Where Knowledge Junkies Get Their Fix
Watercooler Ammo: Don’t be a pack rat
by Mary - August 11, 2006 - 1:09 PM

plan_v_marco_polo_airport_security_line_375_p1040544.jpgWe’re going all Lifehacker-y today for Watercooler Ammo, since some of you may be traveling for the weekend (and since all four of us will be traveling on Monday and Tuesday). Here’s how to pack under the new “hand over the Burt’s Bees and nobody gets hurt” rules, from the Philly Inquirer:

* If you are not sure whether an item is banned from carry-ons, pack it with the luggage going on the plane. … It can get confusing. Lipstick does not appear to be prohibited, but lip balm does. [Editor’s note: What do you think they make of these?] [Editor’s note: No, seriously, that’s what I use; what should I do?]

* Don’t try to defeat the screening process by attempting to carry on liquids or gels purchased from shops in the gate areas. Additional gate-area security checks are being conducted.

* Some hotel chains are helping fill the void. … Omni Hotels, for example, is making available to its guests cosmetics, skin-care and hair-care products, along with sunscreen, toothpaste, contact-lens solution, and nail polish and remover.

* US Airways has dropped its excess-baggage fee to avoid penalizing passengers who check what had been carry-on bags.

* British Airways and US Airways passengers to and from Britain and those passengers returning from Britain on other airlines are subject to tougher limits on what they can bring onboard.

Comments (5)
  1. It sucks that we can’t carry lip balm. Do you know hard it is to go six hours without reapplying? There was a great post about this on Chaptastic (www.chaptastic.com).

  2. I read something on MSNBC.com yesterday where a lady said she had to throw out her lip gloss… Hey, at $7 a tube, I’d say don’t risk it…

    Is that your actual color of choice?

    Have a safe trip.

  3. Leyah, I thought so too — I wonder what all the world’s lipbalm addicts will do about this. Susan — thanks, I’ll be careful… oh, and I wear “Always Sienna!”

  4. I’d also say don’t risk it. I’m traveling to Las Vegas on Tuesday and I’m rethinking my whole packing philosophy because of this.

  5. Oh, with some clever packing, you can smuggle some lip balm through security. I did this last week-end, got three tubes of lip balm and some toothpaste through. I did go into the rest room and lock myself in a stall at the airport to re-apply, of course. This rule really sucks. I’ll give up my Lipsmackers when they pry it from my cold, dead fingers.

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