A frequent traveler went through airport security in Montreal, Canada. She realized she left a filled water bottle in her carry-on. However, she was shocked when the CATSA security agent started “beefing” with her over something else in her bag.
In a video with over 58,000 views, TikToker Maudeline (@maudelinee) says she instantly realized why her carry-on was flagged and explained to the agent. The Canada Air Transportation Security Authority (CATSA) agent called her over and opened her bag to remove the water bottle, which she picked up from her hotel before heading to the airport.
Then, the agent spotted her oversized bag full of liquids.
Maudeline explains that she frequently travels with as many 100 milliliter liquid containers as she needs, disregarding the plastic bag size requirements. In the past, she has had success with getting through security without an agent calling her out. She says she believes it’s not an issue as long as each liquid is under the 3.4-ounce maximum.
However, this time the agent told her she needs to fit her liquid products into a bag nearly half the size of hers. The agent filled the small bag to the brim and announced that Maudeline must throw away the other products.
Why Did The Airport Security Argue About Empty Container?
She says she pointed out that the container is empty, but the agent didn’t accept her explanation.
“Here’s where I start losing my cool,” Maudeline says, holding up the small, squeezable travel container. She opens it up to show no product inside. “Two out of the three of [these] were fully empty.”
The agent restates that she can’t “exceed the limit” of the small plastic bag. Maudeline says she reiterated that the containers were empty.
“Just please open them to see that they’re empty,” she says. “I told her it’s like having a water bottle. I can take that through security if it’s empty.”
Maudeline says the agent called over her manager, and Maudeline says she reexplained the situation. Eventually, she says the agents let her keep one empty travel tube.
“Am I in the wrong that I just wanted to keep my empty [tube]?” she asks. The caption reads, “Me 0 : 1 montreal airport security agents smh…”
Do You Actually Need To Stay Under The Liquid Limit?
It’s a huge debate whether travelers actually need to keep their total liquids under one quart, the requirement in many countries. Liquid limits first started in 2006 in the United States after a plot to detonate an explosive by mixing liquids was foiled, according to ABC News.
However, travelers on the BWTtravel subreddit suggested that some airports don’t heavily enforce the plastic bag size.
“Depends on the airport, the individual agent, the stars, the flight path of starlings, whether Mercury is in retrograde, etc.,” one wrote. “As I recall this used to be pretty consistently enforced, but I haven’t even had my liquids in a bag the last couple years and haven’t had a problem.”
Another said it could depend on the agent, line, or could be random. They commented, “Once I went through security, realized I forgot my laptop in my friend’s car, went out to grab it, and when I went back through security they flagged my lotion (which was too large). Seriously 15 minutes apart, same lane and everything. I was annoyed.”
Who’s ‘In the Wrong’?
After Maudeline requested that viewers weigh in on whether she or the agent was in the wrong, commenters started to take sides. Many agreed with Maudeline’s opinion that the empty container shouldn’t count.
“If the bottle is empty, it shouldn’t be counted as liquid. it’s just a container,” a commenter said.
Another agreed, writing, “You are not wrong at all!!!”
However, some said that she should wipe down her containers before security, as residue still shows up.
“I mean it is technically not fully empty if there is still some product in there,” a viewer wrote.
“It’s not empty and will show up in a scan. Clean and dry your empty containers before going through security,” a second added.
@maudelinee me 0 : 1 montreal airport security agents smh… #airport #karens #amiwrong #storytime #smh
BroBible reached out to Maudeline via email and TikTok direct message and to CATSA via email for further comment. We will update the story when they reply.