Airport Security Pitfalls: Even a Tissue in Your Pocket Could Trigger a Search

Airport security can turn on details many travelers barely notice. According to current and former U.S. Transportation Security Administration officers interviewed by foreign media, even a small wad of tissue left in a pocket may trigger a body scanner alarm.

TSA uniform consultant TeaNeisha Barker said travelers should focus on three things: “prepare, stay attentive and follow the instructions of security officers.” Former TSA officer Caleb Harmon-Marshall added that procedures can differ between airports, so frequent travelers should not rely entirely on past experience.

The 12 common pitfalls include wearing shoes with laces, using a belt with a large metal buckle, leaving pockets uncleared and carrying a small knife. A knife remains prohibited in carry-on baggage even if it is very small. Tools are another item travelers may forget to remove.

Travelers can also face delays when jewelry is buried in luggage, electronic devices are difficult to remove, gifts are wrapped, or bags are packed in a disorderly way. Heavy toiletry bags can make their contents harder to inspect, while passengers wearing sandals without socks may have to walk barefoot if they must remove their shoes.

The guidance also covers liquids and breast milk. Individual containers of liquids, gels and aerosols may not exceed 100 milliliters, even if they fit inside the permitted bag. Breast milk is exempt from the 100-milliliter limit, but milk carried in bags may trigger liquid scanner alerts more easily than milk in bottles. Clearing pockets and preparing luggage in advance can reduce the chance of additional screening.

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Prepare, stay attentive and follow the instructions of security officers.