[swagmeister]

Several times, I have accidentally left prohibited items in my bag. I was only stopped once, and that was in the Cleveland airport where they proudly display every interesting weapon they have confiscated on the wall next to the checkpoint. They stole an expensive knife from me after a short interrogation (I guess to determine the degree of intent) and let me through the checkpoint. I think Peter Thiel had a bit about the TSA where he explained it as "security theater" that makes people feel safe, while any sophisticated actor could easily get through the checkpoints. I have to agree given my own experience with forgetting that lighters and knives are in my bag

[furyg3]

I also never really understood the 'throw it away' (or stealing) mentality. If you forget to pull your laptop or iPad out of your bag, they lecture you and run it through again. If you leave a small pocketknife on your keyring, or you forget to put your cologne in the plastic bag, the seize it and throw it away. It seems to me like the proper thing to do is delay you slightly (to encourage you to comply to the instructions next time - just like they do with laptops) but allow you to put your cologne in a bag, finish your orange juice, or pay a small fee to mail your restricted item back home.

It would be incredibly easy to have some flat-rate boxes and charge 2x what the post office charges. Given how many items they confiscate it's probably a decent revenue source!

[cowsandmilk]

> pay a small fee to mail your restricted item back home.

At least 22 airports have this (including Cleveland).

http://www.airportmailers.com/airportlist.php

[donavanm]

Its all anecdotal but Ive personally flown with: folding knives, box cutters, propane cylinders, lighters, tent stakes, fireworks, and ammunition in my carry on baggage. Id hazard 6-8 lapses out of ~50 flights in the past few years. The best was an international flight where I put all my dangerous/camping stuff in a checked bag and clothes/book/etc in a carry on. Then I accidentally checked the wrong bag and didnt notice until I was through security.