Is a bar of soap okay to carry-on?

Is a normal size bar of soap okay to carry-on in April 2007? I've
been to the TSA web site, and I see the silly 3-oz. restrictions on
toothpaste, shampoo, and even "liquid soaps", but I see no mention of
a plane old bar of soap.


http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/prohibited/permitted-prohibited-items.shtm

Hotel bars of soap are small, and if they're the wrong brand then they
might irritate my skin. I like my soap. Will I be suspected as a
terrorist if I try to carry-on soap?

BubbaGump <BubbaGump@localhost> wrote:

> Is a normal size bar of soap okay to carry-on in April 2007?

Yes, no problem.

In message <blrk139hcjr69u6pnnbvafbqica9tj9ks6@4ax.com> BubbaGump
<BubbaGump@localhost> wrote:

>Hotel bars of soap are small, and if they're the wrong brand then they
>might irritate my skin. I like my soap. Will I be suspected as a
>terrorist if I try to carry-on soap?

Why not check it?

Chances are not, but if you approach them up front and say "is this
allowed" rather then look like you're sneaking it, the worst that will
happen is that you'll be asked to discard it.
--
Insert something clever here.

On Mon, 09 Apr 2007 11:46:17 -0600, DevilsPGD
<spam_narf_spam@crazyhat.net> wrote:

>In message <blrk139hcjr69u6pnnbvafbqica9tj9ks6@4ax.com> BubbaGump
><BubbaGump@localhost> wrote:
>
>>Hotel bars of soap are small, and if they're the wrong brand then they
>>might irritate my skin. I like my soap. Will I be suspected as a
>>terrorist if I try to carry-on soap?
>
>Why not check it?

I occasionally see news reports about airlines losing people's
luggage, which is an inconvenience I weigh heavier than either using
hotel soap or stopping by a grocery store near the hotel and buying
soap.

"BubbaGump" <BubbaGump@localhost> wrote in message
news:074l13dgooed6n2lmduo0tj0c1j0rrqt83@4ax.com...
> On Mon, 09 Apr 2007 11:46:17 -0600, DevilsPGD
> <spam_narf_spam@crazyhat.net> wrote:
>
>>In message <blrk139hcjr69u6pnnbvafbqica9tj9ks6@4ax.com> BubbaGump
>><BubbaGump@localhost> wrote:
>>
>>>Hotel bars of soap are small, and if they're the wrong brand then they
>>>might irritate my skin. I like my soap. Will I be suspected as a
>>>terrorist if I try to carry-on soap?
>>
>>Why not check it?
>
> I occasionally see news reports about airlines losing people's
> luggage, which is an inconvenience I weigh heavier than either using
> hotel soap or stopping by a grocery store near the hotel and buying
> soap.
>
Go on, live dangerously, take a risk on them loosing your baggage...

It'll turn up soon enough and you can claim the cost of a new cake of soap
from the airline...

--
William Black


I've seen things you people wouldn't believe.
Barbeques on fire by the chalets past the castle headland
I watched the gift shops glitter in the darkness off the Newborough gate
All these moments will be lost in time, like icecream on the beach
Time for tea.

On Mon, 9 Apr 2007 20:26:29 +0100, "William Black"
<william.black@hotmail.co.uk> wrote:

>Go on, live dangerously, take a risk on them loosing your baggage...
>
>It'll turn up soon enough and you can claim the cost of a new cake of soap
>from the airline...

The soap wouldn't be what I'd be worried about losing, and I wouldn't
be worried about losing anything permanently anyway. Is everyone on
Usenet an unhelpful, antagonizing prick? I'd be worried about not
having it immediately on the other end and/or having to drive back and
pick it up when they finally find it.

"BubbaGump" <BubbaGump@localhost> wrote in message
news:c15l13dnkq8ml95093pu5ujet0bvo052r0@4ax.com...
> On Mon, 9 Apr 2007 20:26:29 +0100, "William Black"
> <william.black@hotmail.co.uk> wrote:
>
>>Go on, live dangerously, take a risk on them loosing your baggage...
>>
>>It'll turn up soon enough and you can claim the cost of a new cake of soap
>>from the airline...
>
> The soap wouldn't be what I'd be worried about losing, and I wouldn't
> be worried about losing anything permanently anyway. Is everyone on
> Usenet an unhelpful, antagonizing prick?

Ask a silly question and you get a silly answer.

If you need the stuff for medical reasons you can get a doctor's letter.

If you don't then you're being a pompous prick.

--
William Black


I've seen things you people wouldn't believe.
Barbeques on fire by the chalets past the castle headland
I watched the gift shops glitter in the darkness off the Newborough gate
All these moments will be lost in time, like icecream on the beach
Time for tea.

In message <c15l13dnkq8ml95093pu5ujet0bvo052r0@4ax.com> BubbaGump
<BubbaGump@localhost> wrote:

>On Mon, 9 Apr 2007 20:26:29 +0100, "William Black"
><william.black@hotmail.co.uk> wrote:
>
>>Go on, live dangerously, take a risk on them loosing your baggage...
>>
>>It'll turn up soon enough and you can claim the cost of a new cake of soap
>>from the airline...
>
>The soap wouldn't be what I'd be worried about losing,

Then check the soap, carry-on whatever you'd be worried about losing...

>and I wouldn't
>be worried about losing anything permanently anyway. Is everyone on
>Usenet an unhelpful, antagonizing prick?

No, but we try...

>I'd be worried about not
>having it immediately on the other end and/or having to drive back and
>pick it up when they finally find it.

Then to be safe, you'd better not take it at all. Then you won't have
to worry about not having it immediately, you *know* you won't have it
immediately, no worrying required.

Seriously though, like I said in my first post, chances are it's not a
problem, but if you're worried, ask the TSA screeners. People get up to
the security line with all sorts of stuff, I've personally witnessed
lighters, knives, and cap-guns getting taken away. None of which are
more dangerous then the stuff you're allowed to take (I use my keys to
cut boxes all the time, yet they're allowed on the plane), but your soap
is far less dangerous then any of those.

You won't be treated like you were trying to sneak something through and
they caught you if you declare it before they find it.
--
Insert something clever here.

BubbaGump writes:

> The soap wouldn't be what I'd be worried about losing, and I wouldn't
> be worried about losing anything permanently anyway. Is everyone on
> Usenet an unhelpful, antagonizing prick?

No, but unfortunately the medium attracts such people, so they are
disproportionately represented.

> I'd be worried about not having it immediately on the other end
> and/or having to drive back and pick it up when they finally find it.

Would it not be possible to find the same type of soap at your destination?
In any civilized city there should be nearby supermarkets or pharmacies that
sell a variety of soaps, including hypoallergenic types.

I note that many people take a great deal of sundry items along with them on
every trip, when it isn't really necessary. If you're going into the desert
or to the North Pole, it's true that you might want to bring along everything
you might possibly need; but if you are going to a large metropolitan area,
chances are that you can find soap, shampoo, bottled water, fruit juice,
make-up, or whatever you require locally without too much trouble. This even
extends to clothing: if you need a sweater, why not just buy one once you
arrive? Then you have a sweater _and_ a souvenir.

--
Transpose mxsmanic and gmail to reach me by e-mail.

In news:4btk13lvpuphcid28vgq4jd1v06epcqvgo@4ax.com DevilsPGD
<spam_narf_spam@crazyhat.net> wrote:

> In message <blrk139hcjr69u6pnnbvafbqica9tj9ks6@4ax.com> BubbaGump
><BubbaGump@localhost> wrote:
>
>>Hotel bars of soap are small, and if they're the wrong brand then they
>>might irritate my skin. I like my soap. Will I be suspected as a
>>terrorist if I try to carry-on soap?
>
> Why not check it?

Why not refrain from second-guessing people?

--
Bert Hyman St. Paul, MN bert@iphouse.com

On Mon, 09 Apr 2007 11:46:17 -0600, DevilsPGD
<spam_narf_spam@crazyhat.net> wrote:

>Chances are not, but if you approach them up front and say "is this
>allowed" rather then look like you're sneaking it, the worst that will
>happen is that you'll be asked to discard it.

Up front? How the hell does someone "sneak" something onto a plane?
It's a fucking bar of soap. If I was traveling by car, I would just
put it in a sealed plastic bag and then in with the rest of my luggage
with everything else. I wouldn't consider this "sneaking". Of
course, the TSA wants that plastic bag to include every other bullshit
hygiene item they think a terrorist might be using to become the next
martyr to be removed from the luggage to be scanned separately. I
guess if a person doesn't know to do that, it's "sneaking"? Of
course, the problem is that they don't explicitly list a solid, dry
bar of soap on their web site, and I once e-mailed them about another
item that I didn't see listed explicitly, and the response I got back
was just a lazy verbatim copy-and-paste of their posted restrictions.

I think I'll either just use the hotel soap or buy soap at a store on
the other end to avoid misunderstandings. Geez, I hope they don't
think my toothbrush or the plastic cup I pack to rinse are some sort
of weapons.

On Apr 9, 2:29 pm, BubbaGump <BubbaGump@localhost> wrote:
> On Mon, 09 Apr 2007 11:46:17 -0600, DevilsPGD
>
> <spam_narf_s...@crazyhat.net> wrote:
> >Chances are not, but if you approach them up front and say "is this
> >allowed" rather then look like you're sneaking it, the worst that will
> >happen is that you'll be asked to discard it.
>
> Up front? How the hell does someone "sneak" something onto a plane?
> It's a fucking bar of soap. If I was traveling by car, I would just
> put it in a sealed plastic bag and then in with the rest of my luggage
> with everything else. I wouldn't consider this "sneaking". Of
> course, the TSA wants that plastic bag to include every other bullshit
> hygiene item they think a terrorist might be using to become the next
> martyr to be removed from the luggage to be scanned separately. I
> guess if a person doesn't know to do that, it's "sneaking"? Of
> course, the problem is that they don't explicitly list a solid, dry
> bar of soap on their web site, and I once e-mailed them about another
> item that I didn't see listed explicitly, and the response I got back
> was just a lazy verbatim copy-and-paste of their posted restrictions.
>
> I think I'll either just use the hotel soap or buy soap at a store on
> the other end to avoid misunderstandings. Geez, I hope they don't
> think my toothbrush or the plastic cup I pack to rinse are some sort
> of weapons.


The plastic bag and 3 oz loimit on each is for LIQUID items,
toiletries or otherwise. Oh yes, also aerosols, like deodorant or
hairspray cans. I have travelled, when not checking luggage, and in
the carry-on suitcase was the regular "Dopp" shave kit with tube of
toothpaste, stick deodorant, aspirin bottles, etc. To make them
happy, I filled a sandwich baggy with a couple of small bottles, hotel
size, of shampoo and moisturizer, to place separately on the x-ray
tray to make them happy. And the plastic cigarette lighter was in my
pocket - not enough metal to set off the alarm. hmph

I use a second baggy to hold my watch, change, keys, pens, etc.,
through x-ray. One TSA droid tried to say I couldn't have TWO plastic
baggies. I said, "Those aren't toiletries. read your website or call
your spervisor." I got through. Since then, I use a paper envelope
for the latter pocket items.

On Mon, 09 Apr 2007 11:46:17 -0600, DevilsPGD
<spam_narf_spam@crazyhat.net> wrote:

>In message <blrk139hcjr69u6pnnbvafbqica9tj9ks6@4ax.com> BubbaGump
><BubbaGump@localhost> wrote:
>
>>Hotel bars of soap are small, and if they're the wrong brand then they
>>might irritate my skin. I like my soap. Will I be suspected as a
>>terrorist if I try to carry-on soap?
>
>Why not check it?
>
>Chances are not, but if you approach them up front and say "is this
>allowed" rather then look like you're sneaking it, the worst that will
>happen is that you'll be asked to discard it.

Wait. I think I see what you mean by "sneaking". For instance,
instead of putting the soap in my luggage like a normal person, would
it be bad if I taped the soap to the side of my body and hid it
underneath my clothing? What if I hid it up my ass? Is this the type
of "sneaking" to which you were referring?

In message <b75l139uj02gc8mr18muhsmniatg2cpk5q@4ax.com> BubbaGump
<BubbaGump@localhost> wrote:

>Wait. I think I see what you mean by "sneaking". For instance,
>instead of putting the soap in my luggage like a normal person, would
>it be bad if I taped the soap to the side of my body and hid it
>underneath my clothing? What if I hid it up my ass? Is this the type
>of "sneaking" to which you were referring?

Sounds like a good place for your soap, now that you mention it.
--
Insert something clever here.

DevilsPGD writes:

> Chances are not, but if you approach them up front and say "is this
> allowed" rather then look like you're sneaking it, the worst that will
> happen is that you'll be asked to discard it.

If you give someone a chance to impose a restriction, he usually will. It's
human nature.

--
Transpose mxsmanic and gmail to reach me by e-mail.