3 ounces, safe and sound

On a recent trip from Orlando, a Transportation Security Administration agent stopped me. After pulling out and declaring my one-quart Ziploc baggie of no larger than three-ounce toiletries, this agent proceeded to open my very neatly packed baggie and dump it out. “Why?” I asked. It is, after all, a clear bag. She said she needed to check them to ensure that nothing was over three ounces.

After checking all my toiletries, she haphazardly stuffs them back into the bag. In math and in fitting toiletries into Ziploc baggies, order of operations matters. Midway through stuffing, she tells me my toiletries don’t fit.

Since the rule came into effect, I’ve flown eight times, using the same exact baggie of toiletries. Perhaps Orlando’s atmospheric conditions cause toiletries to expand to double their size because they fit when I packed them.

I explained to the woman that they fit into the baggie before she dumped it and if she gave them to me, I could show her exactly how they fit. Still holding my 2.5-ounce, $40 bottle of face lotion hostage, she snapped that she couldn’t allow me to do that.

I see it all the time, travelers held hostage by a savage TSA agent who is exhorting more power than a neighborhood president telling you your grass is a half inch too tall. What they don’t tell you is asking for the supervisor will not get you an automatic trip to the cavity search room.

First, be armed with the facts. Visit the TSA Web site tsa.gov and if possible, have a copy of their guidelines in your pocket. Second, allow yourself extra time in case you encounter one of these ever-so-reasonable agents and need a supervisor.

Remember, your tax dollars are paying for these people, so yes, follow their rules, but don’t give up your right to bear hand lotion.

I am happy to report I made it home with my toiletries intact.

Baton Rouge native Susan Nelson is an associate with an international technology and strategy consulting firm. In the past year, she’s logged more than 100,000 miles and roughly 150 hotel nights.