A little birdie told me that this weekend is the start of the annual Wayne Chicken Show in Wayne, Nebraska! This year’s theme is Chickens from Around the World. So if you’re planning on flying the coop with your backyard bird to compete in the crowing contest, here are some travel tips to ensure your next trip is free of fowls.
Fresh eggs and wings are good to go in your carry-on or checked bags! We don’t mind if you bring your chicken through security; however, you may want to check with your airline first. Check out our traveling with pets article for more travel tips. Remember the early bird gets the worm. This year has been a record breaking travel season, so beat the flock and get to the airport early.
Between July 1 and 7, TSA screened 16.7 million passengers and found 61 firearms in carry-on bags. Of the 61 firearms discovered, 50 were loaded and 20 had a round chambered.
Don’t pack your firearm in your carry-on bag. Bringing a firearm to the security checkpoint may lead to a civil penalty of up to $13,333 or an arrest. And if you’re a TSA Pre✓® member, you could lose your status. Check out our transporting firearms and ammunition page to learn how to pack it properly.
See all firearm discoveries from July 1 to 7 in this chart.
Did you know chickens occasionally hide their eggs in the nest box? Sometimes passengers try to hide prohibited items from our officers. Both scenarios could lead to having egg on your face. However, attempting to conceal prohibited items can also lead to an arrest or civil penalty.
Pictured above, from the left:
- TSA officers at Texas’ Corpus Christi International Airport discovered a knife concealed inside a cell phone case on July 2.
- A box cutter was discovered inside a passenger’s shoe at Pennsylvania’s Harrisburg International Airport on July 7. The other box cutters were discovered inside the passenger’s carry-on bag.
Asking why passengers bring replica explosive devices is like asking why the chicken crossed the road. Who knows?! What everyone should know is that real or replica eggsplosives are not allowed in carry-on or checked bags. When our officers locate a suspected explosive, we call in a specialist. This takes time and can lead to delays, missed flights, and some broody fellow passengers.
Pictured above, from the left:
- A replica grenade discovered during checkpoint screening at North Carolina’s Piedmont Triad International Airport on July 4.
- A herb grinder shaped like a grenade was located during screening at Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport.
Knives packed in your carry-on bag will not fly! We really don’t want to clip your wings, so please pack your sharp objects in your checked bags. Both of the knives pictured above were discovered at Nashville International Airport this week.
Our mission at TSA is to do everything in our power to make sure you get to your destination safely by keeping dangerous items off planes. The most common explanation we hear from travelers for prohibited items 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 . 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
