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Flying With Holiday Gifts? TSA Says Don’t Do This One Thing!
Source: AP
The TSA is back with their five tips for navigating air travel during the holidays and while most of the tips relate to traveling during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the TSA is also offering advice on what to do if you’re traveling with gifts.
“TSA is well aware that many people haven’t traveled in several months, here is what you need to do now to be prepared this holiday season — whether you’re traveling for Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa or to celebrate the New Year,” the agency said before offering tips regarding face masks, hand sanitizer – and traveling with gifts.
Pack smart this holiday season! If you're traveling with gifts we recommend you wait until arriving at your final destination to wrap them. Gifts that cause alarms during screening may need to be unwrapped for additional inspection. #TravelSafe pic.twitter.com/sv9jJGUj0O
— TSA (@TSA) December 10, 2020
While the TSA allows travelers to fly with gifts, they urge passengers to avoid wrapping holiday presents until they reach their destination.
“Because if a wrapped gift triggers an alarm, it will need to be unwrapped to determine whether the contents of the wrapped item present a security threat,” the TSA shared. “TSA’s officer-elves don’t want to take on the role of Scrooge and unwrap someone else’s gift. However, they will have to if the item triggers a security alarm.”
Instead, the TSA recommends placing the gift inside a gift bag or box, which can be easily opened by officers should the gift trigger an alarm.
