Snow globes, the souvenir item that has been banned from carry-on luggage, will soon be taken off the TSA's banned items list. Starting this summer, the Transportation Security Administration will no longer ban certain snow globes.
Snow globes are currently among a list of items that the TSA doesn't allow in carry-on luggage such as knives, box cutters, etc. However, that is changing soon as the TSA has realized that snow globes are not so threatening. "Later this summer, TSA expects to begin allowing small snow globes in carry-on luggage when packed in a passenger's plastic 3-1-1 bag," the agency said in a statement according to the Los Angeles Times.
However not all snow globes will be permitted. The TSA still has their liquid limit rule of course which often keep passengers from bringing on regular sized bottles of shampoo and other toiletries. These items are banned because they could possibly carry liquid explosives, however, many of them are allowed in checked luggage, including snow globes.
"Snow globes that appear to contain less than 3.4 ounces (approximately tennis-ball size) will be permitted if the entire snow globe, including the base, is able to fit in the same one clear, plastic, quart-sized, resealable bag as the passenger's other liquids, such as shampoo, toothpaste and cosmetics," the TSA says.
The TSA has a 3-1-1 rule when it comes to liquids. Liquids 3.4 ounces or smaller must fit within one plastic bag and only one plastic bag per passenger is allowed in a security screening bin at TSA checkpoints.
Due to the limits, this means that snow globe carrying travelers will have to decide whether to go without their shampoo or their toothpaste to make room for their souvenir in the plastic baggie. Then again, they could always just leave it in their checked luggage and hope it doesn't break during the flight.
To read more about the TSA's liquid rule, check out their website. For a list of banned items, check out this past Travelers Today article. Even though there are several items that the TSA does not allow to be carried on, there are several surprising items that the TSA does allow like ice skates and knitting needles.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
