We all know to avoid packing the obvious things that could make TSA physically search your bag, but sometimes it might still be singled out despite your best efforts. Here’s what the TSA looks for and how to pack your bags accordingly to reduce the likelihood that they search your bag.




Your bag has to go through a detailed x-ray scan, so as the article on New Creations suggests, think about how your everyday items could appear to a person looking for threats on an x-ray machine. The following list are the items that look like part of an explosive device and could trigger a TSA search:

Personal electronics

Hair driers

Curling Irons

Electric Razors

iPods / Music players

Connecting cables and wires

Battery chargers

Shoes (especially shoe soles)

Books

Toiletries

Shampoo

Soap

Hair care products

Paper reports

Lotions

Perfumes

Food stuffs (peanut butter, tortillas, burritos, Reese’s cups, etc.)

This isn’t a complete list, but basically you should be thinking about “anything that has a density of a liquid, gel, paper or soft plastic.” Knowing this, you can be more strategic about how you pack your checked bags:

The key is to pack your suitcase in such a way that we keep anything that might appear to be a triggering device physically separated from anything that might be mistaken for explosive material. That means we need to keep some distance in our luggage between our consumer electronics and electrical devices and any of those things which has a similar density to potential explosives. Fortunately we can use our clothes to pack in between them and provide that physical separation. In the TSA screening machines clothes are obviously not either component so you can use your clothes to provide the physical separation you want to expedite the screening process.


The author has noted that following this has dramatically reduced the likelihood of TSA searching his bags.

How to Pack Luggage That Flies Through TSA Screening Without Being Opened | New Creations