LEXINGTON, Ky. (LEX 18) — From bourbon bottles to giant fascinators, the TSA has seen them all at the airport during Kentucky Derby week.
“The most common offender during Derby week is bottles of bourbon that people want to take as souvenirs,” TSA spokesman Mark Howell said.
People are allowed to go home with these, but they must be packed in checked luggage under the plane.
“We have the 3-1-1 rule, which is 3.4 ounces of fluid in a quart-sized bag,” Howell explained. This is why these bottles cannot ship even if they are sealed.
Large fascinators should also always be packed in checked baggage. If they are too large to easily pass the security check, you may be asked to check it, and it may be subject to additional manual screening, and this process adds time to a process that should already take longer time this week.
“Arrive at the airport two hours before your flight,” Howell said of this week. “All airports in the state; Cincinnati, Louisville and Lexington are all seeing significant volume,” Howell said.
People always make the same mistakes when it comes to carrying guns, knives and other sharp objects on board. Just this morning, a TSA official said two firearms were detected at Bluegrass Airport.
“The excuse we get almost every time is, 'Oops, I forgot it was in my bag,'” Howell said.
To do this, he suggests emptying it completely before packing. Mr. Howell also said the TSA would never confiscate an item. Travelers will always have the choice to return it or make other arrangements before going through security.
