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gijanet

gijanet

Well-known member
Joined
May 18, 2004
Messages
1,767
Location
Arlington, Tx.
Well, I need help again. At his insistance, we are taking my dad to Mississippi to visit the relatives from his side of the family. (Since my brother is dead, he really wants my son in particular to meet his side of the family tree. I think I met em once when I was 15.) Anyway, since we so rarely fly, I don't know diddly squat about all the new regulations. I have been trying to read up, but have questions that I figured some of you globetrotters could answer.

Meds?

My dad is on a ton of them. Do they all have to be in their little individual prescription bottles, or can I just take his weekly pill box full?

Katie's captopril has to be kept cold. I am planning on taking a little cooler and carrying it on board and have told our pharmacy that I need it in 3 ounce bottles. Any problems with that? They said they would have them individually labeled for me. (They are very accommodating.) Anything else?

The 3 ounce rule - is that only for carry on stuff? or even for checked luggage?

And so I can't even bring bottled water on for the kids? Is that right?
What about snacks?

I think these are the most essential questions that I would be very grateful for if someone knows the answers. If you have any other advice, it would be welcomed. We are taking a wheelchair for my dad to get him around faster as he walks with a cane and a snail would beat him in a race. :D

THanks much. Hugs. J.
 
gijanet said:
Well, I need help again. At his insistance, we are taking my dad to Mississippi to visit the relatives from his side of the family. (Since my brother is dead, he really wants my son in particular to meet his side of the family tree. I think I met em once when I was 15.) Anyway, since we so rarely fly, I don't know diddly squat about all the new regulations. I have been trying to read up, but have questions that I figured some of you globetrotters could answer.

Meds?

My dad is on a ton of them. Do they all have to be in their little individual prescription bottles, or can I just take his weekly pill box full?

I just take my weekly pill boxes, several of them. Never had a problem. Be sure to take at least one with your carry-on bag to get you through a week in the event that your luggage may get lost. You can then call your doctor and have new presciptions sent to a local pharmacy where you are.
Katie's captopril has to be kept cold. I am planning on taking a little cooler and carrying it on board and have told our pharmacy that I need it in 3 ounce bottles. Any problems with that? Sounds like you are OK on this one. They said they would have them individually labeled for me. (They are very accommodating.) Anything else?

The 3 ounce rule - is that only for carry on stuff? or even for checked luggage? Only for carry-on stuff. Checked luggage is not a problem. I take several bottles of wine back with me in checked luggage each time I fly overseas.

And so I can't even bring bottled water on for the kids? Is that right?
What about snacks? Right, you cannot take large bottled water through security.. but you can buy bottled water there at the airport after you go through security, and you can take those bottles on the plane. Snacks should be OK.
I think these are the most essential questions that I would be very grateful for if someone knows the answers. If you have any other advice, it would be welcomed. We are taking a wheelchair for my dad to get him around faster as he walks with a cane and a snail would beat him in a race. :D

If your dad only needs the wheelchair to get through the airport, they do have wheel chair service available at the airports, and you could use that instead of having to lug a wheelchair around that you own.Good Luck and safe travels.

Rob

THanks much. Hugs. J.
Click to expand...


..........
 
A Doctor I know had ALL medicines and diet supplements removed from checked luggage so it may be best to take the meds in carry-on luggage.
 
Thanks and one more ?

Thanks and one more ?

THanks, guys, so much. I knew someone would know the answers. Al, that's disturbing. Were the meds removed in the name of security???:confused: or did someone help themselves to the "free" pharmacy? Which brings me to another question.

Is it true that you can't lock your checked luggage anymore?

Oh, and Rob, thanks for the wheelchair info, too, but I think we are going to need it throughout this little adventure.

Thanks again. Janet
 
Not sure if I read it or I was told to carry all your meds with you and to have a doctors letter describing the meds, just to be on the safe side.
 
gijanet said:
Is it true that you can't lock your checked luggage anymore?
Click to expand...

Janet, I don't know the real answer to that, but even if locked, someone can get into your bags without breaking the lock. I saw on the news one night a reporter showing how it's done. All you need is a ballpoint pen and you insert it into the zipper. It will open the teeth of the zipper and the airline people can get access to your valuables. They then just slide the locked zipper back and forth and it zips it back up.

I haven't traveled in some time, but when I did, I never checked my luggage because of this (and other things).

I don't see why you couldn't lock your check on luggage though. If the airlines want in bad enough, they will find a way in it.
 
Don't lock

Don't lock

TSA has to have access to all checked baggage, so if it is locked, they will cut it open. It is not the airlines requiring this, but TSA.
 
If you go to the website for the airline, they will probably have the answers to your questions and link you to the FAA website regarding the carryon restrictions. We flew Southwest recently and I know that their website has all of the answers to your questions. Regarding the cooler, I seem to remember that you could take one of those cold gel packs, but other types of coolers were against the rules. I also remember that they said we weren't supposed to lock our luggage. I took my pills in carry-on in a pill case with no problem. It's liquids that are at issue.

One of the funny things I read on the website is that you can take a parachute on board, but you can't wear it. Can't you just see someone wearing their parachute "just in case"?

Last, they are getting pickier about restricting carryons. They truly have to be small enough to fit in the box at the counter. I saw several people have to give up their carryon at the gate. Of course, our flight was quite full, which probably made a difference.
 
UPDATE AGAIN! 1. Earlier I said the liquid size limit was 4oz, not 3. Then someone quoted the TSA website saying that the limit is 3oz. Sure enough, this is what the TSA says. Want to know why I thought the limit was 4oz? Because I have been carrying 3.5oz bottles of contact solution on planes! Shhhhhh! Don't tell anyone!

UPDATE: 2. Someone pointed out that you can bring gel cold packs on board for medical reasons. I didn't know this, not having needed it. Here is the link to the TSA page about exceptions for people with disabilities: http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/specialneeds/index.shtm . Or do what I suggested earlier: bring a baggie for ice; you can get ice once you pass through security and put it in the baggie in the cooler.

3. Normally you do not need to have pills in their original bottles. However, I would not suggest bringing a big pile of narcotic pain relievers without a prescription bottle!

4. You may buy water, juice, pop or whatever beverages to bring on the plane once you get through security. You just can't bring your own from home.

5. You can bring whatever snacks you like. In fact, you will probably have to, because airlines offer less and less when it comes to on-board food, and what they do offer isn't worth the money, anyway.

6. Are you bringing your own personal wheelchair? Call the airline to ask if they will stow it on board, or if they will take it at the gate and put it with the luggage. You will board first, with the people who need extra help, and get off the plane last.

7. For questions about wheelchairs, carry-on rules and getting around the gates, call the airline. For questions about security, go to http://www.tsa.gov. If you don't see your answer on line, you can call them. I've called before to get updates on the rules and they have been very helpful.

8. UPDATE: I see people are talking about locks for luggage. There are special locks to buy that can be opened by TSA security staff with a master key. Here is a page from Magellan with several such locks: http://dyna.magellans.com/cgi-bin/mitcus/dyna/dynaUGr5ev?page_number=1.

The more you stuff your suitcase, the harder it is for security to spy by x-ray, and the more likely it is that your bag will be searched, so if you want to minimize bag-searching, choose two loosely-packed bags instead of one tightly-packed bag. (Yes, I do realize that you may pay a fee for each bag now.)
 
From the TSA website:
"Frozen gels/liquids are permitted if required to cool medical and infant/child exemptions. Frozen gels/liquids for any other purpose are not permitted."

Other gels are acceptable as well, as long as they don't exceed 3 oz. and are put into a quart sized Ziploc.

Also, it is very clear from this same website that the limit is 3 oz., and they will remove the item if it doesn't follow the rules. I saw them take away roll-on deodorant. There are some exceptions to the 3 oz. rule - medicine, baby formula, etc., but they have to be declared to the Security Officer.

Here's the link - http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/prohibited/permitted-prohibited-items.shtm#2
 
Oh, gosh, thank you guys so much.

Oh, gosh, thank you guys so much.

I did look around AA's site, but it was a bit ambiguous at best, and, as always, I am short on time and long on sh*t to do. :mad: THanks so much for the links and info! :) Hugs. J.
 
Janet:

Many companies make the TSA-permitted locks. Check out Target, Wal-Mart, Container Store locations -- lock packaging should mention TSA on it. I asked a TSA agent at DFW Airport about the locks recently, and he didn't deal directly with baggage, so he didn't know how they work.

The 3-oz restrictions apply to the original size of the containers. I've overheard TSA agents telling passengers they are confiscating a tube of toothpaste, etc., even though the contents are not full. May be overzealous officials, I don't know.

You'd be surprised what you can fit in a quart-size ziplock baggy. I get a travel-size container of shampoo, travel-size deoderant, liquid makeup, hand cream, small spray bottle of leave-in conditioner, several other items.

When you pack your carry-on, make sure you can get to the ziplock baggy easily since you have to put it into a bin or other small container when you go through security. Fumbling around for a baggy in the recesses of your luggage won't win brownie points with other passengers, who may be fighting to make their flights. ;)

I have taken fruit, candy, etc., through security without problems. Just no liquids.
 
Oaktree said:
The same website, on a different page, where they explain their "simple" 3-1-1 rule, says you should have only one (count 'em) ziploc bag for your 3 oz liquid containers, and it must be no bigger than quart size. But it is going to take an additional gallon-size baggie to hold all my Rx and nonRx pill bottles. I really would prefer to just take my 7-day pillbox; it is much more compact.
Click to expand...

Don't be frustrated! First, my Dad always travels with nothing by carry-on luggage, and with him is always a 7-day pillbox. No one has ever looked at it twice. Same with me -- I last flew in December with my 7-day pill box. (I use my Dad as an example because he flies a lot more often than I do.)

The only thing that would alarm security would be something on the order of a big quart-sized bag stuffed full of vicodin. That looks pretty suspicious, like you are a really bad amateur drug dealer. A 7-day box with vitamins, beta-blockers and other non-narcotic stuff is fine.

Second, when you get in line at security, guess what you will find there? Plastic baggies for your liquid and gel stuff! The security line will be full of people stuffing their lipglosses and eyedrops into government-issue plastic baggies. The TSA would prefer that you do your plastic-baggie packing at home so that the lines move quicker, but they are realistic about what people will prepare ahead of time.
 
Oaktree said:
RobThatsMe, how do you protect a wine bottle from breakage in your checked luggage?
Click to expand...


Hi Oaktree,

I always have some bubble wrap plastic with me. I wrap the bottles in this, then pack them between my clothes in my checked luggage. I take home several bottles of wine from Europe each month, and have been on this overseas assignment for 3 years now. So far, knock on a PC.. I have not had a single one break, or get stolen.

I fly often, and in all of the points I mentioned in my post initial post to this thread, I have never had an issue.

BTW...The TSA locks are a good thing when traveling in the USA, but if you are traveling outside the USA, not all airport security points in other countires have access to open these locks for inspection, in which case, they will cut it off.

Usually, I just use a couple of twistie ties around my luggage sippers. (These are the white ties used for bread and also some garbage bags.)

Rob
 
Thanks again.

Thanks again.

This has been so helpful, and I'm relieved to find out I am not the only one confused by all I've been reading. Printed out the guidelines by the TSA and am taking it with me in case they give me grief.

Hugs. J.
 
By the way, the pharmacy can often type a sticky to put on your pill pack so:1.You don't forget
2. You have it there in case you end up in the ER, and
3. Fewer problems with security.
Or, you can type the sticky yourself.

I used to need insulin and heparin, and was that a huge deal to get through security! And the glucometer! Notes from physicians don't cut it. They actually called the pharmacy to verify. Each bottle has to be labeled. Syringes were the problem, since the box has the label, and I didn't feel I should bring the whole box. Fortunately I am off both, but... been there, done that.

Inhalers-another kettle of fish. They won't allow you to bring propellants on board. I had to pack my inhaler in my suitcase and pray that I wouldn't need it. I hope that rule has been revised somewhat.

TSA has a website with the rules.

Still steaming in Idaho,
-Laura
 
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