Holiday Gifts That Won

Holiday Gifts That Won't Make It Through TSA Screenings

Travelers in the gift-giving mood should keep in mind what is and isn’t allowed in carry-on and checked luggage before heading to the airport.

It’s the most wonderful time of the year, but also one of the busiest for travel and long airport lines. There are steps you can take to expedite your TSA screening process, but travelers in the gift-giving mood should keep in mind what is and isn’t allowed in carry-on and checked luggage before heading to the airport.

Wrapped gifts. Wrapped gifts are allowed, but if something in the package that needs to be inspected, TSA agents will have to unwrap it. Their re-wrapping skills may not be as good as yours, and the process will slow down the line for everyone else. The TSA recommends waiting until after your travel to wrap gifts, but if you simply must, use gift bags, which can be checked more easily.

Snow globes: Snow globes are allowed in checked baggage, but must contain less than 3.4 ounces of liquid and fit inside a quart-sized plastic bag. That’s about the size of a tennis ball.

English-style Christmas crackers: The festive cardboard tubes that “crack” when pulled apart and have trinkets inside of them are completely prohibited on aircraft.

Sporting goods: Novelty and toy bats and hockey and lacrosse sticks are not allowed in carry-on luggage and must be packed in checked baggage.

Toys that look like weapons: Toy guns are prohibited in carry-on bags and must be packed in checked bags. Plastic toy hand grenades and realistic replicas of explosives are prohibited in both carry-on and checked baggage.

As always, review the TSA prohibited items list before you pack. If you’re still not sure whether your item is allowed, you can ask the TSA directly on social media by using either Twitter (@AskTSA) or Facebook Messenger (fb.com/askTSA) to send them the name and/or photo of the item. Their teams will let you know whether they should be packed in a carry-on bag, a checked bag, both or neither.

About the Author

Jessica Davis is the Associate Content Editor for 1105 Media.

Featured

  • Gaining a Competitive Edge

    Ask most companies about their future technology plans and the answers will most likely include AI. Then ask how they plan to deploy it, and that is where the responses may start to vary. Every company has unique surveillance requirements that are based on market focus, scale, scope, risk tolerance, geographic area and, of course, budget. Those factors all play a role in deciding how to configure a surveillance system, and how to effectively implement technologies like AI. Read Now

  • 6 Ways Security Awareness Training Empowers Human Risk Management

    Organizations are realizing that their greatest vulnerability often comes from within – their own people. Human error remains a significant factor in cybersecurity breaches, making it imperative for organizations to address human risk effectively. As a result, security awareness training (SAT) has emerged as a cornerstone in this endeavor because it offers a multifaceted approach to managing human risk. Read Now

  • The Stage is Set

    The security industry spans the entire globe, with manufacturers, developers and suppliers on every continent (well, almost—sorry, Antarctica). That means when regulations pop up in one area, they often have a ripple effect that impacts the entire supply chain. Recent data privacy regulations like GDPR in Europe and CPRA in California made waves when they first went into effect, forcing businesses to change the way they approach data collection and storage to continue operating in those markets. Even highly specific regulations like the U.S.’s National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) can have international reverberations – and this growing volume of legislation has continued to affect global supply chains in a variety of different ways. Read Now

  • Access Control Technology

    As we move swiftly toward the end of 2024, the security industry is looking at the trends in play, what might be on the horizon, and how they will impact business opportunities and projections. Read Now

Featured Cybersecurity

Webinars

New Products

  • QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC)

    QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC)

    The latest Qualcomm® Vision Intelligence Platform offers next-generation smart camera IoT solutions to improve safety and security across enterprises, cities and spaces. The Vision Intelligence Platform was expanded in March 2022 with the introduction of the QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC), which delivers superior artificial intelligence (AI) inferencing at the edge. 3

  • Connect ONE’s powerful cloud-hosted management platform provides the means to tailor lockdowns and emergency mass notifications throughout a facility – while simultaneously alerting occupants to hazards or next steps, like evacuation.

    Connect ONE®

    Connect ONE’s powerful cloud-hosted management platform provides the means to tailor lockdowns and emergency mass notifications throughout a facility – while simultaneously alerting occupants to hazards or next steps, like evacuation. 3

  • AC Nio

    AC Nio

    Aiphone, a leading international manufacturer of intercom, access control, and emergency communication products, has introduced the AC Nio, its access control management software, an important addition to its new line of access control solutions. 3