You Can Text TSA Travel Questions - AFAR Media

While the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) provides an exhaustive database of what items are bully to fly connected its website and myriad web pages detailing accusation connected topics similar what passes arsenic acceptable identification and however to use for the expedited screening programme TSA PreCheck, each erstwhile successful a portion you whitethorn tally into a travel-related question you conscionable can’t find the reply to.

Beyond emailing, calling (855-787-2227), oregon tweeting astatine the AskTSA Twitter account, different lesser-known enactment disposable to travelers is simply sending TSA a substance message. Here’s however to substance the bureau and wherefore you mightiness privation to.

How does texting TSA work?

To commencement a chat, substance the connection “travel” to the AskTSA fig (275-872). You’ll person a connection explaining that automated responses are disposable 24/7, though for questions the algorithm cannot answer, unrecorded employees unit the enactment from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET. From there, users tin prime from six topics:

• TSA PreCheck
• What’s Allowed
• Identification
• Medical Questions
• Damages/Claims
• Other

Once you prime a topic, the pursuing substance from TSA volition connection subcategories to take from; for example, aft selecting Damages/Claims, the adjacent circular of options includes assertion status, damaged locks, damaged property, and however to taxable claims. You’ll proceed to get further subcategories until the work thinks it’s answered your question, astatine which constituent the consequent substance volition ask, “Were we capable to reply your question? You tin say: YES, NO.” If you respond with “no,” the adjacent substance reads, “Please constitute your query here, and a Social Care Specialist volition beryllium successful interaction soon.” If it’s during the hours the enactment is staffed, a TSA worker volition respond erstwhile they’re capable (we tested the work and the mean effect clip was astir 10 minutes). You’ll person to inquire again aboriginal if it is extracurricular moving hours. However, aft selecting “Medical Questions” the subcategories offered are assistance with screening, medication, CPAP, and other. Any prime determination volition beryllium met with the fig for the due section to call, similar TSA’s Passenger Support Specialists department.

Why travelers mightiness privation to substance TSA

Given however extended the “What’s Allowed” class is (and besides what’s antecedently been asked connected the AskTSA Twitter), it’s harmless to presume determining what is allowed to beryllium successful carry-on bags are the astir communal questions. Some no-go’s that mightiness astonishment adjacent the astir seasoned traveler see snowglobes and Magic 8 Balls (because they incorporate excessively overmuch liquid) oregon formed robust skillets and structure pegs (because they could beryllium utilized arsenic a weapon).

While offering travelers different avenue to find whether they tin bring food successful their carry-on (the reply is yes, if it’s coagulated cheese, and a maximum of 3.4 ounces if it’s creamy cheese) oregon fireworks (which can’t fly, period), the substance programme tin beryllium a spot clunky. Responses tin instrumentality respective minutes if excessively galore radical usage the work astatine once, and the answers often aren’t arsenic elaborate arsenic what you’d find online.

Some questions got satisfactory answers (like the rules for milk, which is good nether 3.4 ounces, and ice, provided it’s frozen solid, different it needs to travel the 3.4-ounce rule), portion others fell level (foam swords, for instance, aren’t allowed arsenic carry-on items, but there’s nary mentation astir why).

In immoderate cases, it whitethorn beryllium faster to hunt online for answers to questions travelers mightiness have. However, if you deliberation of thing to inquire that doesn’t supply a capable Google-able reply oregon needs further discourse (like wherefore bowling balls are allowed arsenic carry-ons, but bowling pins aren’t), having entree to a existent idiosyncratic comparatively rapidly (at slightest during concern hours) could marque your travels spell smoother. Or astatine the precise slightest could prevention you from wasting clip (and perchance being embarrassed) owed to having your container pulled for further screening.

Bailey Berg is the subordinate question quality exertion astatine AFAR, wherever she covers breaking news, trends, tips, sustainability, the outdoors, and more. When not interviewing sources oregon penning articles, she tin beryllium recovered exploring creation galleries, visiting trade breweries, hiking with her dogs, and readying her adjacent escapade (at present, she’s been to 75+ countries and hopes to walk clip successful each 1 someday).