My husband always carries a pocket knife. It's habit. Once in a while, he forgets it's there. It may be a "duh" moment to some, but it happens.

And I always have a book of stamps with me.

@mrssparky - thanks! I'll check it out.

I contacted the TSA regarding this issue. Here is the part of their response relevant to our discussion:

Passengers are provided several options for disposing of prohibited items, assuming that possession of the items is not prohibited by law. Passengers may (1) ask their air carriers to place the items in checked baggage; (2) return the items to their vehicles; (3) give the items to non-traveling companions; or (4) mail the items if possible.

You'd better print that out and take it with you. And keep your fingers crossed. Just because someone at TSA said that, doesn't mean the person you're dealing with will honor it.

It's that "if possible" part of #4 that's going to get ya. It really is 1,000 times easier just to check the item in the first place or not take it.

When I traveled in a large group in high school, one of the adults usually said "remember to put anything sharp and pointy in your checked bag tomorrow morning" the last evening. The next morning, they would give one more reminder to put anything into checked bags that needed to be checked when we loaded the bus to head for the airport. If you still forgot, you lost the item at security and no whining allowed.

If you're worried about your husband forgetting that he has a pocket knife, pin a note to the top of his bag so that when he packs and when he puts the bag in the car there's a visual reminder to check for the pocket knife. Anything that I need to remember the day I fly out is put on a note and put on the handle of my bag so that I can't miss it.

Remember to remove the note when you load the bags in the car, otherwise it just looks strange. ;)

@Iowa redhead: good tips!

<And I always have a book of stamps with me.>

I'm guessing most people do not.

If you can remember to always pack stamps, why can't you just remember not to go thru security with prohibited items?

Our neighbor's pocket knife tripped him up at the airport so he pushed it into the dirt of a potted plant in the lobby and when he returned, he retrieved it again.

...Beware of Airport Mailers...

A company called Airport Mailers provides drop boxes at the security checkpoints and offers to "Mail it Home Safely" any items that you forgot to leave behind. They currently charge $12.95 to $24.95 plus postage for this service. The problem is they don't bother to insure the shipment when returning your item. When my item was lost by the USPS they refused to offer me any compensation. They have twice said they would credit back my card but have failed to follow through on that offer as well. At this point I have paid them to lose my item for me. Hope this helps someone else not to have the same experience.

This post is 3 years old.

Yes, at Atlanta airport. Went to a window where I bought a mailer and mailed my Swiss Army knife home. I think it was a regular US post office.