Travelors still getting caught with unauthorized items at airport

Some travelers still haven’t gotten the word about how seriously airport security screeners are taking the new rules. Des Moines International airport spokesman Michael Audino explains he’s never seen a list, but common sense will tell you what things are likely to be banned on a flight.He says obvious ones are pocketknives, box cutters, corkscrews, scissors, but they’d also take handcuffs, laser pointers or a hairpin. Audino says security people try to be as understanding and flexible as possible.Standard things like scissors are confiscated and generally donated to local schools or nursing homes. Audino says a the private firm doing security at the airport isn’t heartless if you find a precious but unacceptable item cannot go on the flight you’re about to catch, and they’re doing a couple of things. One is holding it at the airport for you to pick up on the return, or mailing it to you. Despite all the publicity about security screening, Audino’s surprised how many people will either absent-mindedly or intentionally try to carry on things that are just not allowed on a flight. He says the safest approach is to leave them at home, or pack in the luggage you’ll be checking for the flight. Audino says though a precious or costly item might be held for you to claim on your return, the airport and security firm can’t afford to do that with every one of the hundreds of items that must be taken from travelers.