The Transportation Security Administration is reminding flyers not to pack drills, Magic-8 Balls or golf clubs in the carry-on bags this holiday season.
On the TSA’s long list of prohibited items in carry-ons, most can be chalked up to “common sense” said Lisa Farbstein, a spokesperson for TSA.
“The idea is that nobody should have access to a weapon while onboard a flight,” Farbstein said.
At security checkpoints, the most commonly flagged items are knives and tools, like hammers. Farbstein said that it’ll slip flyers’ minds they they have their knives tucked in a pocket of their bags.
“Hunting knives, boy scout knives, tactical fighting knives. You can’t even imagine how many knives there are made in this world today,” Farbstein said.
Travelers caught with a prohibited item have a few options: put it in your checked bag, leave it with a non-flyer, run it to your car or voluntarily abandon it with TSA. Collected items are donated to the state and sold at an annual auction, usually in October.
An estimated 6.7 million passengers will travel by air this holiday season, according to AAA’s latest report, the highest in 15 years. If you plan to travel with gifts, a plastic lightsaber is fine, but leave the Magic-8 Ball in the checked bag, since it exceeds the 100-milliliter liquid rule.
Farbstein recommends flyers place questionable items in their checked bags, or search the TSA’s website or app which features a “What Can I Bring?” tool or tweet a picture to TSA’s account for advisement.
“If it’s in the belly of the plane instead of the cabin of the plane, typically that’s good to go,” Farbstein said.
