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Airport security check point no-gos | Causes, Not Just Cases®

by: James R. Brauchle

While the best part of Thanksgiving is the leftovers, unfortunately your aunt’s famous cranberry sauce won’t be permitted on an airplane. And that snow globe you picked up for your niece in the airport lobby, not allowed on your plane either, unless it’s smaller than a tennis ball and is in a quart-size plastic bag. Who knew? Before you head to the airport for your holiday travels this season, we suggest you check out this list of things you are not allowed to carry on or have in your checked baggage. Some of these are no-brainers, but you never know what some people will try to bring with them to show the in-laws for holiday entertainment.

These items DO NOT Pass Go at the Security Checkpoint:

  • Toothpaste and toiletries that are more than 3.4 ounces
  • More than 3.4 ounces of perfumes, liquids, jelly, gravy, preserves, pudding or anything else that pours, smears or spreads
  • Cheese, pies, meats, cakes, breads, etc., that you refuse to have tested for explosives
  • Fire crackers
  • Bows and arrows
  • Ammunition (and yes- of course guns)
  • Flare guns
  • Mace and tear gas
  • Toy guns and other toy weapons
  • Scissors that are more than 4 inches with pointed tips
  • Knives, swords, axes
  • Razors, including box cutters
  • Baseball and cricket bats, billy clubs
  • Hockey and lacrosse sticks
  • Pool cues
  • Ski poles
  • Pellet guns, BB guns and starter pistols
  • Lighter fluid, gas, gel candles, cooking and camping fuels like sterno
  • Matches
  • Spillable batteries—except those passengers in wheelchairs

See a full list at on the TSA’s website. However, the old saying holds true—when in doubt, leave it out. Or, of course, there’s an app for that too. The TSA has a handy app that is formatted so that you can type in what you want to bring through a security checkpoint, and it will let you know whether the item is permitted.