A woman discovered a surprise message from the Transport Security Administration (TSA) in her luggage following her flight, after she traveled with an unlabeled clear bag of powder.
Anna McKay, 34, from Phoenix, Arizona, traveled to Midland International Airport, Texas, from her hometown on April 19 and found the note when she collected her bag after the journey.
“My bag was checked and this inspection card was in it when I arrived in Midland,” she told Newsweek. “I immediately realized just how ridiculous it looked to have a loose bag of powder.”
More From Newsweek Vault: Compare the Best Rewards Credit Cards for Travel
@unafraidduck757/TikTok
McKay posted a TikTok, which has received over 940,000 views since it was shared on August 6, showing the note she found inside her bag. She explained to viewers that she found the tag as soon as she opened her bag and that “everything looked normal until I got to my bag of fiber which looks like it has been rummaged through because this is not how I packed it.”
“The powder we travel with as millennials. I used to be cool,” she wrote in the video’s caption.
The video shows a clear bag full of unlabeled powder, along with a note from the TSA which explains that McKay’s bag was opened and physically inspected, and that her bag and its contents “may have been searched for prohibited items.”
More From Newsweek Vault: Compare the Best Travel Insurance Companies
Newsweek has reached out to the TSA for comment via email.
U.S. airlines carried around 819.3 million passengers on domestic flights across the country in 2023, according to Statista.
More From Newsweek Vault: Best Travel Insurance for Flight Cancellations
TSA screens approximately 1.3 million checked bags for explosives and other dangerous items every day. All checked bags have to be screened but most do not need to be opened and physically checked, the TSA says. If this happens, a note is placed inside the bag.
Protein and energy powders are allowed on planes, TSA says, but portions of more than 12 oz. should be placed in checked baggage. The TSA website reads: “Powder-like substances greater than 12 oz. / 350 mL must be placed in a separate bin for X-ray screening. They may require additional screening and containers may need to be opened.”
“I took no offense in the need to open that bag and was feeling very silly for having done that so absent-mindedly,” McKay told Newsweek. “We couldn’t help but laugh and record the situation once we realized how goofy that whole ordeal was.
“I hadn’t thought about the potential for inspection and frankly I can get more of that fiber powder anywhere so it wasn’t front of mind at all. I’ve since learned that they sell single serve packages so now I have a plan for [my] next trip.”
TikTok users took to the comment section of the viral video with their thoughts and reactions.
“Lol. I always keep the original pack when traveling with powders,” said @astrid.ish.
Alex wrote: “Legit was stopped because of my Metamucil.”
@leen.carrillo commented: “This happened to me once when I traveled with bricks of tamales.”
@fleursetcetera said: “I once packed dry shampoo like that and my bag got searched too.”
Has a dream vacation turned into a nightmare? Whether it’s a missed flight or lost luggage, we want to hear about your travel disasters. Let us know via life@newsweek.com, and your story could be featured on Newsweek.
