We are off to the races! The Kentucky Derby is this weekend and if you decide in the spur of the moment to attend, you can trot through the security checkpoint with these travel tips. If you’re flying out after the race, be sure to hoof it to the airport at least two hours before your flight! But don’t worry, we’ll make sure you don’t have to stand in line furlong.
If you’re packing one of those fancy hats in your checked bags, we’d recommend putting it in a case to keep it stable and make sure it doesn’t get damaged while your bag is being transported. And if you’re like me, you can’t leave Kentucky without a big ol’ bottle of bourbon. Bottles larger than 3.4oz must go in your checked bags. The airport will have a complimentary bottle wrapping service to ensure your hooch makes it home.
Now it’s your regularly scheduled post-time:
Between April 22 and 28, TSA screened 16.6 million passengers and found 85 firearms in carry-on bags. Of the 85 firearms discovered, 75 were loaded and 28 had a round chambered.
Bringing a firearm to the security checkpoint may lead to a civil penalty of up to $13,333 or an arrest. That is a lot of money to pony up, so if you must travel with your firearm check out our transporting firearms and ammunition page to learn how to pack it properly.
See all firearm discoveries from April 22 to 28 in this chart.
Odds are that most of you know NOT to pack lighter fluid, live smoke grenades and replica explosive detonators! But just in case, don’t go for the trifecta, leave these items at home! Lighter fluid or replica explosives are not allowed at all.
Pictured above from the left:
- Two large cans of lighter fluid were discovered in checked bags at San Diego International Airport on April 25. I’ve heard smoking may make your voice horse, so just say neigh. And speaking of smoke;
- A live smoke grenade was discovered in a carry-on bag at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on April 25.
- Multiple replica detonators were discovered in a checked bag at San Antonio International Airport on April 27.
Whoaa! Packing your nunchucks and knives in your carry-on bag is lame. If you want to be a traveling stud, you’ll put these items in your checked bag.
Pictured above from the left:
- TSA officers at Southwest Florida International Airport discovered two sets of nunchucks in a carry-on bag on April 27.
- A fixed blade knife was located in a carry-on bag at San Antonio International Airport on April 24.
I had the pleasure of participating in Albuquerque International Sunport’s Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work® Day last week. We honked horns on the snow plows, blasted the sirens in a police cruiser and toured TSA’s security checkpoint and baggage screening locations. It wasn’t all horsing around though, the kiddos learned all about the aviation industry including TSA’s mission of protecting the traveling public.
Our mission at TSA is to ensure you get to your destination safely by keeping dangerous items off planes. The most common explanation we hear from travelers is “I forgot it was in my bag.” Don’t be that person. Save yourself some money and embarrassment and thoroughly check your bags for prohibited items before heading to the airport.
So, come prepared! For a list of prohibited items, be sure to use the What Can I Bring? tool. If you have questions about the security process, reach out to AskTSA on Twitter or Facebook Messenger. Our AskTSA team will happily answer even the most outlandish travel-related questions.
Want to know how many firearms we found last year? Check out our 2018 blog post.
Also, don’t forget to check out our top 10 most unusual finds video for 2018.
Want to learn more or see the other wacky finds? Follow us @TSA on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook.
Jay Wagner
