11 Interesting Things About Airport Metal Detector

There was a time when air travel was associated with fancy dress, when dads and dames dressed to impress at 30,000 feet, and smoking cigarettes in a pressurized cabin seemed safe. These days, though, travelling by air is a barely tolerable haggard-pajama nightmare punctuated with body scans, shoeless strangers, and no small amount of groping. The metal detector and scanner rules, especially, always seem to be changing. May I bring my toothpaste? What about my wire girdle? Because no one ever seems to know, we've put together this list of surprising facts about airport metal detectors.

Belt Buckles
Alright, Tex. Your gilded bottle-opener belt buckle may be a hit at the saloon, but TSA's gonna take a second glance. Belt buckles aren't prohibited, but they won't make it through the scanner. If you cowboy up through security, be ready to dismantle your doodads before making it to the metal detectors. The same goes for your bolo tie.

Barrettes

Sadly, flying's no longer a black tie affair. If your updo has enough metal in it to set off the detectors, you're going to have to undo before they let you through. Metal barrettes, bedazzled unicorn hair clips, and Leia-bun cake forms are going to light up more than the room.

Underwire Bras
Modesty! Save the girdled undergarments for your lucky greeting party - when the metal detector beeps and boops at your bosom, you'll get a lift right out of the security line.

Dental Work/Orthodontia
Unless you're Flava Flav, there isn't enough metal in your mouth to upset the detectors. Don't worry about silver fillings, gold teeth, or braces - if they stopped everyone with dental work, nobody would ever leave England.

Jackets
While your vintage leather duster may impress your friends in the matrix, it's gonna get a dose of real-world scrutiny in airport security. All coats and jackets must pass through the X-ray machine, so be sure to keep track of what you're keeping in all 37 of your pockets.

Musical Instruments
Your trombone may be an extension of yourself, but the TSA is going to make you slide it into your checked luggage. Go ahead and string your cello or violin through the security checkpoint, but be aware that the staff's going to open up your case and look hard enough to see that it's not a real Stradivarius. Build extra time into your schedule for musical instrument screening.

Parachutes
Paranoid much? If your adrenaline-junkie lifestyle demands you bring a chute through security, you're in luck. Parachutes will pass through the metal detectors and X-ray machine, but may raise quite a few eyebrows. Be prepared for a screening speed well below terminal velocity.

Film
Old-school snappers who still carry photo film will need to be careful in the airport. You can't take it through the metal detectors, and the X-ray machine will fog your film. Be sure to clearly mark and bag your film and cameras, and request to have them hand-checked. Caveat: this situation often takes a long time to develop; be sure to build it into your flight schedule.

Liquids
Whether you're into Yerba Mate or Yoo-Hoo, you can't bring drinks through security. Follow the TSA's 3-1-1 rule for carry-on liquids (including personal products and medicines) - 3.4 oz. bottle or less, 1 quart-sized clear plastic zip-top bag, 1 bag per person. For more detailed info about carrying on liquids, check out the TSA's 3-1-1 page.

Weapons
Seriously. If you even think about trying to transport your bow and arrow in your carry-on luggage, you don't deserve to fly. But if you're headed to the hunt, you might have some alarming accessories with a legitimate purpose. All weapons and potentially harmful items must be in your checked baggage, including ice picks, swords, baseball bats, ammunition, cattle prods, billy clubs, nunchucks, and stun guns. Be sure to advise the airport personnel who check your bag that these items are present.

A Serious Note

Lastly - and most importantly - airport security is serious business. In the interest of keeping all travelers and personnel safe, the federal government and the TSA follow a strict protocol regarding carry-on items, metal detectors, scanners, and checked baggage. If you're even remotely unsure of whether an item you're carrying is permitted, check the TSA travelers guide herebefore you head to the airport. Happy travels!