Toronto Pearson and medications questions

No one is going to care about your medications. I would wager that most people who travel do so with their own meds. But of course keep them in your carry-on, and not in any checked luggage.

OTOH, you might find it advisable to keep them relatively handy (like in your under seat personal bag), in case you need something during the flight, or before you check into your hotel.

We take a lot of medications and supplements, too. Some are in their original bottles and some are in ziplock baggies. Unless a liquid is in there (like cough syrup or something) no one looks twice. A liquid medication must be announced and presented to the screener. Otherwise medications are not looked at any differently than anything else you may bring.

For prescriptions I always have the label, but that is more for my own reference in case I need to tell a doctor on my trip what I take.

But do have them easily accessible - what if you have to gate check your bag? You want to be able to pull them out and keep them with you. It would be awful to have to gate check and either not have medication you need on the flight or to have your bag and therefore your medication lost. I keep mine in a bag near the top of my rolling carry on and pull it out if my bag won't be with me.

I wonder where the fish oil pills belong? In the 3-1-1 bag? as they are not prescription, and are liquid. If space and in a ziplock of their own, I might put into the 3-1-1. Other items, I have never had issues with, but I keep them in a zip bag near the top of my carry on.
If you are trying to be efficient (thank you very much for that), I would also take a minute to put some metals into a separate bag that is near the top....or better yet, just place the bag in the bin with the 3-1-1. I have had my bag searched for TSA allowed corkscrew, my alarm clock, batteries, and a jar with a metal rim. So now, I put those things in a bag, put it into the bin, and the bag goes through no problem.

I never thought about maybe having to gate check our bags. They're just small carryons, under the 8 kg limit. What would be a reason why they would be gate checked? We each have a small personal crossbody bag for snacks, glasses, important papers, etc. I guess I'll add the pill bag to one of them as well.

I just didn't know if pills would face any heavy duty scrutiny like liquids do. All the 3-1-1 stuff is packed and is very easily accessed in an outer zippered compartment in my wheeled carry on.

Its our first trip/vacation in 20 years. And the last time I arranged my own airfare was in 1980. And that was just a 3-4 hour domestic flight. So it's a whole brand new world for me. Lol

My wife carries bottles and bottles of prescribed medications in her carry on bag. No one has ever questioned her about the meds. Airport security is interested in liquids.

Maria... I can absolutely have the "metals" bag at the ready. I'm assuming we'll be in a long enough line that I'll have plenty of time to grab that and have it out. In it, I have stuff like batteries, travel alarm clock, our tens unit and pads, travel blowdryer, and other things of that nature. They are also in a clear plastic ziplock bag. You're saying that it is better for us to have it out and available for screening? I have honestly not flown in so long and I'm sure that there are those who are just cracking up at my cluelessness.

There is no need to seperate your metals. They are clearly visible and if TSA wants to search your bag, so be it. My wife had hers searched for a bag of muffin mix. Fish oil caps are not considered liquids and do not have to be in the 3-1-1 bag. But I do not pack them and just eat more fish on vacation. One less thing to pack!

Don't take out your blowdryer, as that is identifiable on the screen. I do put out the bag with the batteries and alarm clock, but others don't. I have had them search enough times that this is my comfort zone. Others don't seem to mind the delay or people pawing through their bags. You don't want everything to end up in your bin, but having things neat and accessible at the top of your carry on is sufficient. The fact that you are conscious of holding up others puts you way ahead of many. Compartmentalize things, have it organized and you will feel better about the process. On the return trip you will know what works for you.

Everything is in either mesh packing cubes, or in clear Ziploc bags. I don't like a bunch of loose stuff rolling all around everywhere. Both of our bags are very neat, tidy, and organized. While we're waiting in the (I'm assuming) long line I can easily pull out the metals baggie and drop that into the tray alomg wirh my 3-1-1 bag. Plus we'll both have our shoes off and just be in our stocking feet. We're both wearing high top lace up hikers. I hate to think of being an anchor and dragging down the entire line!!

Naive question---what are "metals"?

As far as meds go, 15 years ago I traveled to Switzerland multiple times with cancer meds in a 7-day pill minder, not the original package with prescription attached. I don't think I even bothered to carry a copy of the prescription (which was for a hormonal thing, not opiate pain medicine). No one ever asked to see it or questioned me.

Now I carry a few supplements/vitamins in a small container, again with no label. No one asks and no one cares. This is departing the US, not Canada, but I doubt it is different. The security agents are looking for dangerous liquids and powders. They are not narcotics agents.

I skip the Omega-3 caps when I travel, but if I did take them, I would not put them in the 3-1-1 bag.

As far as gate-checking, it can happen if the flight is full and they see too many people with large carry-ons. Some airlines are more known for this than others. It has never happened to us on an overseas flight, but flying domestic flights on Alaska Airlines we often volunteer to gate-check as it comes with a boarding advantage. A forced gate check is a different matter. If it happens, be prepared to pull your electronics (laptop, iPad, etc.), any valuables, and prescription meds, and other essential items out of the bag before gate checking it.

@Lola... I am calling the blow dryer, batteries, plug adaptors, travel clock, etc. "metals". Cause it isn't liquid and it isn't clothing.... I guess it's just a mixed bag of plugs and wires and batteries and whatnot. So, metals it is. Not really sure what else to call it!!

They sound like electronics to me.

I just keep all of mine in a small packing cube. I've never had a problem.

The fish oil pills should be fine, but what you can do to make your life easier is to put all your meds into one plastic bag. That way if TSA needs to check something, it will be easier for them (and quicker for you) if they can pull out one bag and take a look.

I have been yelled out at one airport by TSA for not 'knowing' to take out a change purse with coins (metal) inside of it. So I always pull that out and put it in the bin so it's easily visible to them.

My goal is to make it easier for them and easier for me.

On a side note, I flew earlier this month with a broken foot in a plastic walking cast. I have TSA PreCheck. I had to remove the boot and hobble through on the broken foot so that they could X-Ray the boot. I was allowed to keep my other shoe on my good foot, though.

Judy,

I don't carry a lot of medications, but I've never been questioned at any airport when these are packed in carry-on. As long as they're not liquid or gel, the security screeners don't seem to care.

Thanks to all who responded.
@ Cindy: yes! Electronics is the perfect word.
@ Steph: all the meds are in one clear Ziploc bag you can easily see everything in there.
I guess I'll have them ready and pay attention to those ahead of me to see what they're required to do.

I fly out Pearson quite often and you don't need to take off your shoes just your jacket and belt when you are going through security. Please don't bring travel alarm clock because it might look like a explosive device if you have your smart phone or tablet they have clock app for you to use. If you are staying in hotel or B&B they provide hair blower so your carry on will be lighter.
I hope this will help.

You are required to take out your 3-1-1 bag and some devices such as laptops, and, at some airports, iPads and e-readers, and place them in a bin. DO NOT take out your meds or other things to make TSA's life easier. What this does is leave this stuff exposed in a bin. While you are getting patted down or held up because someone sets off the metal detector your bin is through the scanner and sitting unattended on the other side. There are increasing reports of items being lifted from these bins. My advice is leave everything you can packed in your bag, especially medicines.

Re: gate check - this mainly happens on smaller planes for connections. If your flight is Toronto directly to Europe you will be fine. If you have a short flight first (example Toronto to Montreal to Europe) then the short flight MAY be on a smaller plane and some bags MAY be gate-checked. I'm paranoid about being separated from my family's medicines so I always pack them easily accessible.

@ Mira... it's Toronto to Dublin, then change planes for Munich. The Toronto to Dublin part is a larger plane, and the Dublin to Munich part is a smaller plane. 😁