TSA problems with soap

[Shavely Manden]

Coming back from Seattle recently, I got pulled over at security (while I was already running late, of course ) and had my bag searched. The fellow searching my bag (notably, a really young guy, barely older than me) pulled out my Mama Bear soaps and said "you know you have to take these out, right?". I'd asked why, and he responded that they were "shaving cream or something". I pointed out that they were, in fact, solid shave soaps, he spent a good two or three minutes poking and prodding them, turning the containers upside-down, and then re-X-rayed them before letting them through and letting me sprint to my flight. He even eyed my Tabac shave stick suspiciously.

Has anybody else had TSA problems with solid soaps? I know it's perfectly legal to have them in carryons, but some TSA people don't seem to understand that.

 

[Xezmer]

Coming back from Seattle recently, I got pulled over at security (while I was already running late, of course ) and had my bag searched. The fellow searching my bag (notably, a really young guy, barely older than me) pulled out my Mama Bear soaps and said "you know you have to take these out, right?". I'd asked why, and he responded that they were "shaving cream or something". I pointed out that they were, in fact, solid shave soaps, he spent a good two or three minutes poking and prodding them, turning the containers upside-down, and then re-X-rayed them before letting them through and letting me sprint to my flight. He even eyed my Tabac shave stick suspiciously.

Has anybody else had TSA problems with solid soaps? I know it's perfectly legal to have them in carryons, but some TSA people don't seem to understand that.

TSA is ridiculous. End of story. I'm a middle easterner and when they see my name, they give me trouble.

I'm a high school student flying with my entire family. Are you kidding me?

 

[aleman1949]

Maybe they think it's plastic explosive. Masquerading as shaving products could be a way to attempt to disguise such items. However, TSA does have a routine test for explosives that should clear shaving stuff. All part of the general paranoia of flying. And I can remember when flying was actually fun - those days are gone forever.

 

[instpasr]

They're not called transportation stupid authority for nothing.

 

[aleman1949]

they're not called transportation stupid authority for nothing.

lol

 

[Jim]

Haha the "jet set" is long gone!

 

[solar]

I avoid bringing shave soap for that very reason, that it might be seen as being some sort of a precursor or part of a device.

I have had my fair share of airport security stories, but I won't get into slamming the TSA folks, since like most things in life, walk a mile in the other person's shoes, etc. What I do instead is practice prevention. I check all regs and print off what I am allowed to bring with me. That way, if there's a beef as to why I have a certain item in my carry on, I can show the printed copy of permissible carry on items to establish compliance.

I don't carry shave soap in a tub in my carry on, it just offers too many opportunities for misunderstanding--its a soap, its C4--so I carry a tube of Proraso shave cream. Its not been seized yet and if it ever is, I can survive the loss.

Years before 9/11, while in Eastern Europe doing some contract work, I ran into trouble with a pewter shave mug filled with (old style tallow) Penhaligon's Blenheim Bouquet shave soap. The guard was going to seize it, until I bade him to smell it, and mimed shaving while showing him the accompanying brush. Happily, he relented since I was carrying a service passport, and the pewter mug is still in my shave den, the soap long since used.

My rule of carry on is don't pack what you can't afford to have taken, just to be safe. I don't make the rules, I just accept the inevitable and try and shave around the carry on rules. I pack my good soaps in checked baggage with the DE and unfurl all of that once I hit the hotel.

Chris

 

[Geeno]

My experiences with the TSA are pretty wild, too. My fights with tem these days are over the stupid locks I use. TSA approved, yes, but they keep leaving them off after they inspect my tool box.

I travels with soaps, don't usually have a problem. BUT - I have noticed that each airport is different...the things my home airport (Atlanta) does have no relationship with the way other airports act.

Seattle was always the goofiest airport I used, by the way.


Geeno

 

[k200817]

They're not called transportation stupid authority for nothing.

As funny as this sounds, I would have to agree with this statement. Logic has no meaning to them.

 

[Aloxite]

I would gladly do all my flying on a DC-3 if I could get the entire old school experience. No security, smoking a cigar, a bottle of scotch and a loaded 45 in my brief case. Plus hot stewardesses. I was born way too late.

 

[Aberneth]

The TSA doesn't keep us safe. Using 3.4 ounce bottles and a quart sized bag, anybody with an advanced degree in chemistry could smuggle enough chemicals on board to destroy a fleet of planes.

 

[papi]

I once was delayed for over an hour, because I had a little bag full of colorful pebbles, found on the beach, mistaken for narcotics. Back in the good old days.

 

[TheFlyingFrenchman]

The TSA doesn't keep us safe. Using 3.4 ounce bottles and a quart sized bag, anybody with an advanced degree in chemistry could smuggle enough chemicals on board to destroy a fleet of planes.

Careful what you say. They might start limiting you to a pint sized bag and asking if any chem majors have been in contact with your luggage .

I take a shave stick or small tube of Godrej. Haven't had any issues with those yet. Just a TSA agent that didn't know what a DE blade was and felt that the alarm clock in my bigger bag was more of a threat.

 

[BlackAngus]

This is why I don't fly. If it can't be reached by car, it's not worth the hassle.

 

[arghblech]

The terrorists have won.

When they take your bottle of water that might kill an whole plane full of people away and throw it in a giant trash can that sits *right next to the place where everyone has to congregate to be screened*, you know it has nothing to do with safety. Were I a terrorist, I'd just poison gas a whole boatload of folks just waiting in the lines and be done with it. You strike at the bottleneck... tactics 101.

 

[TheFlyingFrenchman]

Let's not get into TSA bashing here. It would take too long. Having a father that works at the airport I get to hear all sorts of dismally disheartening statistics all the time.

I think with the TSA the old saying and ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure is all that can be done.

That being said. Not to Hijack the thread, but does anybody else have really bad airport stories?

 

[jansob]

I take an Atra and a teeny squeeze bottle of KMF in my carryon. The drones don't have the brains to deal with anything more complicated.

Most of them took the gig because they were tired of night stocking at WalMart but couldn't pass the mall-cop test. They have the power to steal your stuff, ruin your day, and no accountability. My contempt for the TSA is boundless.

 

[arghblech]

I think with the TSA the old saying and ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure is all that can be done.

I'd rather have an ounce of the cure for AIDS than a pound of condoms.

 

[fixed]

blackangus - i'm assuming you're going at least 4 hours in the car, because there's nothing closer than that to Indy that's worth going to, is there?

 

[BlackAngus]

blackangus - i'm assuming you're going at least 4 hours in the car, because there's nothing closer than that to Indy that's worth going to, is there?

Chicago's 2.5 hours from here, Cincinnati is an hour and a half. And yeah, there's plenty of stuff to do in Indy proper, too. But I've been accused of being a homebody, so maybe it's just me.