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What does the TSA do with your confiscated goods?
Ever wonder what happened to your airport-security-confiscated bottle of French wine, the $20 bottle of shampoo you splurged on, or even just the best darn pair of clippers to ever touch your toenails? Well, it probably didn't go into the rubbish bin. However, it might've gone straight to your security agent's gut (or in the case of my Aveda shampoo and favorite nail clippers, bathroom).
Travel writer and flight attendant James Wysong decided to inquire after all the contraband withheld at the airport, and here's what he found out: most metal items go to a melting plant, while pocket knives are donated to organizations like the Boy Scouts of America. And his friend now has a stellar collection comprised of 600 lighters.
Liquor used to be tossed (away, not back!), until cleaning staff reportedly began getting tipsy on the job. Now liquor must be taken to a supervisor's office to be "properly disposed."
Just what "properly disposed" means Wysong isn't able to find out. But I know exactly how I would properly dispose of my French wine. Don't you?
[via Msnbc]
Filed under: Airports
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Chi Nov 14th 2007 2:31PM
I wish the airports could come up with some kind of system that would allow passengers to get their stuff mailed back to them. For a fat fee, of course. I know I'd happily pay to get my tire iron back (no comment on why it was in my luggage).
Taylor Nov 16th 2007 10:24AM
I remember reading a story last year sometime about how TSA was donating all the confiscated lotion, shampoo, etc., to a women's shelter. Fine. My only problem with that is this: if they confiscated it on the suspicion that it could be explosive, why on earth would they give potentially explosive materials away to a shelter? If they are *so* sure that it's safe, then why are they seizing all of this stuff to begin with?
This whole liquids ban is the biggest waste of people's time. But I'm sure the people who make travel-size items, quart-size storage bags, and post-security beverages are quite happy ... lol.
Wolfster Nov 19th 2007 2:23PM
Good question about donating these items. Also they confiscate bottled water, even though it's important for a traveler to drink lots while in the exceedingly dry plane cabin. If they are going to force you to buy water inside, then they need to stop charging outrageous prices for it. Doesn't anyone realize they are getting ripped off with this scheme at every airport?
Otto Nov 20th 2007 8:03AM
This article is BS I worked for a company right by Dulles Airport in VA. My coworker was friends with a guy in th TSA he would ask me "what i wanted" meaning what would you like from the TSA bin. I said like what. He asked what kind of pocket knife, cell phone, camera etc I wanted. I told him and the next day they were on my desk FREE. He also brought in bags of knives, small tools, and even a bag of cameras. All stuff that had been confiscated or left atteh airport. The TSA employees sell this stuff or give it away to friends. That story about giving it to the boyscouts isn't true.
Mattv Nov 19th 2007 3:47PM
Wolfster said...
Doesn't anyone realize they are getting ripped off with this scheme at every airport?
Don't YOU realized you are getting ripped off by buying bottled water? it comes out of the tap for free and numerous studies have shown that it is no different than whats in the bottle. bring the empty bottle and fill it up at the water foutain.
M.Dean Nov 23rd 2007 6:52AM
You have got to be kidding! You certainly need to investigate the true badness in the condition of what comes out of the faucet ~ wow!
atp Nov 21st 2007 7:21PM
We recently flew from the UK thru Minneapolis and had to go thru Customs before connecting flights. During Immigration and Customs, we carried our bags about 200' and then had to recheck them and go thru security again, including taking off the shoes we were wearing on the last flight. There they confiscated bottles of alcohol and perfume that had been bought Duty-Free, delivered to the first flight, and which had already been carried on the overseas flight! That happened after people had already left their checked bags on the luggage belts, so there was no way to put the bottles into the checked luggage. They also made us unload things like cameras, lens, etc. that none of the other security stations in the US or the UK had made us unload from our carry-ons before. We had to completely empty pockets and take off belts to get passed the metal detectors, even though we had gone thru others at high seciuity airports easily. This was absurd, since we were watched the whole time from landing to the security check by an assortment government agents. We were safe enough to be on a huge modern jumbo jet over the ocean with our stuff, but not on a dinky little regional jet for a 200 mile flight
dmc Nov 23rd 2007 12:57AM
Well Atta took a dinky flight from Maine to Boston before his trip to the world trade center---I hate the security stuff but the argument that its just a dinky flight gets you nowhere
bob Nov 22nd 2007 11:24PM
on my last flight, after i had passed through security(where i had to remove my flip-flops) i still thought that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. That is, until the lady next to me whipped out 10" knitting needles. I am not sure about anyone else, but i fear knitting needles as a weapon more than i fear sealed(new) bottles of french wine(but that is another story)