The U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has issued a festive but firm warning to holiday travellers: leave the sparkly Christmas sweaters at home if you want to avoid delays and extra security screenings at the airport.
Why Your Festive Fashion is a Scanner's Foe
In a public service announcement posted on social media platform X on December 19, 2025, the TSA cautioned that airport body scanners are highly sensitive to certain materials. "TSA PSA: The body scanners don’t love sparkles," the agency stated. They added, "We don’t want to dull your holiday shine but we don’t recommend wearing your sparkly holiday sweater to the airport."
The warning specifically targets festive attire adorned with sequins, rhinestones, metallic thread, or glitter. These materials can reflect or absorb the scanner's waves in a way that appears as an anomaly on the screen, prompting security officers to conduct a manual check.
Travellers Share Their 'Extra Special' Experiences
The TSA's post prompted numerous flyers to share their own experiences with fashion-related security hiccups. One person recounted wearing a shirt with metal studs and receiving "the extra special pat down." Another learned the hard way with jeans featuring embellished pockets and hair extensions containing micro beads.
"I think the scanner lit up like a Christmas tree based on the pat down I got," wrote a third traveller who wore a metallic scarf. Others compared the scanner's sensitivity to that of an MRI machine, noting that "anything with sparkle" seems to trigger it.
Sparkles vs. Sequins: The TSA Clarifies
When social media users asked for clarification on what exactly constitutes problematic 'holiday shine,' the TSA provided a simple answer. One user pointed out that sparkles and sequins are different, to which the agency cheekily responded that "both" are considered scanner offences.
The advice is straightforward: if an item of clothing looks like it belongs on a dance competition stage, it's best packed in a suitcase rather than worn through security. The warning comes ahead of the traditionally busy Christmas and New Year's travel period, when airports see a significant surge in passenger volume.
While some questioned who would wear sequins to travel, others defended their right to festive cheer, calling the scanners "scrooges" and "grinches." Despite the humour, the TSA's guidance is practical, aimed at streamlining the security process for all travellers during the hectic holiday season.
