Check out this resource for carry-on travel questions.
We’ve all been there—standing in our kitchen the night before a flight, staring at an item and wondering, “Can I bring this on the plane?” Or worse, being at the security checkpoint when an agent pulls your bag aside because that fancy cheese you bought is actually considered a liquid (yes, that happens).
There’s a Text for That
The TSA has a service that could save you from these travel headaches. Beyond the usual methods of contacting TSA—emails, phone calls, or tweets to the AskTSA X account—you can now simply send them a text message. This is a great way to get quick answers to those oddly specific packing questions.
How to Use It
Text the word “travel” to 275-872 (AskTSA). Within moments, you’ll receive a message explaining automated responses are available 24/7, and for questions the algorithm cannot answer, live employees staff the line from 8 AM to 6 PM ET.
You’ll immediately get access to an automated menu covering seven major topics: TSA PreCheck, What Can I Bring?, Identification, Medical Questions, Damages/Claims, Hiring, and Other.
After selecting a topic, you’ll receive subcategories to narrow down your question. For example, if you select Damages/Claims, your options include Claim Status, Damaged Locks, Damaged Property, and How to Submit Claims.
This process continues until the service believes it has answered your question. At that point, it will ask, “Were we able to answer your question? You can say Yes or No.” If you respond with “No,” you’ll be prompted to write your query, and a Social Care Specialist will get in touch during business hours. In my experience, they typically respond within about 10 minutes when the line is staffed.
Note: if you text outside of working hours, your questions aren’t logged, so you’ll need to send your question again the following day. For medical questions, you’ll be provided with the appropriate department’s phone number, such as TSA’s Passenger Support Specialists department.
Real World Scenario
On her last trip to Colorado, my niece’s wallet was lost during a hike. Cue the panic: “How will I get home without ID?”
When she asked the system “I lost my ID, can I still fly?” it responded that TSA has other ways to verify her identity at security checkpoints. After offering a list of acceptable identification alternatives, the text service explained that TSA officers may ask her to complete an identity verification process, collecting information such as her name and current address to confirm her identity. If confirmed, she’ll still be allowed through security. She collected some of the mentioned identity alternatives (photos on her phone of her driver’s license and Social Security card included), presented them at the airport, and was allowed on the flight.
“Can I Bring This?”
The “What Can I Bring?” page on the TSA website is exhaustive, but sometimes you need a quick answer for something specific. Based on what’s previously been asked on the AskTSA X account, questions about food items in carry-on bags seem to be among the most common.
The text service can quickly tell you that solid cheese is allowed in your carry-on, but creamy cheese is limited to 3.4 ounces. Milk follows the same 3.4-ounce rule, and ice is permitted provided it’s frozen solid (otherwise it also needs to follow the liquid restriction). Random facts I picked up from scanning the list: Snow globes and Magic 8 Balls are banned, as they contain too much liquid. Cast iron skillets and tent pegs are prohibited in carry-ons because they could be used as weapons, but bowling balls are allowed (while bowling pins aren’t). And foam swords aren’t permitted in the cabin, though the system doesn’t explain why.
The Fine Print
While this service is useful, it does have some limitations. Responses can take several minutes if too many people are using the service simultaneously, and the answers often aren’t as detailed as what you’d find on the TSA website.
There’s also a waiting period of about 15 minutes before you can submit another query. If you have multiple questions, it might be faster to search online for answers. However, for questions that don’t have obvious Google-able answers or need additional context, having access to a real person relatively quickly during business hours can make your travels much smoother. At the very least, using this service could save you from the embarrassment—and time suck—of having your bag pulled for additional screening.
Twist’s Take: In a world where travel can be stressful enough, the TSA text line offers a simple way to get reliable answers to your security questions—saving you time, frustration, and perhaps even your favorite souvenir from being confiscated.