We’ve all had those mask-off moments at the TSA. The frantic realization that your expensive moisturizer is 4 ounces instead of 3.4, or the internal panic when you forget a stray water bottle in your bag. But one traveler just lived through a tragedy that has the internet screaming at the TSA.
TikTok user @itssophiemil recently went viral after sharing a video of herself in a state of visible shock. The reason? The TSA confiscated her Le Creuset pan, a family heirloom handed down from her grandmother. Because apparently, flying with cast iron is a major no-go.
The woman’s Le Creuset pan is lost forever to the TSA
In the video, the creator is seen visibly upset, captioned with the soul-crushing detail:
“TSA confiscated my Le Creuset pan my grandmother handed down to me because you can’t fly with cast iron (who knew?).”
For those of us who treat our Dutch ovens like a firstborn child, the thought of an heirloom pan sitting in a TSA bin is enough to cause a permanent ick. It’s the ultimate TSA nightmare. You think you’re being a “good doer” by bringing a piece of family history home. Next minute, you are told it’s essentially a “blunt object” in the eyes of federal law.
While we expect a certain level of strictness at the gate, taking away a grandmother’s cookware doesn’t really feel like safety. It’s more like a targeted attack on our emotional well-being. But is the TSA really in the wrong?
The cast iron pan is a can be considered a blunt object, and thus, is not allowed in flights
We all can agree that the TSA’s rules are a confusing maze of what-ifs. According to their website, pots and pans are generally allowed in carry-on bags. But cast iron is a notable exception. Why? Because a heavy, 10-pound skillet is technically a “blunt object” that could be used as a means of harming someone during a flight.
So, if you’re planning on bringing your Le Creuset on a trip, it must be in your checked luggage. But why did no associate at the ticket counter give a PSA to the poor woman before she reached security? For this traveler, the lack of awareness resulted in the loss of a piece of history that is literally impossible to clean (emotionally, at least). Despite that, she technically is at fault for her loss.
The internet is blaming the woman more than the TSA
The comment section of the TikTok video was predictably a mix of sympathy and sleuth work. While many users shared their own heartbreak, others pointed out that it’s “common sense” that a cast-iron pan wouldn’t be allowed as a carry-on in flights.
“Cast iron? As in a very heavy blunt object? Yeah that makes sense… what’s the confusion? Can’t take a baseball bat on a plane either,” one wrote. “Everyone knew. Every person,” another added, suggesting that the woman is at fault.
Others also asked why did she not check it in instead of leaving it to the TSA. They argued that if the heirloom was really important to her, she would have checked it in as luggage. Or, she could also have mailed it to herself. There were several options. One even wrote, “Sometimes things are really, really our fault and no one else’s. And this is one of them.”
How should you carry such heirlooms on flights then?
Even if the legal tender of airport rules is set in stone, the lack of flexibility for a sentimental heirloom feels like a total failure of customer service. This viral moment is essentially a rebuttal to the idea that common sense always prevails. While inventory control for a plane is necessary, making a traveler abandon their grandmother’s legacy sounds a little too harsh.
At the same time, TSA can’t really be blamed, since it is, in fact, in the rulebook. So, until the rules are clearer, hold onto your Le Creuset like it’s the keys to the city. And for the love of all that is holy, put it in a checked bag. You cannot bring a heavy metal object in your carry-on, even if it’s vintage.
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