re: Flying and TSA

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What does the TSA do? Xray luggage? Use K9s?

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Not sure if this has been answered and I don’t feel like reading all of it, but here’s your overly thorough answer:

-In your carry-ons, other than the obvious guns/bombs/bullets they’ll take large bottles of water/shampoo and big tubes of toothpaste. All they do is take them though.
-Don’t freak out if they pull your bag aside and go through it. It happens ALL the time.
-In your checked baggage, they’re a lot more lenient. You can even put unloaded guns, just disclose it to the person who’s checking you in. I’ve literally brought an instrument in a big case and there was a cop, asked me “is that a loaded gun?” I said no, and he said “alright have a nice day.” No big deal.
-They’ll confiscate anything with lithium batteries, but they won’t know they’re there unless they do a “random bag check” (which is usually only when you have an abnormal looking case).
-I’ve never had anything stolen, but I’ve heard of it happening. If you can, take your expensive stuff and put it in a carry on. This will only happen if you accidentally leave something at security (happened to me) or when you check your bags.
- If they choose something for random inspection, they’ll almost certainly be rough with it and your stuff is certainly going to be disorganized.
-if you have anything fragile, you risk them throwing it on the cargo belt. Ask for a “fragile” sticker on both sides if you have anything that can break, ALWAYS. Even if it’s small enough to be a carry on, there’s still the chance they have no room overhead and they gate check it. Those people are assholes sometimes.
-Try to check in early. This is mainly out of your control because most airlines just base it on when you booked the flight. This is because if they run out of space (if you’re last in line or close to it, on a full flight, that’s when they run out, and it happens often) they will gate check it, or if it’s way too big, they’ll do that too. If the space looks like it’s running out, put it in the first place you see.
-K9’s may be on the way to security. I don’t know if they’re at the checked baggage, but they might be. But I’d say I see it maybe 5% of the time at security,, if that. And in security at least, they’re primarily looking for drugs. They don’t care about ammo or guns. They may care about bombs,
-DO NOT BRING WEED EVEN IF IT’S LEGAL IN THE STATE. They probably won’t arrest you or anything drastic, but it’s not worth the risk.
-You can bring nicotine vapes through security. But do not, under any circumstances, smoke them on the plane. By the way, I’ve done that too, but I’ve also flown over a million miles and know how to hide it (hold it in, bring a sweatshirt, act like you’re sleeping, but don’t do it, I’m just an idiot like that).

Edit: someone said put your wallet in your bag. This will just make the way through security quicker and easier. They have never stolen anything of mine through security. Don’t sweat it.

Do the online check-in exactly 24hrs before your flight. Seriously. Especially with SWA. Like y'all sit there together on your phones, fill in your names and info and watch the clock. Set an alarm for 5 mins prior. As you haven't done it before, do some quick trial runs and it should just kick back saying to early but at least you practiced it. 30 seconds before it's time, fill in the info and have your thumb on the enter button. If their time is off from yours and that last one kicks back, then your practice runs would have helped to quickly go back and keep quickly submitting until it gives you the final confirmation.

Since they let every freaking "special" group on first now, this will be helpful so you can find some seats together at least middle of the plane, and overhead space near you. SWA isn't as bad as it used to when you had to get there early and camp out on the floor super early, but still no assigned seats.

I'm typically the laid back and stroll in type when I fly, making sure Im minimalist (lile others mentioned) as possible with my carry on, but I'm OCD as heck when it comes to the 24hr prior online check-in.

Good luck, cause flying today totally freaking sucks.

Yea, this seems much more like a what are you smuggling type of thread

Tell us and we can give specific advice regarding screening

I guess both. I use the same carry-on for personal travel including going to the camp. Everyone of those were shite I missed when I packed after going to the camp.

The TSA PreCheck line usually moves quickly. Getting to the airport early is not a bad idea.

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Apparently I've come to the right place place for general insight.

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Travel board would have been better if you must get all your information from TD. Otherwise, TSA website…