TSA Changes Course, Allows Star Wars-Themed Thermal Detonator Bottles on Aircraft
Updated September 4, 2019: The U.S. government's Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has changed its policy and is now allowing the Star Wars-themed Coca-Cola bottles shaped like thermal detonators onboard aircraft - but not withour serious review and special instructions to its officers.
"We have completed our review, and instructed our officers to treat these as an oversized liquid," read a TSA statement. "Because these bottles contain liquids larger than 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters), they should be put in checked baggage or emptied to be brought on as a carry-on item."
This fits with the TSA's 3-1-1- rule, which bans liquids more than 3.4 ounces from carry-on luggage.
Updated August 29, 2019: Marvel Editor-In-Chief C.B. Cebulski states that he was able to bring a Thermal Detonator-styled Coca-Cola bottle from Disneyworld's Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge theme park area onto an airplane following Disney's D23 Expo, despite TSA warning that they won't be allowed on flights.
And as it turns out, he didn't even have to pull off a trick or sneak it on - Cebulski states he just removed the bottle from his bag and showed TSA agents what it was when traveling through airport security.
Here's Cebulski's tweet explaning how he got TSA to agree to let him bring the bottle home:
After D23 last week, I was able to get my empty Galaxy's Edge Coca-Cola bottle through TSA by removing it from my carry-on, separating the top from the bottle, and explaining to the agent what it was before running it through the scanner. https://t.co/Gr8NMm10s6August 29, 2019
Original Story from August 28, 2019: Don't even think about bringing one of those Star Wars-themed Coca-Cola bottles designed to look like thermal detonators onboard a United States flight. The U.S. government's Transportation Security Administration has formally banned the item from all checked and carry-on luggage.
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@AskTSA I know these look dodgy, but can they be packed in suitcase? Thanks pic.twitter.com/4uILLMX3eLAugust 13, 2019
"Replica items are not allowed on aircraft," said TSA spokesperson Jim Gregory to the Orange County Register. "It could create concern that it's the real thing."
So how would we recommend getting the souvenir back home? Consider putting it in the mail - although we recommend asking a postal worker as well given the circumstances.
The bottles are available exclusively at Disneyland's Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge theme park area.
Originally published on Newsarama.
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Newsarama Senior Editor Chris Arrant has covered comic book news for Space.com sister site Newsarama since 2003, and has also written for USA Today, Life, Entertainment Weekly, Publisher's Weekly, Marvel Entertainment, TOKYOPOP, AdHouse Books, Cartoon Brew, Bleeding Cool, Comic Shop News and CBR. He is the author of the book "Modern Masters: Cliff Chiang," co-authored "Art of Spider-Man Classic," and contributed to Dark Horse/Bedside Press' anthology "Pros and (Comic) Cons." He has acted as a judge for the Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards, the Harvey Awards and the Stan Lee Awards. Chris is a member of the American Library Association's Graphic Novel & Comics Round Table. (He/him)