A Former TSA Agent Flags 8 Items You Should Never Take Through Security-and What to Pack Instead

"Each day the former TSA agent and his colleagues were tasked with screening up to 102,000 passengers departing from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. Harmon-Marshall recently told Travel + Leisure he saw a lot of strange things (including someone who tried to smuggle drugs in live fish) during his screening career. Still, he has no regrets. "Working at the busiest airport for as long as I did has equipped me with so much knowledge and stories that I'll be able to share for years to come.""

"His biggest piece of advice for going through security faster? Pay attention to what the people in front of you are doing and take your Apple AirPods out. "Passengers frequently get upset because the rules seem different at each airport," explained Harmon-Marshall. "Well, I can confirm that all TSA checkpoints follow the same exact standard operating procedures. However, they may be implementing a different screening procedure at any given time. The key here is to listen to what the officers are saying.""

Caleb Harmon-Marshall worked as a TSA agent at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, screening up to 102,000 departing passengers daily. He encountered unusual incidents, including an attempted drug smuggling in live fish, and accumulated extensive practical knowledge. He now shares travel and security tips through a newsletter called Gate Access. Primary recommendations include watching the behavior of people ahead, removing Apple AirPods to hear instructions, and listening to officers because checkpoints follow the same procedures though screening methods can vary. He advises packing allowed items and avoiding common confiscations such as Coca-Cola museum bottles and snow globes, and recommends alternatives that pass security.

Read at Travel + Leisure