Flying with carry-on luggage always comes with its limitations. For the most part, everyone knows you can’t bring liquids over 3.4 ounces, sharp objects, or lighters, even if you have no negative intentions with them.
But who woulda thought that you can’t bring this one item on board either? One traveler learned the hard way that TSA won’t bend the rules, even for a family heirloom.
Woman Loses Grandmother’s Le Creuset To TSA
In a trending video with more than 36,000 views, Miami woman Gianna Alexis (@gianna.alexis) shared a devastating airport experience.
The video shows Gianna sitting in a car looking visibly sad, seemingly contemplating what just happened.
“TSA confiscated my Le Creuset pan my grandmother handed down to me because you can’t fly with cast iron (who knew?)” reads the text overlay.
The loss clearly hit hard. This wasn’t just any pan from HomeGoods or Target; it was a family heirloom passed down from her grandmother, likely used for countless family meals over the years.
Le Creuset is known for producing high-quality cookware that lasts for generations. The French brand’s enameled cast iron pieces are famous for their durability and even heat distribution, which is exactly why families pass them down. And they’re not cheap either.
Depending on the size and type, these Dutch ovens and pans can range anywhere from $200 to over $500 new.
“Who do I email at O’Hare or do I take this as a sign from the universe?” she asked in the caption.
What You Can And Can’t Pack In Your Carry-On
According to the TSA, pots and pans are generally allowed in both carry-on and checked bags, with one major exception. Cast iron skillets are explicitly prohibited in carry-on bags and must be placed in checked baggage.
While the TSA doesn’t spell out the exact reasoning on their website, it’s possible that because cast iron cookware is incredibly heavy and dense, it makes it a potential weapon that could cause serious injuries or damage.
Other Surprising Items You Can’t Bring
Cast iron isn’t the only unexpected item banned from carry-ons. According to Refinery29 and Business Insider, here are some other things that’ll get you stopped at security:
- Toys with liquid: Magic 8 Balls and snow globes can only go in checked bags (unless the snow globe is tennis-ball size or smaller with less than 3.4 ounces of liquid). As the TSA puts it about Magic 8 Balls: “Outlook not so good” for carry-ons.
- Toy weapons: Foam swords, Nerf guns, and water guns are prohibited in carry-ons. But interestingly, lightsabers get a pass.
- Blenders: Only allowed if you remove the blades first.
- Full-size scissors: Must be under 4 inches from the pivot point to make it through security.
- Large quantities of soup: Any liquid over 3.4 ounces is banned, including that homemade soup you wanted to bring.
- English Christmas crackers: Completely banned from both carry-on and checked bags because they contain gunpowder that creates a small explosion when pulled.
- Gel-filled heating pads: Not allowed in carry-ons since the gel counts as liquid.
- Fertilizer: Prohibited entirely because it’s flammable and poses an explosion risk.
If you’re traveling with something valuable or sentimental, it might be worth researching TSA rules beforehand.
Commenters React
“So you lost a family heirloom because you refused to check a bag…” a top comment read.
“FedEx needs to put a hub in the airport don’t can ship stuff back to yourself that can’t fly,” a person said.
“If only there was this thing called the Internet, where you could Google what you can and can’t take on domestic flights life would be so much simpler,” another wrote.
@giannaalexis8 Who do i email at ohare or do i take this as a sign from the universe @Le Creuset #lecreuset #ohare #tsa
BroBible reached out to Gianna for comment via email and TikTok direct message.