7 Surprising Things You Don’t Have to Sneak Through Security

Snow Globes

This formerly forbidden souvenir has now been given the OK by the TSA to be (carefully) packed in your carry-on bag. Keep your snow globes small, though—to go in the main cabin, the tchotchke must appear to contain less than 3.4 ounces of liquid, and the whole thing must fit in a quart-sized resealable bag along with any other liquids.

Martial Arts and Self Defense Items

Most people's packing staples are things like sunscreen and toiletries, but if you can't fly without billy clubs, brass knuckles, police batons, nunchucks, stun guns, and throwing stars, the TSA is cool with that too. All of the above can be safely packed in your checked luggage (definitely not your carry-on). Go ahead and throw in some pepper spray, too (but only 4 ounces worth, and it can't contain more than 2 percent by mass of tear gas).

Human Remains

It seems that even TSA agents might not know this (read our story about a worker who spilled human remains and laughed about it), but you can bring the cremated remains of humans or animals in carry-on luggage. (Some airlines don't allow them in checked baggage.) TSA workers are not allowed to open a crematory container, so make sure that the ashes are kept in a receptacle made out of something that is easily screened (such as wood or plastic), because if the X-ray machine cannot see through the container, your loved one's remains might not be allowed onboard.

Firearms

Don't just throw your machine gun in a carry-on bag and roll up to the TSA checkpoint—you'll be arrested (and probably tasered). But, if you feel naked without your firearms, you can pack them in your checked bag. You'll need to declare your weapons during check-in, and all firearms must be unloaded and in a locked hard-sided container. Before traveling, be sure to check the local gun laws if you are flying between states (or out of the country), as gun possession laws may be different in your destination. You can read the TSA's full guidelines on checking guns here.

Lighters and Matches

Remember Richard Reid, the failed shoe bomber who we can all thank for making us take our shoes off at security checkpoints? Well, shoes are still a no-go, but the matches and lighters you could use to light a bomb are now OK! In 2007, the TSA lifted the ban on lighters in carry-on luggage after agents were wasting time confiscating around 22,000 of them every day. Prefer to go old school? You can also bring one book of safety matches in your carry-on, but you can't check them. (Lighters also are carry-on only.)

Monkeys

We're not monkeying around—"helper monkeys" (and other service animals) are allowed on flights. Be sure to tell TSA agents if the animal accompanying you onboard is a service animal, as they can move you to the front of the line to accommodate the longer screening process required. Also know that TSA agents are not supposed to touch your animal without permission.

Spearguns

If your plane goes down on a deserted island, you'll be one step ahead of the other survivors by packing a speargun in your luggage. You'll need to put this one in your checked baggage (not carry-on), but otherwise, you can treat it the same way as packing anything else—no need to declare it, or any other scuba-diving equipment, for that matter. However, be sure to wrap or otherwise encase the speargun so that it doesn't cause injury to baggage handlers or security inspectors.

More From Smartertravel:

• Seven Ways to Get Kicked Off a Plane
• 11 Must-Haves for Your Carry-On Bag
• TSA Tell-All: 'The Terrorists Always Seem to Be One Step Ahead'

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