How to Travel With a Sex Toy, According to TSA Guidelines
Vacation is the perfect time to kick back, relax, and treat yourself — and what better way to do that than with the help of a great vibrator or some anal beads? But if you’ve ever been en route to a destination and suddenly wondered if you can bring sex toys on an airplane, you are not alone.
The obvious answer is yes, of course you can bring a sex toy on an airplane. But the whole truth is slightly more complicated. According to the TSA website, adult toys are cleared for transport in both checked bags and carry-on bags. Phew. They do clarify, however, that “the final decision rests with the TSA officer on whether an item is allowed through the checkpoint.” This means you could potentially encounter an agent who decides to nix your portable disco stick.
Rules also may change depending on where in the world you’re flying. In the US, your toy should, for the most part, be in the clear. But in countries that are more restrictive — including India, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Thailand, Vietnam, and the Maldives, according to Hims — you might want to rethink your packing list. At the very least, in those circumstances, it’s smart to exercise a bit more caution. (See below for the specifics.)
To avoid any potential embarrassment or misunderstanding during your security screening, there are a few ways to make sure your intimate items come along for the ride as safely and discreetly as possible. Here’s what to know about traveling with a sex toy, according to TSA guidelines.
How to Travel With a Sex Toy
Packing light is always a good idea, so when it comes to sex toys, smaller is better. As tempted as you may be to bring your trusty, giant magic wand vibrator along as a stowaway, that’s bound to attract more attention on the security monitor than a sleek, little bullet vibrator (and it will definitely take up more room in your already-overstuffed bag).
If possible, it’s also a good idea to keep your sex toy in a ziplock bag just in case a TSA screener does have to handle it — the only hands that should be touching your precious cargo are your own (or a partner’s, if you so choose).
Oh, and if you have a battery-operated sex toy, it’s probably a good idea to take out those batteries before packing. You might want to run out the charge on a rechargeable vibrator, too, even if that means you can’t break out your toy as soon as you land. Impromptu buzzing means unwanted stares, and while that might be fun elsewhere, it’s never great to attract unnecessary attention at the airport.
Bottom line: it’s totally within your right to travel with your sex toys, so even if you get questioned, own it and remember that your sexuality is your prerogative.
Corinne Sullivan is a journalist and author. Her debut novel, “Indecent,” tells the story of a recent college grad who accepts a teaching position at a tony all-boys boarding school, only to find herself deeply obsessed with a student at the risk of her job and her sanity.
