TSA Warns Against Sparkly Holiday Outfits at Airports

The Transportation Security Administration issued a timely advisory for holiday travelers on December 18, urging passengers to skip sparkly outfits when heading to U.S. airports, as such clothing can trigger security alarms and cause delays during the busy season.

In a Facebook post, the TSA highlighted the issue with festive attire like glittery sweaters, sequins, and metallic threads, which interfere with the agency's advanced screening technology. "The body scanners don't love sparkles," the post stated. "We don't want to dull your holiday shine but we don't recommend wearing your sparkly holiday sweater to the airport." The warning applies to both sparkles and sequins, according to TSA responses to user comments, as these elements create density variations that mimic potential threats.

TSA checkpoints employ millimeter wave advanced imaging technology alongside walkthrough metal detectors to identify concealed weapons or explosives without physical contact. The scanners detect anomalies in clothing density, and decorative items such as ornaments or tinsel can set off alerts, often requiring hand pat-downs or secondary inspections. Officers may also conduct pat-downs randomly...