Just in time for April Fools’ Day…. TSA’s fine print of what you can take and not onboard an airplane may give you a chuckle.
MrConsumer was planning a trip to Washington, DC and intended to take a jar of peanut butter in his carry-on luggage as a snack at the hotel. Since he had not flown in a while, he decided to check the TSA website to see what was allowed and not allowed onboard.
Looking at TSA’s list of hundreds of items that people may have questions about bringing on airplanes, revealed a surprise:
*MOUSE PRINT:
Apparently, peanut butter comes under TSA’s “liquid rule” that bans liquids, gels, pastes, creams, and aerosols greater than 3.4 ounces. So my jar of peanut butter is out as a carry-on item.
Even if I packed an 18-ounce jar that had only three ounces of peanut butter on the bottom, I would be out of luck because of the TSA’s liquids rule says that even if there is less than 3.4 ounces of liquid, if the container is larger than that, it is a forbidden item in carry-ons.
Perusing TSA’s list has some unexpected surprises of what is allowed and not allowed in your carry-on bag.
*MOUSE PRINT:
ALLOWED:
Antlers
Bread machines
Camp stoves
Cowboy spurs
Duct tape and rope
Espresso makers
Knitting needles
Light Saber
Safety matches
Scissors (less than 4″)
Screwdrivers (less than 7″)
Shock collars
DISALLOWED:
Bowling pins
Cast iron cookware
Cream cheese (over 3.4 oz)
Pam cooking spray
Drill bits
English Christmas crackers
Foam toy swords
Magic 8 Ball
Rocket launchers (duh)
Safety razor with blades
Samsung Galaxy Note 7
Spray deodorant (over 3.4 oz)
Toothpaste (over 3.4 oz)
And to prove the TSA has a sense of humor, here is how they describe one particular banned item:
English Christmas crackers? What about Australian Christmas crackers, are those allowed?
My, how times have changed. I was once passing through security to board a now-defunct Eastern Airlines flight, and was asked by the person manning the x-ray conveyor belt to take over screening via the monitors for him so that he could go on break.
I politely declined.
ok got it light saber is ok, how about Grenade Launcher in checked bags ? no rocket launcher in carry on ? hmm are they too big to fit in overhead compartments .
and those crackers, got it now i think they are worried i will break down flight deck door by throwing chrackers at it.. or was someone crackers when they allowed a Screwdriver or cigarette lighter on board.
tsa took my shaving cream in Hawaii, and in Taiwan i had a mandau, Dayak sword, zip tied to a board, wrapped in clear plastic , in a box, as a check in item…never thought to bring it on board as carry on..in Taiwan security made me go to screening area, to open the box for them.. no problem…opened the box, cut zip ties and took scabbard off the blade.. imagine this..i had a sword and was waving it around in security . holding it over my head like a warrior ???they were laughing and wanted to see it.. yet they worried about shaving cream..?
Those TSA lists are a head scratcher for sure. I recently flew in 2023 and 2024 after a long break from flying due to the pandemic and it amazes me how the list keeps changing all the time. You really have to check it every time you fly now.
One thing I have found is that TSA doesn’t seem to understand the difference between fluid ounces and weight ounces. I tried to debate this with them one time over an item, but gave up quickly when I got the stink eye.