A couple of years ago Ben Schlappig, over at One Mile at a Time, wrote about security screening at the St. Kitts airport. It was his first time going through security with a bag, without having PreCheck.
- St. Kitts, like many countries, imposes carry-on liquid limits. In fact, flights from airports to the U.S. that don’t enforce liquid rules at security have to have liquid screening at the gate which is terrible because it means you can’t buy a bottle of water in the airport and bring it on board.
- The rule in St. Kitts is similar to the U.S. If you go through TSA, you’re supposed to have no more than one clear plastic quart-size ziploc bag containing liquid items that are no more than 3.4 ounces (100ml) apiece.
- You don’t need to take your liquids out at PreCheck, but most passengers have had to remove their liquids bag and screen it separately for years. This isn’t always enforced, and screeners don’t always catch it, but that’s the rule.
- Ben didn’t have a liquid bag. They made him leave security screening to go buy one. And he was livid.
Robert L. Bradshaw International Airport
Robert L. Bradshaw International Airport
I’ve been through that airport a few times since Ben posted about his experience. Earlier in the month there was a woman ahead of me in line with no bag for her liquids. She was told that if she wanted to take her liquids with her through the checkpoint, she’d have to place them in a ziploc.
- The woman asked if they had a bag she could use? No, she was told – she’d have to go buy a ziploc bag. They were available in a nearby shop for $1.
- The woman argues “but I’m a nonrev!” This was not persuasive.
- She goes to buy the bag and tells the security staff “don’t you move my stuff, hold it right here, I’ll be right back” wanting everyone behind her in line to wait for her to go buy the bag and return.
Robert L. Bradshaw International Airport
Robert L. Bradshaw International Airport
This woman was unreasonable. She was seated in front of me in American Airlines first class on the flight to Miami, and she was curt with cabin crew as well.
I’ve been thinking about this interaction a lot. It’s unwise to act like an entitled jerk with airport security in a foreign country. But leave aside her attitude.
- You should expect to need a baggie for your liquids at airport security outside of the United States, flying to the United States. If you’re nonrevving you should be (and act like) an experienced traveler, although it amazes me how rarely that’s actually the case.
- TSA doesn’t need to offer free ziploc bags. While the agency itself is accountable to the executive branch of government, and to relevant committees of Congress, and those are loosely accountable to voters, they’re just not in a customer service-sensitive role. And providing poor customer service at the airport isn’t going to undermine national priorities.
- However, tourism is over 60% of St. Kitts GDP. It’s important to make the travel experience not a pain for visitors, so they’ll come back. You don’t want the last thing they remember about the experience to be unpleasant bureaucrats and a cumbersome travel process.
- In fact, the major limiting factor on St. Kitts tourism is modest air travel schedules and challenging connectivity. For U.S. passengers living outside of Miami, Atlanta or New York it’s already enough of a pain to travel there.
- So you’d really want to make the travel process easy – as a national priority. Invest in giving out ziploc bags and making the travel experience pleasant, or sell them at the checkpoint for $1.
St. Kitts has actually gotten a bit simpler to depart from with the elimination of paper departure cards you have to fill out and immediately hand over. Their security screening is a single line, dumping you into a small holding area with limited amenities. They need to enforce liquid rules for U.S. departing flights, but should provide much better customer service while doing so.
The U.S. can get away with enforcing rules and ignoring service. So can London and Paris. But for St. Kitts is far more inadvisable.
Typical non-rev entitlement mentality
“But I’m a non-rev!”
lol, she probably wasn’t an airline employee but a family member (or close friend) with one. And whoever that other person is, they might be about to lose their travel benefits (and have an awkward talk with their boss).
Number one rule of non-revving is don’t make a scene. Number two rule is when you register people on your employee benefits, choose them carefully.
“However, tourism is over 60% of St. Kitts GDP. It’s important to make the travel experience not a pain for visitors, so they’ll come back”
Ziploc bags for $1 each, what could possibly engender more harmony?
St. Kitts and Nevis knows how to be tough. 2 examples:
1. As noted in the article, you have to buy a Ziploc bag for $1 if you don’t have one and need one. $1 is actually an acceptable price. They could try to charge $3 or even $5.
2. They are tough to stand up to the People’s Republic of China. St. Kitts and Nevis is one of the few countries to have diplomatic relations with the Republic of China on Taiwan. Even President Carter was not strong enough and ripped up the mutual defense treaty with Taiwan in order to please Beijing.
I am in favor of the US military dropping an atomic bomb on the country of St Kitts.
I can’t help but wonder if the shop owner is related to the checker. There are between 8 & 10 flights to the US everyday out of St. Kitts. If only 10 bags per flight, that would add up to a nice $500 bonus every week.
This is like expecting toilet paper in a public bathroom. It’s a nice to have but not a requirement on the establishment. Best to always travel with your own means to wipe yourself.
She sounds like a member of a certain demographic.
Can’t we just get rid of the liquid rules already? They never seemed to serve a purpose.
Everyone bitches about TSA but if they REALLY enforced things, you’d be even less satisfied.
I almost always have several one quart Ziploc type clear bags with me so if she was in front of me, I would supply her with one for free to keep the line going. By the way, I can’t remember the last time I was required to take my liquids bag out of my luggage. I think that only happened once many years ago.
Or you can do what I do and carry spare Ziploc bags for just in case. Ever since 9/11 when this rather liquid arbitrary policy got implemented I’ve carried multiple bags so I’m never without. You never know when yours might tear or the zipper fail. Always keep spares.
Look on the bright side, once the god-king abolishes ATC, FAA, and TSA, then you can bring whatever you want on board because regulations are sins!
@AndyS Are you suggesting this was a ‘DEI’ passenger? Surprised you didn’t use your favorite word!
@Dick I thought we were doing Greenland first. ‘Nuke Nuuk!’
On the zip-lock bags, I’ve noticed Canada, France, and a few other countries have those at security, free of charge (or ‘included’ as part of whatever taxes you pay on the ticket). It is arbitrary. Security theater. ‘Control.’ Practically an abuse of power. Like, at LHR T3 transfers there is this woman of Indian descent who works security that I swear takes an item from every person, regardless. She’s probably got a resale business on the side. Funny thing is she never wants ‘opened’ items, but the ‘unopened’ mouthwash (under 100ml, of course), yeah, that’s her’s now. Every. Time.
Don’t blame the messenger. The staff are only carrying out the rules. It seems like when small countries enforce what the larger countries implement they are vilified for it. Everyone should know the rule by now as it has been around for years plus there are announcements made about it.
I visited St Kitts last year. Loved the island, but had a similar experience to Ben trying to fly home. tSA was such a PIA, I doubt I’ll return. Really dumb of them (IMO) to be like that
Never been to this island, but I have been a lifetime global business traveler. I haven’t had this bag you are talking about in the last 20 years of flying around the world.
We were just there two weeks ago, we had a great time and felt St. Kitts was cheaper than other islands to visit and the food was quite good when we ate out. However, we ran into this problem too. Every liquid had to fit into a Ziplock bag or we had to toss it.
For anyone going there I have two recommendations: 1) Fill out the immigration form online before you land. Completing it on your phone takes a while. 2) Bring Ziplocks for your return, else plan to throw away any liquids.
Or, maybe, a big sign before you hit the security line: “Liguids must be in 1 quart bag. Bags for sale pre-security.” (And one saying “flying for free makes you less, not more, special.”
Why would anyone carrying liquids not have a ziplock? This has been the standard practice for a long time now. I do agree they should sell them in the TSA line to keep things moving. That no res Karen should have been booted out of the line when she didn’t have her ziplock.
Also a world traveler, here: this past year, Australia, China, Canada, UK, Netherlands, Belgium, Singapore, India, Seattle, San Francisco, Dallas,. Not a single Ziploc bag for me. I didn’t pack one. I just leave my tiny liquids in my bags and whatever happens, happens. (Nothing has happened)…
I’m with @AndyS. What a Karen. Typical well-to-do white entitled demographic. Probably a pilot or married to one.
I’m curious here how much people who comment on this blog actually travel. I’ve traveled around the world without zip lock bags for my liquids and I’ve been made to actually put them in a zip lock in maybe two countries. I’m shocked to here TSA official policy is still a 1Q zip lock bc I go through almost every day without one and have not heard of it.
@Christian
I think you know what he was alluding to. A pilot bang your wife too, like Gary’s?
Canadian TSA (CATSA) provides ziploc bags for free before security lines at least in all major canadian airports (usually by the trash bins where you are supposed to get rid of large liquid containers).
Haven’t seen something similar anywhere else.
All of those ridiculous “liquid size and quantity” related carry on rules should be immediately cancelled…..there never was any scientific or practical basis for them and there’s even less so now. Trust me if somebody wants to do something bad, they can do it just as easily with 100 mils as they can with a 1000.
Well, what started off as a simple conversation has shown some users true colours of white privilege by thinking St Kitts should bow down to them because they are coming to the island. Also others have shown pure hate, by stating dropping a nuclear bomb on the island of St Kitts. But I guess what do you expect from someone named ‘Dick’. Guess even at birth they knew you were destined to be a Dick!
The Island of St. Kitts doesn’t care whether or not you have a ziploc bag. When you came into the Island no one asked for it. The requirements was not made by St. Kitts but by the US. When the US make it known worldwide that it is no longer required then things will change. In the meantime travel with your Ziploc bag and maybe even have extras so you can help out a fellow traveler.
“Typical non-rev mentality”? “White privilege”? “White entitled demographic”? “JD” says that he has “traveled the world” and mentions the UK. Well, I go to London 3-4 times a year. You can’t get past Heathrow Terminal 3 security without liquids in a bag! But then, the UK airport has plastic bags available for free. JimC got it right. As an airline employee, we are schooled on proper non-rev etiquette. If one of us or the family breaks the rules of etiquette, the chances of loosing non-rev privileges and/or your job are pretty good. Thankfully, “buddy passes” are no longer allowed. I got into trouble once by giving a “buddy pass” to a friend’s son whom I knew. He “didn’t play nice” and I got called to the carpet. NEVER AGAIN!
The issue is that 99% of the time (and I fly 2-4 times a week) as long as liquid are under 3.4 ounces they do not need to be in and limited to a baggie. The rule is moronic to begin with which is why it’s basically ignored. At that point just check the bag, despite the stupid situation.
Was there last week. The security is mayhem and leaves a bad final impression. Crowded with arbitrary rules – “No shoes in the bins!” As if that is the greatest sin imaginable. The ziplock fiasco was a problem for several of the people on my flight, and the lady enforcing it was very vague – “you need to go buy one” – no further instructions. She also takes your name and passport number if she examine your bags. It’s as if she’s putting you on a naughty list. They open every pocket in your bags and examine closely. (I had an empty Listerine travel container that I wanted to keep, this took a while to explain yes, you see it is empty and I still want to keep it.) Incredibly strict and slowing everything down. It certainly could be handled better.
I had a few mini bottles with me leaving St. Kitts. I had to leave them because I had a gallon size Ziploc, not a quart size. Never had this issue anywhere else.
Did the US officially change its stance on the quart-sized Ziploc to carry allowed liquids? Or are we still officially supposed to have them? I do always do it, and have spare Ziplocs, but just realized I can’t remember the last time I had to take that bag out separately. I’ve been told to leave everything in my purse/backpack/bag lately.
@Melody
Had not heard of this rule (on the zip-lock bags) in the US until Gary posted about it. I wonder if enforcement depends on which security lane, like Pre-Check vs. regular. Then again, our government is under new management, so all policies could be changed again soon. For instance, if they abolish the TSA on a whim, if the CEO of SC Johnson (which manufactures Zip-Lock) gets in a personal feud with the god-king, then all could change in an instant. If it pleases his majesty, we may need to soon wear silly hats in order to board aircraft. What an exciting time!
I recently flew from Toronto to Charlotte. My carry-on bag was chosen to be searched. The agent proceeded to pull out my one and only quart sized ziploc bag. She started to pull things out checking sizes. One was my toothpaste. No biggie if tossed. It was over 3 oz but half empty. She took it and flattened and rolled up empty part. She then got a ziploc of their own and put ALL my stuff back including the toothpaste. She then explained she needed her supervisor to check and went to an office to the side. Came back, gave me the new bag with ALL my items and told me to have a nice day. First time I’ve experienced that?
@Shay Avritt
I know from experience that flights departing from Canadian airports do very much require those zip-lock bags. Yet, like you experienced, many of the security agents are more ‘understanding’ than ‘rigid,’ but still it depends on the agent.
Moving forward, I’m curious whether that ‘friendly’ demeanor towards US-bound flights will soon sour due to the trade war (25% tariffs starting February 1, 2025). So, will ‘America’s hat’ become the ’51st state’ after-all?
TSA has never caught one terrorist in its whole existence. What is its purpose?
@Gene
You should see the other recent post by Gary on the TSA. It seems you’d be in the ‘abolish’ it crowd.
While I agree that TSA is a pain in St. Kitts (as it is in almost every other country I’ve been to), I also find it somewhat humorous when people visit from larger countries and fuss about rules like these. The reality is that the TSA agents in countries like St. Kitts are merely enforcing regulations and policies put in place by the larger countries (i.e. many of these tourists’ home countries) as measures to safeguard their own national security. St. Kitts’ TSA didn’t make the rules, the people who represent (many of) the tourists did. So, if there is a frustration, it is only logical that they should take it up with their local representatives in their respective countries. That’s where the change has to originate.
@Dick
Nuke it? Nah – rename it after something American and invade it.
I fly out of Aruba (AUA) often. AUA is one of the few airports where you clear US Customs while still on the island for flights back to the US. There is one particular worker there that always has an issue with items not being in a ziplock bag and confiscates said items. The kicker is this worker is on the “US/TSA” side of things meaning all people whose items are confiscated by her had already passed Aruba security. I had seen her do it twice thinking it was a fluke until I was accosted and she took my hand sanitizer because it was not in a ziplock bag. I get it, I just think it’s a bit ironic I constantly fly within the US and never had my hand sanitizer taken.
It happened to me returning to Canada from St. Kitts on two separate occasions. I used the same Ziploc bag that was screened and allowed in Canada, but to them it was too large. I have flown to both the US and England with the same Ziploc bag. It is my belief that it’s just a money grab. I won’t even get into it with great detail about the issue that was created one time when I was initially told to go buy a bag and that I could return and avoid having to line up again. I made the mistake of believing them and instead got stopped by a number of the officers/agents. I had to explain and show them that my passport was already checked and stamped, including to the woman who just stamped my passport. The way it is set up for you to be able to advance to screening, be told you have to leave to buy a Ziploc bag, return and line up to do the same process all over again is poorly designed.
My girlfriend and I had traveled to St. Kitt’s last year, and experienced the quart sized bag issue. We wound up checking our bag. What they need to do is tell people at check in if they have a carrying on with liquids, you will need a quart size bag.
These are the rules and regulations that the usa put on all these caribean country after 911 .we are protecting the USA
When did personal responsibility stop being a thing? If you can get yourself to St Kitts you can afford a zipper bag, and apparently have the brains to plan ahead. I suggest buying a box of them and stashing a few of them, empty, in all your luggage. Then you might even be able to give one to someone who forgot theirs, and brighten their day.
You can find bags in that size and others free for taking at Heathrow. I’ve found larger sizes handy for collecting watch, glasses, other pocket items when necessary, to place in carry-on. Otherwise the watch and other small items slither into its deepest darkest corners and are a pain to dig out.
I find this a stingy revenue raising scam on behave of the airport… it’s in everyone’s interest, passengers, airlines, airport management and the country not to irritate and slow passenger screening. Then again I also find charging for baggage carts (not the single coin deposit) and airport drop off fees to also be stingy, sleazy penny pinching behaviour of over paid airport management execs.
Brussels airport has a similar scheme, selling 2x ziplock bags in plastic eggs via a gum-ball machine. Of course they claim environmentalism like most these scams, save the environment by wasting two baggies and a plastic egg to landfill.
I usually leave my second bag for another passenger to take and discard the egg for the airport cleaners to collect. I also generally find it a good idea take a few extra bags at the airports that provide them.
At Heathrow, there is an ample supply of FREE large zip-loc style bags, which one may take as needed.
I was impressed by that. It’s frequently the small things that one remembers, which bring customers back.