BWI's Most Common Prohibited Items Found Often As Travel Resumes

LINTHICUM, MD — Security reported finding more prohibited items as travelers return to Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport. The Transportation Security Administration explained Monday that many flyers are bringing liquids, gels and aerosols that are larger than the acceptable limit. These are some of the most common culprits:

• Shampoo
• Toothpaste
• Drinks
• Sunscreen
• Hand lotion
• Face moisturizer
• Shaving cream
• Mouthwash
• Other toiletries

"We are seeing an increase in the number of travelers who haven’t flown recently, are new to air travel or are infrequent flyers," stated Andrea R. Mishoe, TSA’s federal security director for Maryland. "These travelers have started to take leisure flights to visit family, travel to meet friends, or take vacations[. They] are getting stopped at our checkpoint because they have brought prohibited items with them."

Passengers can carry liquids, gels and aerosols that are 3.4 ounces, 100 mL or less. These possessions must fit into a quart-sized, resealable bag known as the 3-1-1 bag. Flyers can pack larger containers in their checked luggage.

Security officials made an exception during the coronavirus pandemic, allowing one hand sanitizer bottle of up 12 ounces. Workers will screen these hefty cleansers separately, given their size, and they may prolong travelers' time at the checkpoint.

TSA has also spotted more ammunition than usual. Officers said they have caught everything from loose rounds to full boxes of bullets and loaded gun magazines.

Passengers can bring ammunition and guns on a flight, but they must be packed in a hard-sided case inside a checked bag. Flyers must keep small arms ammunition as well as shotgun shells in their original boxes and declare them to the airline. More information on how to properly transport firearms through an airport is posted here.

Travelers can visit TSA's “What can I bring?” website to check if an item is allowed in carry-on bags. This feature is also available on the free MyTSA app.

"Take an extra minute or two while packing [your] carry-on bags to make sure that [you] aren’t packing prohibited items inside," Mishoe added in a press release. "Not only does this slow down the security checkpoint process, but it also results in a bag check. Keep in mind that during a pandemic, the idea is to reduce touchpoints, and a bag check does the opposite."

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