Planning to fly throughout the holidays however aren’t fairly positive what’s allowed in your carry-on bag? Questioning in the event you can pack all of your items in your checked baggage? Curious whether or not you’ll be able to convey vacation meals and treats on board?
By no means concern; AskTSA is right here. The Transportation Safety Administration has a text-based possibility for cellphones so vacationers can discover solutions to their urgent journey packing questions.
This textual content possibility is along with the TSA’s social media accounts and its “What Can I Convey?” webpage.
So, how does it work? And, extra importantly, how can we prefer it? Learn on for all the small print.
The way to use AskTSA
First, one fast, essential level. After we’re speaking in regards to the TSA, we’re particularly specializing in flying domestically. For questions on what you’ll be able to convey internationally, test with U.S. Customs and Border Safety as an alternative.
For home journey, the current addition of AskTSA saves a number of steps from looking out the TSA webpage or visiting its social media accounts.
To begin, merely textual content “Journey” to AskTSA (275872). The service gives automated responses 24 hours a day, and TSA specialists can be found from 8 a.m. to six p.m. EST.
Observe that on a current check run, we discovered solutions to be briefly provide late at evening, and we’ve seen prolonged solutions throughout the daytime hours when the road is absolutely staffed.
The interface requires customers to decide on one of many following subjects to get began:
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- TSA PreCheck
- What can I convey?
- Identification
- Medical questions
- Damages/claims
- Hiring
- Different
We determined to strive the “What can I convey?” part to get some packing assist for the vacations.
Associated: TSA liquids rule: What to find out about 3-1-1 earlier than you head to the airport
After we selected this class, the following query was whether or not we most popular to work together in English or Spanish. Subsequent got here a alternative between “carry-on or private bag” or “checked bag” baggage, after which we have been offered with the next merchandise classes:
- CBD merchandise
- Digital cigarettes
- Electronics
- Firearms
- Flammable aerosols
- Meals
- Grooming gadgets
- Knives
- Lighters
- Liquids
- Lithium batteries
- Powder child system
This is how we fared whereas searching for packing suggestions for some widespread gadgets.
Sports activities tools
First up was TPG contributor Ashley Kosciolek, who launched into a multistop journey with ice skates and fishing lures in her carry-on bag.
When she checked in with AskTSA, it took a number of minutes for her to listen to again in regards to the skates, which is a time lag I skilled as effectively. Though two to a few minutes definitely is not lengthy, it may positively really feel just like the message may not have been acquired whilst you’re gazing your cellphone.
This reply for ice skates provided the identical data Ashley had discovered on the TSA web site when she searched on-line.
For her fishhook inquiry, it took 13 hours (in a single day) to get a reply. When answered, although, it appeared to have been despatched by an individual as an alternative of a bot.
Items
Subsequent, I requested one of many questions I hear most steadily from pals: Can I convey wrapped presents by way of safety?
That is all the time a difficult one. I’ve personally seen an agent at Chicago’s O’Hare Worldwide Airport (ORD) unwrap a tightly secured set of candlesticks from Tiffany’s, watching as layer after layer of Bubble Wrap was eliminated whereas the passenger in entrance of me grew to become an increasing number of distraught.
I’ve by no means wrapped a present since (as an alternative, I convey reward baggage and tissue paper for fast gifting). Nevertheless, I’ve since witnessed this once more.
The official phrase is that the TSA “advocate(s)” ready. It is simple to see why vacationers could possibly be confused by this directive.
Meals
Readers steadily ask what TSA-approved meals may be introduced by way of safety. Clint Henderson, a principal spokesperson at TPG, despatched a question to the TSA that I hadn’t thought-about but: Can I convey frozen turkey on a aircraft?
Fortunately for Clint, he can convey his frozen turkey on board. This additionally applies to different frozen meals, together with butter, which I lately requested about, and even water. However observe that any frozen merchandise wants to stay in a stable state and never be comfortable or in liquid type to make it by way of safety.
Associated: This is what Thanksgiving meals you’ll be able to herald your carry-on and what must be checked
With extra meals questions, we had Becky Blaine, TPG’s managing editor of newsletters, attain out to AskTSA.
Becky had pumpkin pie in thoughts when she queried “creamy” meals, one of many two classes (together with “stable”) provided up for meals questions.
When she replied “No” as to if she had acquired a passable reply to her query from the automated system, she was knowledgeable {that a} “Social Care Specialist” could be in contact between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m.
Whereas this reply was useful, we have been in a position to kind in “pie” on the TSA “What Can I Convey?” webpage and acquired a solution instantly.
Backside line
Should you’re not in a rush and wish to know what you’ll be able to pack, the AskTSA textual content message possibility is a useful instrument, particularly if you need a customized reply about an merchandise that you just’re unsure the right way to categorize.
Nevertheless, we have been capable of finding data a bit quicker just by looking out with Google for many gadgets.
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