I check out many travel articles (it’s how I know most are useless BS). I don’t usually read many very thoroughly because of the BS but I do scan through most.

There are some potential TSA changes coming up soon so make sure you do your homework before you leave the house. The ONLY reliable source for info is the TSA website and that is where you should check for changes and what is allowed to take with you.

Digital IDs ARE now allowed. Some states participate in this, while others do not. We could be seeing digital passports but they will only be for domestic travel starting out; who knows if that will change or not. However, you will still have to carry a physical ID even with the digital versions so I do not really see much benefit other than having a secure digital copy. And, your IDs must be REALID compliant.

There is talk of the end of removing shoes at checkpoints and is apparently being phased in randomly.

I have seen some things online lately about changes to quantity of liquids allowed, but TSA still officially uses the 3-1-1 limitations.

Speaking of liquids, I just learned a hack I did not know about. You can take a frozen water bottle through security as long as it is frozen solid…NO liquid in the bottle at all or it falls under 3-1-1 rules. A nice hack, but I don’t know how doable that really is since you cannot really keep a bottle frozen until the last minute without a freezer. I also don’t know if it has to remain sealed.

As always, you must keep in mind that it is up to the TSA people if you can bring something through or not and it is NOT consistent, and if you raise hell because you are “important and have somewhere to be” at a checkpoint you will quite probably (and rightfully so) be detained and could become a hand puppet. I had to throw away a sealed yogurt at a checkpoint, and then they let a woman through with the same damn yogurt container after me. I didn’t say a word.

Again, it is up to the traveler to know what to do or NOT do. If you don’t check on the websites for where you travel it’s nobody’s fault but yours. When I travel, I tend to minimize any potential issues ahead of time so I don’t take anything that has stipulations to it – like the frozen water bottle. I don’t want ANY hassles or the potential to be slowed down getting where I need to be.

Anyhoo, it looks like some good changes benefitting travelers are coming soon for US airports.

That’s it for now.

Shawn