Fucking A, could the regulations on carry-ons be more inconvenient?

[LeftyMom]

Apparently when flying every gel, liquid or substance used to keep from smelling in a horribly confined space with recycled air has to be in a container 3 ozs or smaller. Personally I want my seatmates to have about a gallon of deodorant with them, because I think the odds of sitting next to somebody with horrific BO are astronomically higher than somebody trying to blow the plane up with a tube of Speed Stick, let alone succeeding at it, but maybe that's just me.

Here's my problem: no store I've checked sells 3 oz travel bottles to dump shampoo, lotion, etc in. Everybody has 4 oz ones and the TSA says those aren't acceptable. I'm sure that some obscure travel store can be found to overcharge me for the oddly-sized TSA mandated bottles, but where the hell am I going to find a 3 oz tube of toothpaste? Or a 3 oz deodorant? It's an overnight flight, I'm going to need both. At the absolute minimum I can get by with that and check the rest of my body care goodies or buy new on arrival, but clean teeth and pits are not fucking negotiable, and it really pisses me off that the Bush administration's determination to scare the piss out of the electorate at every opportunity has now effected my choice of deodorant. Deodorant, ferfucksake.

[Kutjara]

1. Some of the uberprice cosmetics shops...

...like Sephora, Crabtree & Evelyn and Body Shop sell little travel packs of stuff that meet the airline requirements (usually in little designer see-through bags, so you don't even have to repack them.) Of course, they cost about three times as much as just buying the regular size, but that was probably the point of the ban anyway.

It amazes me that they still haven't lifted the ban, given that it's been pretty comprehensively demonstrated that you'd have to smuggle on about a metric ton of "liquids" before you could cook up anything even minorly explosive in an aircraft restroom.

[LeftyMom]

2. I'm sure some campaign donor owns a tiny platic bottle factory or something.

The complicating factor here is that I have to find not just the overpriced travel sized goodies, but overpriced travel size vegan goodies.

Shit, I think I'm going to have to go to Whole Foods to get them. :cry:

[Kutjara]

4. I think Whole Foods is your best bet.

My wife buys alot of her stuff there and I think she got travel sized stuff too. The problem is, of course, they don't have the full range of toiletries in travel size, so you have to hope they decided to micro-size your preferred brand.

edit: Aveda may be a good place to look, too. I'm sure they have vegan products, although, since I'm only remembering half-heard conversations with my wife, I can't be sure.

[LeftyMom]

5. Yeah, I think they only have two or three brands with tiny sizes.

Oh well, I only need them for the flight there and back. I can just stick the stuff I prefer in a checked bag (in a big zip-lock, so if it leaks I don't get shampoo or whatever all over my clothes.)

As if traveling weren't annoying enough. *sigh*

[Whoa_Nelly]

3. Flew recently for the first time in over three years

Target has a whole side of one aisle dedicated to small travel items. I went there and got a travel t-paste, a packet of facial cleansing cloths(ugh!), an itty-bitty deodorant (not my brand but it was OK for the trip), a 30-count box of Q-tips, and a travel size tube of body lotion...and it had to all fit into a small ziplock baggie per regulations. (I used quart size baggie)
Once I reached my destination, picked up my regular skin care/lotion and shampoo/conditioner.

Also, I had to select a few make-up items, and put those in a separate small ziplock baggie, and BOTH baggies had to pass through x-ray out of the carry on bag. I passed muster, but it did cost me more once I got to where I was going. :grr:

Lucklily it was a one-way flight for me as I drove back with the friend I went to see.

[SeattleGirl]

6. Wow. You took a one-way flight and didn't get sent to Gitmo?

They must be getting less crazy about one-way flights. That used to be a really big red flag!

[Kutjara]

7. I think the trick is not to quibble about the airport tax.

Saying, "I should only pay half the tax, 'cause the plane won't be landing at no airport," is a giveaway.

[Whoa_Nelly]

11. ROFLMAO!

:rofl:

[Whoa_Nelly]

10. And I flew into SEATAC!

BWAHAHAHAHAHA! :evilgrin:

Was only in the area less than 24 hours. Went there to help best friend leave a horrible marriage. I flew in, we packed up her car, and drove out early the next morning, The jerk husband was off spending more money they didn't have skiing at Big Sky, MT for a week. (a jerk for more reasons than just the money situation...)

[SeattleGirl]

19. Since you were helping a friend leave a bad situation, I'll forgive

you for not calling me, you bad girl! :P :loveya:

[Whoa_Nelly]

22. That was what I was so hoping you would say!

:hug: :loveya: :pals:

[SeattleGirl]

25. Well, I admire the hell out of you for helping your friend!

What's not to love? :loveya: :hug: :loveya:

[LeftyMom]

8. I looked there tonight for the empty containers but they had the too-big ones.

The prefilled stuff there won't work for me, as the big brands tend to have animal products in them. There really aren't any sample-sizes to speak of at the local health food place where I usually get my body care stuff, but I guess I can get something at Whole Foods, even if it's not a brand I'd normally get.

[Shakespeare]

9. I just had to round up all that stuff a few weeks ago...

I found everything I needed at Target--the refillable shampoo bottles are 2 oz (in that section where they have travel sizes of everything).

[LeftyMom]

12. The only ones I found were 4 ozs

Maybe they were just out. :shrug:

[philosophie_en_rose]

13. The regulations don't make any sense whatsoever.

You can have more than 3 ounces of a liquid. You can have up to a quart of it, as long as you pack it in 3 ounce bottles and stuff it in the ziploc.

So what difference would it make to increase the limit to 4 ounces? If it's needed at all.

[AlCzervik]

14. i flew in December and i had some small bottles of shampoo and the like, not

one of them was under 4oz..

[Common Sense Party]

15. I found all my travel-sized stuff at Wal-Mart.

Yeah, that's right. Wal-Mart.

Had to throw away my shaving cream and hair gel as I was leaving Salt Lake, and needed to find some replacement stuff in a hurry when I got to Billings. Wal-Mart was open, and had what I needed.

[petronius]

16. Do you really need to ask?

Of course they can be made more inconvenient - just give TSA a couple of days to figure out how best to do it.

But whatever you do, don't make any jokes or comments to the TSA minions about what a pointless hassle it all is - the little checkpoint Napoleons enjoy nothing better than pulling you aside and flaunting their nation-saving mighty rectitude at you...

Have a good trip!

[LeftyMom]

17. I will have the best of trips, and try to save my attitude problem for those who love it.

I have a tendency to get very neurotic about packing and other details whenever I travel. I really, really, really didn't need a whole new dimension of stuff to obsess over.

[petronius]

18. I know exactly what you mean - there are more than enough issues and

details involved with travel as it is, without a whole host of inane regulations designed by idiots to be 'doing something' and to 'make people feel safe.'

[Name removed]

20. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Ellen Forradalom]

21. Oh, it's terrible.

A vulture tried to board a flight with two dead raccoons. The flight attendant stopped him and said, "I'm sorry, sir, but only one carrion is allowed per passenger."

[XemaSab]

23. You've never seen the little sample bins at the drug store?

Or you could take some toothpaste and wrap it in a little sqidge of saran wrap in your pocket and hope they don't notice/care. :P

[hfojvt]

24. the only things you need to keep from smelling in a confined space

are nose-plugs. Those are usually under 3 ounces. :evilgrin:

[LeftyMom]

26. Since somebody kicked anyhow, an update

I got the trial-sized stuff at whole paycheck and the little bottles at the dollar tree. I need to think of a new thing to worry about, until then I'm going to worry about the lack of things to worry about. Yes, I really am that neurotic (and yes dear, the tickets are nonrefundable and you're stuck with my crazy ass.)

[GalleryGod]

27. Geez...thanks for the really Retro F-Bomb

Haven't heard that one since the mid 70's:hippie:
You don't have a CVS near you?
They sold me 3 oz. "travel" bottles (9,to be exact) in December.
2006,that is.

[LeftyMom]

28. CVS?

We don't have those here. I found them at the dollar store though.

As for the expression, it must be making a comeback- I wasn't even born in the 70's.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

29. Yes, they could be far worse ...

The English maroon Richard Reid could have brought explosives aboard rectally, instead of in his shoe. Think of the ensuing TSA inspection lines if that was the case.

Anyway, regarding the 3 oz limit. How many 3 oz bottles can be crammed into a 1-quart plastic bag? Forget the toothpaste and deodorant - leave those in checked baggage. Fill all the 3 oz bottles with scotch and you won't care about the other passengers on a long flight.

:rofl:

[MissMillie]

30. why not pack that stuff in your checked luggage?

then it doesn't matter what size it is.

If it gets lost, a quick stop at a CVS after you pick up your rental car....

[electron_blue]

34. You're right! Of course, this works best when your luggage arrives with you.

I have rotten luck with this over the last 10 years - many many many bags lost or delayed by 6+ hours.

[fudge stripe cookays]

35. Where are you flying? Yikes!

I flew tons last year out of DFW, to/from multiple locations in Cali, Seattle, SLC, O'Hare, etc. and have only had a problem once-- from Calgary to Dallas, because I was very late getting on the flight and the bags didn't make it.

I carry two REALLY heavy suitcases with SCRAPBOOKS in them and in the other, I carry a scanner packed in its box.

[electron_blue]

44. I don't fly often (anymore) through DFW. In fact I don't remember ever losing bags through dfw

My bags were lost on flights going through Phoenix Skyharbor, Honolulu, Madrid, Atlanta (for 5+ trips), Tallahassee (2 separate trips), Minneapolis, Cleveland, and Albuquerque. These are just the ones I remember off the top of my head and all those bags eventually caught up with me anywhere from about 6 hours to 3 days later.

And last Christmas, due to bad weather, we had to stay over in a hotel in Atlanta. True, our bags weren't lost, we were just separated from them due to the cancelled flights. We made the first flight out (away from home), got to Atlanta and then the rest of the flights to our ultimate destination were cancelled. Anyway, we had to overnight it w/o the bags. I was glad to have all contact stuff, soap, glasses, meds and whatnot.

[jakefrep]

31. The terrorists probably laugh their asses off....

...every time TSA flinches at one of their Rube Goldberg schemes to blow up an airplane.

[CabalPowered]

32. Technically it's 3.4 fl. oz.

Can you get any more arbitrary than that? :eyes:

[electron_blue]

33. And don't forget prescription medicines have to be packed in a special-er way now.

Contact lens solutions also have to be in 3oz or smaller sizes and try transferring that stuff - what a load of crap. .Plus due to a severe nut allergy, my daughter can't eat airplane or airport food, so I have to find somthing nutfree to pack that also falls within the guidelines. Plus the drink. plus the stupid little containers and only one carry-on per person, including all of her toys and change of clothing (just in case!).

After the last holiday traveling I told my family forget it, they can come see us next time.

None of this is actually designed to keep us safer. It's designed to make us feel like TSA is doing *something* and they want to get us to look at eachother more suspiciously - make us afraid in the airport.

[sir_captain]

36. How was there a deleted sub-thread here?

DU never ceases to amaze me.

[GoneOffShore]

37. If you want to get some tips about this

head over to http://www.flyertalk.com/forumsfr2.shtml and get the lowdown on getting through security unscathed(relatively).

Not to tempt providence, but I've gone through the WTMD (walk through metal detector) with chap stick in my pockets and gotten some small bottles through the Xray in my briefcase.

Sometimes they just ignore stuff and sometimes they don't . Most of the checkers are time serving, useless pogues with Napoleonic complexes so you get yelled at . Just watch out for the SSS (secondary security screening) if you get caught. They do that for revenge. And don't take your eyes off your stuff. The X-ray belt is where things disappear.

I keep a copy of the TSA complaint form in my briefcase and a copy of the 4th Amendment is on my desktop if I have to open my laptop.
:evilgrin:

Try L'Occitaine for liquid toiletries. If you buy something they'll give you free sample sachets.

Oh and guess what, 100ML bottles are just .3oz TOO big for TSA. The bottles won't fit up Kip Hawley's orifice I guess. ( Kip is head of TSA)

[Kali]

40. "copy of the 4th Amendment is on my desktop "

:thumbsup:


troublemaker

[Lautremont]

38. I'm never flying through the States again if I can help it.

Came back from Iceland last week with a bottle of Brennevin in my pocket: a smallish bottle, officially sealed into a plastic bag. No problem, until I get to Boston.

The security guy was nice about it, helping me try to figure out how to go back up and get it into my checked-in bags, but it was too late for that. "But it's ICELANDIC!" he kept saying, in despair, trying to persuade me to do an O.J. through the airport so I could save my booze. He was more upset than I was. I wasn't upset at all, actually, just a little bummed. After all, it's ICELANDIC!

[BluePatriot]

39. Honestly

you could probably get away with tacking your own labels on that say "3 ounces" esp if the items are relatively small. Just whip out the printer and have fun!

[yy4me]

41. I bought all the 3 oz size stuff at the local CVS at the overpriced

cost of $1.00 for the mini's. Next day I had to go to Wal-Mart and they had the exact same size of the same products at 50 cents. This 3 oz requirement is a bonanza for Lever brothers et al. We are paying through the nose to comply. I will now save those empties from the shampoo for future refill from my own home supply. Kinda stuck with the toothpaste. Plus, one of those bitty tubes is about a days worth of toothpaste for me. The Container store sells empties at a reasonable price. Heavier weight plastic. Go to: www.containerstore.com or go to www.minimus.com for sample sizes of almost anything.

[northzax]

42. i've never had a problem with deoderant

although I have lost my toothpaste every now and then.

[madinmaryland]

43. Just save the little bottles from hotels?

Just re-use the ones you get in hotels. I'm cheap, and just refill the little bottles.