The TSA is something that shouldn't exist in its current form. They very often fail their audit checks and normalize invading your privacy to an extreme degree like body scanners and pat downs. If water bottles are considered potentially explosive then why dump them on a bin next to a line of people where they can go off? This is low grade security theater that inconveniences passengers at best.
It's security theater through and through.
Apart from the obvious failings of these checks, think about what kind of damage a single backpack of explosives can do to a packed airport during holiday season. You can literally put a ton of explosives on one of those trolleys, roll it into the waiting area and kill 200 people easily. No security whatsoever involved.
Reality is, most security measures are designed to keep the illusion of control. Nothing more. Penetration testers show again and again that you can easily circumvent practically all barriers or measures.
It's basically the only type of jobs program that both sides of our broken government can agree on: petty nonsense that looks like it might do something useful, but really doesn't, and only inconveniences the poors.
Ouch, owie, my democracy
According to the story I heard as to the origin of the "no liquids over X amount" rule, years ago there was a terrorist that tried to smuggle hydrogen peroxide and acetone - which can be used to rather easily synthesize triacetone triperoxide (TATP, a highly sensitive explosive) - onto a plane in plastic toiletry bottles. They got caught and foiled somehow, and then the TSA started restricting liquids on planes. This was in the immediate aftermath of 9/11, if I recall correctly.
And I happen to know, from a reliable source, of someone who accidentally made TATP in a rotary evaporator in an academic lab. So it seems plausible.
Not that the rule is actually effective prevention against similar attacks, nor that the TSA even knows what the reason is behind what they do at this point, haha. I just thought it was an interesting story.
It's because all the shops inside want you to buy their shit.
The main reason why it exists is to provide jobs. The number of people who work at the TSA at every airport in every state...no representative wants to cut those jobs.
If it’s just for the jobs we can put them to work doing something useful like carrying bags for old people in the airport. Literally anything would be more useful.
We could pay them to do nothing* that would be just as effective.
*not nothing but do whatever they want
They treat people like cattle because they are protecting the airplanes and the airline's liability, not the people onboard or in line to board.
If people think it's unsafe people won't pay up to fly.
I recently realized that I have been boarding planes for years with multiple boxes of razor blades in my carry-on.
...Not a single checkpoint picked them up.
It just hasn't had the right public messaging behind it. I can think of a few historically recent things that are security theater but have been successfully accepted by the public because of slogans, social engineering and authoritative messaging. TSA just needs their own marketing blitz.
To be fair a explosion in a on the side of a line not gonna kill anyone, now a explosion in the airplane windows, maybe?, i get their argument, not that's a good argument
The major airports have huge crowds. And we know from unfortunate experience that suitcase bombs can kill hundreds of people.
Big caveat
The final decision rests with the TSA officer on whether an item is allowed through the checkpoint.
It's actually stated on the TSA website that frozen liquids are permitted. https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/whatcanibring/items/ice
Notice the footnote on every TSA webpage that their officers can always change the rules on the spot if they feel like it. So it’s always a gamble.
Pouring one out for my cordless Black and Decker electric screwdriver.
Used to travel with it because it was small and light and it worked well for racking network equipment.
It was a cheap piece of junk. But it did the job. Until one day TSA decided I couldnt bring it any more. It was under 7" but that wasn't good enough.
Told me I could check it. It would cost more for me to check a bag than for me to replace it.
Still upset about it.
This is why they created different flying classifications with pre stuff... so now only the poor have to gamble.
The longer they discuss the less it is allowed.
Yup, TSA is on the same level as McDonald's. You're arguing with a dipshit who hates you.
...because the ice melts, haha. Oh. You meant something else, right.
Do you think they get mad if I bring plasma
I'm full of plasma, but they never stopped me from flying.
Take my upvote and leave
try bringing some in a bag next time, should be fun
Bose–Einstein condensate
And a metric ton of helium to keep it cool
If they don't then you can call them xenophobes for not respecting Sangheili tradition to carry an Energy Sword at all times
Technically it's the only kind of correct. Technically.
Technically it's the only kind of objective correct. Other subjective types also exist (such as morally).
I've actually done this successfully. TSA agent knocked on it, and said no problem.
If i somehow would be stopped, I'd love to argue what is liquid or not, and what could be liquid if it's just hot enough.
That's odd...I've had TSA agents recommend this to get liquids through security.
I guess he got that one employee that everyone hates for literally following every single tiny or forgotten rule no matter how stupid.
... doing so because they believe their boss would make a problem if they don't.
you could freeze H2O2 and blow up something later.
The main issue you'll have with the TSA in this case is that you're using logic
You're not going to blow up anything with 30 % hydrogen peroxide. It also freezes at -30 C, not gonna freeze easily or stay that way for too long.
But where would someone get the H2O2?
For the lazy:
Ice
Carry On Bags: Yes (Special Instructions)
Checked Bags: Yes
Frozen liquid items are allowed through the checkpoint as long as they are frozen solid when presented for screening. If frozen liquid items are partially melted, slushy, or have any liquid at the bottom of the container, they must meet 3-1-1 liquids requirements
Recently, I'm flying quite a lot, so I must try it, just to see if it works.
On my last trip I had a full water bottle with me and the lady said I had to throw it away, so I looked her dead in the eye while I chugged the entire bottle and stuffed the bottle in my bag.
Fuckin tell me I can't bring the water through again.
I've done it before, it does. Though you could get an employee who doesn't know this, or won't accept it anyway.
Last two times I flew I brought a metal water bottle (Hydroflask knockoff) filled with ice cubes. Went through fine. Then I added water at a fountain after security and during the flight I got to have that ice-cold water experience I crave.
Huh, I'd have to fly from an airport with outdated scanners LIKE A PEASANT. The ones near me all let you keep your water and leave the laptop in the bag.
I brought frozen fish with ice packs through TSA. The TSA guy was a fisherman and wanted to talk about fishing.
TSA vs Karen, quite a match
Btw, why not water?
It throws up a false positive in the old scanners. There are new ones available that don't have a problem but they aren't widely available yet.
Because it's frozen (i.e. ice)
Lol
Dear TSA,
The human body is mostly water. And it's way more than 3 oz.
So how about a bottle of dry ice?
https://youtube.com/watch/rD0RDTjqTA4
Came across this video where they were able to take ice through TSA. Your mileage may vary, follow at your own risk.
A friend has been challenged when trying to bring a nordic cheese (from Norway to France). The TSA equivalent said that it could be liquid if hot enough. Yeah... glasses too.
They didn't want France getting wind of their cheese and declaring war on Norway for having the audacity to have non-french cheese
Security agent was just planning a meal for their date later in the night.
Does sunscreen freeze solid at regular freezer temperatures?
You can freeze sunscreen, however, it's a bad idea to do this as it makes the chemicals in the sunscreen inert and thus useless in actually protecting you from the sun. Same as letting it overheat, ironically.
Try it and find out
It's worked for me
Lemme Google the freezing temp of whatever explodey juice they think we all have.
What's more, it's technically just a mineral.
I believe the rule limits the actual container size if it contains liquid. Even if you have a nearly empty water bottle or are nursing the last dregs of a full size tube of toothpaste, it gets dumped or thrown out. So technically, if any water has melted at all, it counts.
The best kind of correct
Ah, I misread. I thought they were saying acetone = acetic acid but actually they were just saying there was something worse
