Rourke McNamara

TSA officials in San Francisco seized a dangerous 3oz. tube of Coppertone Sport from the bag of traveler Rourke McNamara as he brazenly attempted to carry it onto an airplane. The sunblock was clearly visible in the in the mesh outside pocket of McNamara’s backpack. Had he properly placed the sunblock in a one quart sized zip-top bag there wouldn’t have been a problem, but without the safety-insuring plastic enclosure the Coppertone was just too dangerous to be allowed onto an aircraft.

If you’re flying with travel sized liquids, don’t forget your one quart, clear, zip-top bag. TSA isn’t kidding when they say all travel sized liquids must be in such a bag or they’ll be confiscated. Over the course of the last few weeks I’ve seen three people asked to throw away all their liquids and gels because they weren’t in a baggie. Thankfully these folks were all business travelers and managed to throw away the (new) toiletries without throwing a fit.

Earlier this week I flew for the first time since the new TSA restrictions went into place.

The fellow sitting next to me had carried his bags on. He explained, in a matter of fact way, that he’d asked his secretary make 43 copies of his toiletries kit and mail those 43 copies to all of his company’s global offices. His travel always takes him to the local office first, so this was the perfect plan. How nice for him.