In most airports you have to take off your shoes, belt, light jacket, and sometimes even your jewelry before going through the security checkpoint, and hope that you don’t get randomly selected for extra screening.
But what about a hoodie? Can I wear a hoodie through the TSA? And will they ask you to remove it? The answer might not be as easy as you think.
The short answer is yes, you can wear a regular hoodie through TSA, and there are no restrictions or regulations that prohibits wearing a hoodie through the airport or on the plane.
However, you never know what will happen at the airport so here is what to keep in mind before you decide to put on that hoodie for your next flight.
Pierced hoodies or hoodies with metal spikes might set off metal detectors, which could result in a false alarm and manual inspection.
This will make you waste some time and hold up the line.
To avoid these things, you might want to wear a hoodie without any metal items or just place your hoodie inside your carry-on item until you pass the security checkpoint.
Wearing the hood through the security might also make you look suspicious to some TSA officers. They might think that you are hiding something under your hoodie, or that you are trying to avoid eye contact.
This could result in more questions, more screening, or even a pat-down.
Does TSA Make You Take Off Hoodie?
In some cases, the TSA agent might ask you to remove or lower your hoodie.
- If it is bulky or oversized like a Snuggy or an Oodie, that might prevent the TSA agents from seeing your body shape or posture.
- The hoodie has a hood or a collar that covers your face or neck.
- If the hoodie has slogans, logos or images that are offensive, provocative, or political.
Remember that they won’t ask you to remove any clothing to reveal a sensitive body area, you can always ask for a private screening.
So do not argue with the TSA guys or make a scene if they ask you to remove your hoody. Remember that they are just doing their job, to make sure everyone is safe and clean before boarding the airplane.
“The TSA performs regular security measures regularly all around the airport, some of them you can’t notice. Everyone who travels will get checked, and not everyone will get through quickly.”
Helpful tip
TSA Hoodies On X
The @AskTSA is the official X account of the TSA, where you can ask questions, get answers, and share feedback if you are confused whether an item will be allowed or not.
They also tweet tips, updates, and reminders about airport security and travel safety.
So I searched their tweets for any mentions of hoodies, and here are some of the most relevant ones.
This passenger asked the @AskTSA if she needs to take off her half zip hoodie.
The @AskTSA replied that she can wear a hoodie through the checkpoint.
But wearing these garments may alarm screening equipment and require you to undergo additional screening, such as receiving a pat-down.
They recommend removing these outer garments for X-ray screening.
Chris wanted to wear his bestie hoodie that has an attached bottle opener on a plane.
The @AskTSA replied that bottle openers without blades are allowed through security checkpoints.
The TSA strongly recommends that passengers remove all items and accessories from their pockets and clothing before going through security screening.
Does a Hoodie Count As a Personal Item? If You Take It In Your Hands
If you are not wearing your hoodie, and you want to bring it with you on the plane, you have two options: you can pack it in your carry-on bag, or you can carry it in your hand.
A carry-on bag is any suitcase, backpack or duffle that you can place in the overhead compartment, and it must not exceed the size and weight limits of your airline.
While a personal item must fit under the seat in front of you.
So, does a hoodie count as a personal item?
The answer is no, most airlines do allow a few other items in addition to your carry-on bag and personal item for free, like a jacket including hoodies, a camera, books, and umbrellas.
If you are not wearing your hoodie, just place it inside your suitcase or backpack.
Can I wear a hoodie through the TSA: FAQ
Yes, you can wear any type of jacket, vest or blazer through TSA, as long as it doesn’t have any metal studs, spikes, or chains that could trigger the alarm or pose any safety risk. However, if you don’t have a TSA PreCheck you will have to remove it and place it in a separate bin to go through the screening.
Yes, you can wear a sweatshirt and cardigans through the TSA. However, you might want to consider the same factors that apply to wearing a hoodie, cardigans are actually one of the best choices when looking for what to wear on a plane according to this post on Reader’s Digest.
Yes, there’s nothing wrong with a hoodie on a plane, as long as it doesn’t violate any of the airline’s policies or regulations. However, you
Yes, can wear any type of hat on a planes, but you might be required to remove your hat for further screening at the security checkpoint.
Yes, all travelers except people older than 75 years, children under 12 years old and the TSA PreCheck members will need to remove their shoes or footwear when going through the TSA security checkpoint.
Final Thoughts
You can wear a hoodie through TSA, just ensure that you follow the rules and respect the decisions of the TSA agents if they ask you to remove or lower it for additional screening.
You can also choose not to wear a hoodie, and opt for a different outfit. Either way, you should always be prepared, polite, and patient when you go through airport security.
Remember that the TSA is there to protect you and ensure your safety, not to hassle you or ruin your trip.
I hope this helps.
Happy travels.
