Possibly the best travel tip ever

By N.B. | WASHINGTON, D.C.

DRINKERS of the world, today I'm pointing you to this blog post from the Atlantic's James Fallows, who offers what is probably my favourite travel tip of all time. It meets all the criteria for a great tip: it's not totally obvious, you don't see people doing it all the time, it saves you money, it can make travel a little more fun, and it offers some of the satisfaction most of us get from flouting authority just a wee bit. You can thank me (and Mr Fallows) later. Here you go:

As someone that enjoys a drink as much or more than the next guy (and is also frugalish), the fluids rules for flying were a huge bummer for me because it was my practice for morning flights to build myself a nice big bloody mary in a disposable bottle for consumption as I passed my way through the security apparatus and inevitable downtime before the flight. Rather a good deal compared to the pathetic offerings for top dollar otherwise available to travelers.

Which brings me to my travel tip: Minis (the tiny little liquor bottles) happen to fit into your TSA quart sized baggie and are perfectly legal to take through security. A bottle of OJ on the far side of the line and you're in screwdriver heaven. Although, please be discrete as the US still has insane open container laws.

Which brings me to my story: Not long after I figured out this loophole, I tossed my baggie full of minis in the x-ray bin and the TSA screener looked at them and gave me a broad grin and said, "Now there's a man 'at knows how to fly." To which I could only grin and nod in agreement.

Let's say it again: there's a man who knows how to fly. Dean Martin and Dylan Thomas would be proud.

Now, since America's Transportation Security Administration (TSA) hates fun and merriment and America's airlines probably don't want you bringing your own drinks on board when you could be buying from them, it's important to be discreet about this travel tip. Don't bring 20 minis on the plane, get drunk, try to open the door mid-flight, and ruin it for everyone else. As they say in the adverts, please drink responsibly.

But if you follow the rules, this tip should allow you to mix your aeroplane drinks just how you like them (even in coach!) and save a few dollars, too. Until 2005, bizarre laws made South Carolina the world capital of miniature liquor bottles. In 2012, thanks to Mr Fallows's tip and the TSA's three-ounce rule, aircraft might take the title. Prost!