15 Items That Could Get Your Checked Bag Flagged by TSA

by SharonKurheg

Over the years, we’ve gone over some of the things that could get you “flagged” by the TSA, either as general knowledge, or with advice on what to do about it:

All of those, of course, are advice to help you at the TSA security point. But you and your carry on bags aren’t the only things the TSA looks at. They also take a good, long look at your checked baggage.

Despite what people think, TSA is generally not looking for illegal drugs in your checked bags (although if they happen to find some during X-ray, they WILL tell authorities). Instead, they’re looking for security threats.

There are admittedly fewer rules about things you can bring in your checked bags. Items that could be potential dangers if passengers have access to them are less of a threat if they’re backed away in the belly of the plane. So things such as guns, knives, baseball bats and larger volumes of liquids are all OK in checked bags (note: you still have to follow special rules about having guns in your checked baggage. Otherwise something like this could happen).

However there are some items that, even if they’re your checked bags, they could still be flagged. Here are some of them:

Wrapped gifts

The TSA’s threat detection system relies on being able to “see” what items are. If you have a wrapped gift in your checked bag, TSA might want to check it by unwrapping it. Wrap it when you get there.

Meat and produce

For domestic travel, you can bring any food anywhere (with some exceptions for certain fruits in and out of select states). But when it comes to international travel, most meats, fruits and vegetables can’t be brought into the U.S., for fear of introducing pests and diseases.

High proof alcohol

Most cans/bottles of wine, beer or even hard liquor can be packed in checked luggage with no issues (up to 5 liters (1.3) per person). However it’s the alcohol is over 140 proof (70% alcohol), it’s prohibited because it’s flammable.

Lighters and matches

Because of fire hazards, only lighters permitted in checked luggage are those that don’t have fuel, or if they’re contained in a Department of Transportation–approved case (a.k.a. DOT case). Matches are not permitted in checked bags at all.

Propane canisters for camping

Not surprisingly, you can’t bring propane canisters (the kind you use for camping) in your checked luggage. Just like matches, they’re a fire hazard if they have any fuel in them.

That being said, if the canisters are empty and clean, without any residual fuel in them (say, if you want to reuse or recycle them), they can be brought onto the plane, no problem.

Lithium batteries

Lithium batteries have been known to explode mid-flight. If they’re in a container of some sort (i.e. electronic toothbrush, camera), that’s OK. But if it’s just a battery used for charging, it has to go into your carry-on so if it goes on fire, it will be noticed quickly.

E-cigarettes and vapes

People have smoked E-cigarettes and vapes, in lieu of cigarettes, in recent years. Heads up that they’re not allowed in checked bags either. They contain lithium batteries, which are flammable. Because of that, they CAN be brought in your carry-on baggage, since a fire would be noticed relatively quickly. Just check with your airline to see if there’s a limit on how many you can bring.

Novelty items that look threatening

If you have a fake item that looks like a potential threat – say, a toy that looks like a grenade or a poorly packed gun – you run the risk of the TSA checking your bag.

Aerosols and compressed gas

Items housed in aerosol cans or as compressed gas, such as bear spray, fire extinguishers, spray paint, cooking spray and spray starch are not allowed in checked bags.

Pressurized air tanks

Sorry, SCUBA drivers…unless your air tanks are empty, they’re not allowed on planes; the TSA rates them as hazardous materials once they reach a pressure of 200kPA at 68 degrees.

If you need oxygen for a medical condition, you’ll need to have a portable oxygen concentrator with you. They don’t compress oxygen. Instead, they separate the oxygen from nitrogen and other gasses in the air and deliver the oxygen to a user in a continuous flow.

Cordless curling iron

A regular corded curling iron is fine. But the cordless ones use a butane-powered cartridge that could be at risk of exploding during the flight.

Ammunition

Like guns, ammunition is allowed in your checked luggage. However how you back your ammo has to follow strict regulations, or it could be flagged.

Bleach and ammonia

Neither bleach nor ammonia are flammable on their own. However ammonia can be explosive when mixed with other chemicals. Bleach, meanwhile, is considered an oxidizer – that means it can make a fire start more easily and spread more quickly. Because of this, both are prohibited as hazardous materials.

Fireworks

Any kind of fireworks are, of course, explosive. So nope, they can’t be in your checked baggage.

Chemical kits

Doesn’t matter if to check your soil, water, or anything else. It could even be a kid’s chemistry kit. All of them could put you at risk for being tagged by the TSA because chemicals that could explode (corrosives, oxidizers and organic peroxides frequently found in such kits) are, of course, not allowed.

Feature Photo: TSA

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