Travel Tips and Information

TSA Don'ts: Think you can take that item on a plane? Think again.

Imagine you’ve just spent the last week traveling. You’re ready to get home, see your family, tell them about what you did and show them what you bought. You get to the TSA security checkpoint, and find out that one of your keepsakes isn’t TSA-approved for your carry-on luggage!

Our Field Specialists at the airport see this all the time! So what are some of those TSA don’ts? Buyer beware of:

Anything that may be mistaken as a gun. Weapons may be an obvious “no”, but fake weapons are too. Whether you are buying a model musket from your trip to DC or a Buzz Lightyear toy gamma ray gun at Disney World, it’s not going to make it on the plane! Nerf guns and water guns are out too.

Snow globes. Snow globes make great keepsakes. Unfortunately, there is no way for TSA to determine how much liquid is in the globe. TSA regulations permits only 3.4 ounces or less per item…so no snow globes.

Toy swords. For the same reason you can’t take a toy gun on a plane, you can’t take toy swords, even if it’s made out of foam.

(That being said, lightsabers get the TSA stamp of approval. May the force be with you.)

Sports equipment. Excel Sports travelers – check the baseball bats, pool cues, canoe paddles and lacrosse sticks at the airline counter. These items may be considered a weapon and are just too big to be stored in the cabin.

Instruments. Hey, OnStage travelers– Good news! New rules state that smaller instruments must be allowed on planes, but can be stored on a first-come, first-served basis. If you plan of traveling with a larger instrument (i.e. double bass), you may have to purchase an additional seat for storage. Another option we typically recommend is to rent an instrument when you get to your destination.

Interesting, right? Always make sure prior to flying that your carry-on items are TSA approved. You can find it here.