Escaping the city for a fall weekend getaway? Before you rush to JFK, Newark, or LaGuardia, you might want to double-check that carry-on.
While travelers no longer have to blindly guess liquid limits, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is strictly cracking down on several everyday items as we head into the end of 2026.
If you don’t want to be that person holding up the security line—or worse, lose your expensive gadgets and favorite products forever—here are five common things getting flagged, delayed, or tossed at checkpoints right now.
1. Cordless hair tools and straighteners
We all want to look our best when we land, but your favorite cordless styling tools could spark a major headache. Due to updated fire safety assessments in 2026, TSA is heavily restricting devices with lithium-ion batteries.
Cordless hair straighteners and curling irons are strictly banned from checked luggage. If you must bring them, they belong in your carry-on bag with a safety cover firmly in place. Just remember: if you are forced to gate-check your bag at the last minute, you must physically remove the tool and bring it into the cabin with you.
2. Power banks with faded labels
Keeping your phone charged during a long flight is non-negotiable, but your trusty, battered portable charger might not make it through the X-ray machine.
TSA requires all power banks to be packed in your carry-on only, and they must have a capacity of 100 watt-hours (Wh) or less. The big catch this year? If the label on your battery is rubbed off or faded and agents cannot read the voltage capacity, they reserve the right to confiscate it entirely.
3. Smart luggage with non-removable batteries
High-tech suitcases with built-in charging ports or GPS trackers seem like a frequent flyer’s dream, but they are turning into a massive nightmare at the airport.
Airlines and TSA agents are aggressively banning smart luggage if the lithium battery cannot be removed. If your bag has a built-in, unremovable power bank, it will be rejected at the counter. It cannot fly in the cabin or the cargo hold, period. If the battery is removable, you must pop it out and keep it on your person if the bag gets checked.
4. Oversized or unlabeled powders
Staying fit on the road is great, but packing a massive bag of loose protein powder is a guaranteed red flag for airport scanners. Under strict screening protocols, any powder over 12 ounces (about the size of a standard soda can) will immediately trigger a secondary bag search.
This rule applies to protein powders, dry shampoo, pancake mix, and even bulk spices. If the powder is not in its original, clearly labeled packaging, agents have the right to throw it away.
To avoid the hassle, keep powders under the 12-ounce limit or pack them securely in your checked luggage.
5. Water bottles with hidden compartments
Reusable water bottles have always been the smartest way to dodge an $8 Hudson News water bill. But lately, TSA scanners are flagging a specific trendy style of drinkware: bottles with hidden storage compartments at the base.
Since these secret spaces are designed to hold pills, supplements, keys, or cash, they look highly suspicious on the new 3D CT X-ray machines rolling out across airports.
Since agents are trained to be extra cautious, bringing one of these multi-purpose bottles can result in heavy delays or confiscation. Stick to a simple, clear, single-compartment bottle to sail smoothly to your gate.
