Odd Things You Probably Had No Idea You Can Bring Through TSA

Packing the perfect carry-on bag for your flight can be something of an art form. Most folks have some personal items that they just don't want to part with, even for the length of a short flight. Since the reality is that there's no guarantee your luggage will arrive when and where you do, it's also a good idea to bring things you know you can't live without where you're going. And then there are those things that you'll actually want to have with you on the flight like a favorite magazine or snack.

Of course, the last thing you need is to find out at the security check that something in your carry-on bag is against the rules. Not only could this leave you stranded on vacay without something you had planned on taking with you, but there's also a chance you'll have to sacrifice your TSA-confiscated items to be resold at a lost item surplus store. That's why it's always a good idea to peruse the TSA website for any recent changes and make sure your carry-ons make the cut every time you fly.

And while you're looking, you might be surprised at some of the things that are allowed on a flight. From DIY day-drinking supplies to some interesting cosplay choices, here are some of the odder items you can totally get through a TSA check next time you fly.

From falconers to pirates to Jafar, many friends of a feather can't imagine taking a journey without their avian pals. Technically, TSA allows birds to pass through the security check — subject to the rules of the airline you're flying with. Like most small pets, small birds are allowed as carry-on items, but you will have to remove them from their carriers and walk them through security where you'll both be wanted.

If you've got a larger bird, he or she won't count as a carry-on item, but you just might be able to purchase a ticket for them depending on the airline. In 2017, CNN reported on a Saudi Arabian prince who purchased 80 extra seats so his falcons could fly economy. But the following year, a Brooklyn artist was not so lucky when her peacock pal didn't make the cut for a United Airlines flight, per BBC.

We've all been there. You're on your way to the Triwizard Tournament when you suddenly realize you forgot to check your wand, and now you're stuck in the security line worried that you'll end up losing it to the TSA's confiscated items bin. The good news is that Harry Potter wands are explicitly allowed, according to the TSA website. Since non-HP wands aren't mentioned on the TSA site, it looks like Glinda and the White Witch of Narnia are out of luck.

A lucky lighter can be a pretty handy thing to have on vacation. But if you've already jumped to the conclusion that you have to leave it at home thanks to tight airline safety regulations, we've got some good news for you. You can most likely bring your good lighter through TSA, although the rules are a little tricky. While you can't travel with a torch lighter — a blue flame or plasma lighter, for example — you can bring one Zippo or a disposable lighter. For more specific information about traveling with checked lighters, check the FAA guidelines.

We don't know why you'd want to bring a handful of fresh eggs in your carry-on bag. Maybe you've just spent a glorious week hanging out with your long-lost relatives in Amish country. Maybe you like the adrenaline kick of pure anxiety worrying about yolk seeping all over your iPhone. Whatever your reasons, as long as you're willing to walk them through the X-ray machine, you are more than welcome to take them in your carry-on bag. Or, if you really like to walk on the wild side, you can stick them in your checked luggage. Either way, Godspeed.

If you're picky about your razor blade, we get it. Disposable razors are one of those things that you definitely want to take with you on the plane in case you and your luggage get separated. Even if the hotel gift shop has a replacement for you, you might not have many options to choose from — and some of us need the old triple blade to really get the job done. Fortunately, disposable razors are still allowed on the plane and in your checked luggage even in today's hypercautious security climate.

The TSA also has good news for those of us who can't make it through a vacation without our favorite coffee or espresso maker. Both of these items are treated like any other electronic equipment you might want to take in your checked or carry-on luggage, although TSA recommends packing your pricier items in your carry-on luggage so you can keep an eye on them. Just make sure your cords are well-wrapped and everything fits in a carry-on bag.

If your travel plans involve taking a long drive into the wilderness and backpacking your way through some of nature's most majestic vistas, you might want to bring a camp stove along. They can also come in handy if you're on your way to an event like Bonnaroo Music Festival or Burning Man. As long as you've emptied all of the fuel and packed everything up according to their guidelines, the TSA says it's fine to bring a camping stove in your checked bag or as a carry-on.

Assaggiatori. Turophile. Cheesehead. Whatever you call yourself, if you're one of those folks who just can't get enough cheese, you're probably bringing some back on your next vacation. And you should have no problems getting your cheese past TSA. Different rules apply for solid and creamy cheese — you're only allowed up to 3.4 ounces of creamy cheese in a carry-on — and you'll want to make sure your cheese is packed so it can easily pass through the scanner. Follow those rules and you'll be all gouda!

Depending on where you're going and what kind of layover you're dealing with, it's pretty common to find yourself strapped for time with an empty belly as you race across the concourse. If you've got just enough time to stand in line, go ahead and grab that corn dog or sammy to nosh on at the departure gate since non-liquid foods like pizza, sandwiches, and other types of cooked meals are generally all allowed through the security check.

Vacations are all about relaxing and taking a break from the real world, so we definitely won't judge or begrudge you if your idea of a good time includes bringing your favorite gaming system along. And if you've got kids or teens in your crew, a gaming system can be a great tool for keeping them occupied while the adults decompress between adventures. Gratefully, TSA allows all kinds of gaming systems and computers including your desktop, laptop, external hard drive, and full-sized video game consoles.

It probably doesn't look great if you're traveling by air with a lock-picking kit. And aside from getting into a good old-fashioned heist or attending a locksmith's convention, it seems like a fairly odd thing to stick in your travel bag. But TSA apparently doesn't have a problem with it, aside from recommending that you check out local regulations before you take those sweet lock-picking skills on the road.

If your trip to spend a week with Aunt Edna in Galveston included an evening at the local Paint & Pinot, you'll be glad to know you don't have to abandon that high-quality sunset with trees or napping (and definitely not unalive) cat painting. Paintings that fit in the overhead compartment or under the seat are allowed past the TSA checkpoint — although if you want to claim it was confiscated, our lips are sealed.

Flying with a live fish in your entourage might seem a bit odd on its face. But if you're traveling across the country to a new job in a new community, you certainly can't leave your dear friend Mr. Limpet at home to fend for himself. For reasons that are probably obvious, you can't stick him in your checked luggage. But you are allowed to bring him in your carry-on bag as long as he's in a clear plastic container (you can also bring live coral).

The specific rules on whether your fish is allowed and the type of allowable containers seem to depend on the airline. One fish-friendly airline passenger on a Southwest Airlines bulletin board reported being allowed to break the 3.4-ounce rule for their fish, observing, "Apparently, if the fish is alive and swimming in the liquid, then TSA knows the liquid is not an explosive — or the fish would be dead." But if you don't want to risk having to leave your little rainbow fish at the departure gate, call ahead and confirm just to be on the safe side.

If you're planning to surprise your loved one with a bouquet of fresh flowers when you disembark, first of all, congratulations on being a legitimate catch. Flowers are allowed both as a carry-on item and in your checked bag, although we're not exactly sure how the second one is supposed to work. But if you're bringing fresh flowers to your sweetheart, it's completely fine. According to the TSA website, you'll just need to empty any water from your flowers before going through the security checkpoint.

There's a whole host of reasons why commercial liners don't carry parachutes for their passengers. For one, if hundreds of passengers (including grandmas and babies) had to all jump out of a small exit while flying at 550 mph, many would smack into a plane or get sucked into the engine. But that's not the only reason someone might carry their own chute onto a flight. Skydivers regularly travel with theirs because, for them, no trip around the world would be complete without planning a jump or two.

Since checking luggage can be risky and no one wants to find out their parachute got roughed up by the baggage handlers the hard way, skydivers will usually take their chutes as a carry-on. And according to TSA's website, this is perfectly fine as long as you follow their special packing rules.

For about five minutes in 2021, the internet was flabbergasted over a viral video of a passenger who busted out a sewing machine for a full-on, mid-flight fashion project. Comments ranged from concerns about an inevitable TBI that would occur if the plane hit an air pocket to surprise that no one seemed to be irate about the noise level. But while it might have been rude, technically it was allowed — although according to TSA regulations, the machine probably should have stayed stashed in a compartment or under the seat for the duration of the flight.