to surprise him.

I was thinking paper towels to use as a work space (I ALWAYS wanted to put that sort of thing right on the very edge of the card and ended up glitter glueing the table) and for easy clean up. Granted, I'm also the type who just ends up covered in that sort of thing. ;) The duct tape was for resealing the individual containers. A strip 6" long wrapped around a pen or tiny chunk of cardboard would be plenty. That might help keep them from drying out and he could continue to use any that is left while you're on vacation or on the way back.

He's quite good at gluing himself, actually, but I was thinking I would hold the glue, and just give it to him as needed. The tubes have caps, so I'm not too worried about resealing if he doesn't use them up. It sounds like I probably will have to surpise him in the airport, but then he will want to open it. Immediately. And we will hear nothing else until it is time to open it. I had been thinking a magazine as a work space, but paper towels might be easier (and more disposable).

"Fingernail clippers would probably work fine and I'm pretty sure that TSA doesn't have issues with those."

I don't know the rules for your side of the world but in Sydney back in 2001, right when all of this started, nail clippers and indeed whole manicure sets were being confiscated. I was extremely annoyed to have lost a new pair of clippers but a gentleman next to us in the queue lost his whole leather-bound, beautiful manicure set. I felt so sorry for him, because they weren't returning these items! I assume the rules haven't changed, but you could contact your airline to confirm.

If you want something to cut the end off the glue, the flight attendants would have scissors - remember they have those juice tetra-paks that have to be opened somehow, but again, confirm with the airline.

Lavandula

That was 2001. Nail clippers have been OK in carry-on for a number of years now.

I think there are metallic markers in craft stores as well. That might me a less stressful solution overall. The glue sounds like something that will keep you from relaxing, and it's vacation, right?