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One in four travelers smuggle liquids through TSA checkpoints
A new survey from Skyscanner suggests that as many as one in four travelers smuggle liquids past security - both accidentally and on purpose.Of the 1,000 poll respondents, 42% agree that current rulings are too restrictive and one in five complaining that airports tend to enforce rules differently. Only 2% believed the legislation did not go far enough.
About 4% of respondents admitted that they have purposely smuggled liquids through security – and got away with it.
We've certainly noticed airport security becoming more lax with the 3-1-1 rulings, particularly when the creams and liquids are within travel-sized containers in carry-on or gate checked luggage. Still, it probably isn't a good idea to try to smuggle in liquids that are in flagrant disregard of the rules. Anything that makes travel more difficult for you and your fellow patrons likely isn't a great idea.
Filed under: Airports, News, Travel Security
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Bert Oct 31st 2011 5:42PM
Huhn? 3-1-1 for CHECKED luggage? This is a travel blog, no? From http://www.tsa.gov/311/ "3-1-1 is for short trips. If in doubt, put your liquids in checked luggage."
Count me as one in five. Flying out of CLE a 100ml toothpaste was confiscated. The "officer" could not be bothered to convert ml to fl.oz not did he understand that the rule was really 3.4-1-1.
mclean Nov 1st 2011 9:52AM
Bert,
You're so right - we meant carry-on, not checked luggage. It is frustrating when TSA agents can't manage conversions. We've had that happen to us as well.
Best,
McLean
mijsenrab Nov 1st 2011 3:56PM
TSA agents were annointed as Federal employees when the governement took over airport security. Unfortunately, this instant salary increase and federal status did not come with any increase in intelligence or dedication. Do I feel safer because of TSA? Not when I see the inconsistent application or non-application of rules.
sieben13 Nov 1st 2011 7:44PM
How SAFE would you feel WITHOUT THEM ? Thanks to all TSA agents I appreciate all you do. You are not PERFECT, but nothing is . Keep up the good work .
fred Nov 1st 2011 2:47PM
Have you ever noticed how many TSA people seem to speak English as a second language? 50% maybe? That seems perfectly logical to me. Hire foreigners to prortect us from foreigners.
NoFly List Nov 1st 2011 2:47PM
Unless I'm missing something, someone's math is way off: "About 4% of respondents admitted that they have purposely smuggled liquids through security... " That would be one in 25 passenger that smuggle liquids through, not 1 in 4 as the article states.
mclean Nov 1st 2011 2:47PM
Good point - the data shows that one in four have gotten liquids through security, although only 4% of people say that they have PURPOSELY violated the 3-1-1 ruling.
anon222 Nov 1st 2011 1:21PM
They said that 4% do it intentionally. The others do it... but not on purpose.
Bea Nov 1st 2011 2:48PM
ABOLISH THE TSA
What are we, serfs and slaves that we worry about whether we have 3 or 3.4 ounces of liquids on us?
The TSA w/ its obscene groping and ogling and all its silly rules has yet to catch a single terrorist. And it frequently brags that passengers -- yeah, you, the guy screeners stripped of all weapons but your fingernails -- are one of its "layers of defense" against terrorists.
Save our dignity and $8.2 billion per year: abolish this vile agency.
davide463 Nov 1st 2011 4:17PM
The rules are not to CATCH the terrorist, but rather to deter them from performing terrorist acts on our planes. It is so simple. Know the rules and comply with them.
Allie Nov 1st 2011 7:39PM
Believe it or not, there's a line of reasoning behind the tight restrictions on liquids. It's believed that one of the terrorists who later took part in the 9/11 attacks first experimented with small bombs on planes put together on-site using liquid in a Visine container. This was successful enough that a woman in Japan was killed by such a bomb which had been left in her seat.
You may or may not agree that this is a valid reason to restrict liquids for everyone. But at least it's not totally nonsensical... that small amount of liquid really CAN make a bomb.
Mike Nov 1st 2011 11:00PM
I certainly don't agree that 'abolishing the TSA' is the answer, they are there to deter an act of terrorism as well as to provide a reasonable assurance that a non-terrorist doesn't accidently bring a something that could be harmful in flight. However, they do tend to be somewhat reactionary (senior management that is) in there changing of rules... and the liquids thing is just one example (taking off shoes is another). An event happens and they will react - like a concern about a liquid explosive - which is valid, however (hope this doesn't shock too many folks) explosives also can be solid, so limiting liquids is only part of the answer. Real explosive detection is done by 'sniffers' (explosive vapor detectors or swabs, used pretty infrequently at airports - used 100% of the time in nuclear power plants for all personnel who enter, everytime they enter, since the late 70's, by the way), by xray machines (to some degree) with a trained operator, and, of course, by dogs.
Deb Nov 1st 2011 2:47PM
On my recent trip to Boston I went through security and they stopped me and pulled my carryon aside. After going through it they pulled out my bottle of Dolce & Gabanna lotion and said i couldn't take it on the plane because the bottle was slightly over what you can take on...BUT.. they let 2 bic lighters in my purse go through. Now tell me what was that bottle of lotion going to do compared to what 2 bic lighters can do. There power just goes to there head,
PJ Nov 1st 2011 3:12PM
I to was relieved of my expensive perfume and body lotion. Was later informed that the TSA employees are suppose to offer you the opportunity to fill out a form for your confiscated articles to be mailed to you. ?????
I was also told that these items they confiscate, they keep, they don't destroy. So, if I'm in this situation again, I will pour out, squeeze out or whatever is necessary my products into their waste can so they cnnot enjoy what they have confiscated.
Also, they frisked my Dad until it was shameful, all because he had had a knee replacement. He even had all the credentials to prove it.
Malaycobra Nov 2nd 2011 11:00AM
What are you going to do with Bic lighters? Set fire to the seat, and hold back the other passengers while the fire gets going??
Bonnie Nov 1st 2011 2:48PM
Our tax dollars at work...what a joke!
Why isn't a college education required to fill such a responsible position?
Butch Nov 1st 2011 3:12PM
Do you know how many people get a degree by cheating, how many people have a degree that cannot read, write, or do simple math. It is just a piece of paper, collected by liars and cheaters. Not all but many. GWB had a degree, and he was President, enough said.
BANMAN Nov 1st 2011 5:52PM
THAT IS A GOOD QUESTION ! WHY DO THEY NOT HIRE WELL EDUCATED IPEOPLE THAT KNOW HOW TO USE A CONVERSION CHART AND A CALCULATOR.. DO THEY PAY WELL ENOUGH TO ATTRACT bETER PEOPLE ? OR ARE THEIR STANDARDS SO LOW ALL YOU NEED IS A 6TH GRADE EDUCATION ??
Sue Nov 1st 2011 2:48PM
I once had a moron BI*** TSA agent heady with a power trip take my plastic baggie that I had purchased specifically for traveling and it was even noted as being AIRLINE APPROVED with the right dimensions and all of it and she took 10 minutes making this huge deal over nothing and forced me to repack it in the baggie SHE gave me. Before I did it I took hers and laid it on top of mine and showed her that they were the exact same size. What a bi***
M Nov 1st 2011 2:48PM
Once, while traveling with my brother, we witnessed what looked like an 80 year old woman practically being stripped searched while my brother and I passed through easily. When we got to our destination and unpacked, my brother discovered that he had inadvertently left a fully loaded 45 caliber clip in his carry-on bag. Oh, I feel so safe, now,...LOL