A SEASONED traveler has laid bare his anger after a TSA agent thought one of his carry-on items was gunpowder – and made him miss his flight.
PhD student Benjamin Fields has visited all seven continents and is keen to enter into the travel industry once his studies are completed.
PHD student and part-time travel consultant Benjamin Fields told The U.S. Sun about his airport homemade seasoning nightmare[/caption]
A patch on the shirt of a TSA agent reads ‘Integrity Respect Commitment’[/caption]
AIRPORT HELL
But he recounted his nightmare in 2018 with The U.S. Sun with a stark warning for anyone thinking of taking kitchen supplies in their hand luggage when flying.
The Bay Area based part-time travel consultant was flying out of Elmira Corning Regional Airport in upstate New York and heading for a family getaway in Orlando, Florida.
There were grand plans of a big cook out with friends and family – so Benjamin prepared some of his homemade meat seasoning before innocently placing it in a glass mason jar.
The TSA generally limits liquids in carry-on luggage to 3.4 ounces (100ml) or smaller containers, all of which must fit into a single, clear, quart-sized (or smaller), resealable bag.
This is commonly known as the 3-1-1 rule, though there are exceptions.
Certain travelers can bypass the liquid restrictions for items such as medically necessary liquids and baby formula.
The seasoning, however, sent the TSA agents into spin.
Benjamin admits he had travelled with the concoction “multiple” times but one this one particular occasion, the check was lengthier than normal.
The barbecue blend—salt, pepper, hickory, cayenne pepper, garlic powder – was confused for something completely different.
“They said they needed to check it for gunpowder and explosives,” he told The U.S. Sun.
“They opened the jar, smelled it, pulled out a sample, and put it in a machine with little white paper things to test it.
“They didn’t seem to care about my flight leaving soon.”
LENGTHY DELAY
The screening took over 30 minutes and Benjamin missed his flight.
He says the agents showed “no urgency at all” and although he appreciates they were doing their due diligence, “it felt like they just didn’t care.”
Worried about kicking up a massive storm and potentially being dumped onto the no-fly list, Benjamin kept his counsel.
He stayed in the terminal, bought some food and waited six hours before jumping onto the next flight.
It was a cautionary tale – Benjamin never carried seasoning in a carry-on again.
His advice is practical: if you’re bringing food, check it. If it’s a powder, label it.
If it’s homemade, expect questions.
“Honestly, I’m glad the TSA is doing their job,” he concluded.
“But maybe—just maybe—they could do it without making you miss your flight.”
TSA’s 3-1-1 rule
The Transportation Security Administration regulates the amount of liquids, aerosols, and gels that flyers can bring through airport security with the 3-1-1 liquids rule.
The 3-1-1 rule consists of the following:
Each container of liquid has to be 3.4 ounces or less.
All liquids have to fit in one clear, quart-sized, resealable bag.
Finally, passengers can only bring one bag of liquids each.
STARK WARNINGS
The TSA have been proactive recently when warning travelers about what not to pack in hand luggage.
In a light-hearted Facebook post, officers reminded travelers that bringing souvenir sauces through security comes with a catch—if it’s more than 3.4 ounces, it’ll be “steaked away.”
The post featured an array of food items including meat, marinades, salads, and other cookout favorites. It served both as a festive tribute and a practical travel tip.
“This #FathersDay, we salute the grill masters, the pun champions, the remote-control holders… DADS!” the post read.
“If you’re flying out to celebrate or bringing Dad’s favorite jerky along, here’s the meat of the matter.”
TSA clarified that jerky is allowed in both carry-on and checked bags, as long as it’s properly packaged.
However, sauces and marinades in carry-ons must follow the standard liquid rule—no more than 3.4 ounces per container.
“Carry-on secret sauce marinade? Keep it under 3.4oz or it’ll be steaked away,” the post continued.
“Whether you’re headed to see your pop or just meat-ing up somewhere sunny, be sure to #PackSmart and keep the dad jokes flying.”
