Passenger checks in for his United Airlines flight. Then the agents see what he’s trying to bring on the plane: ‘It’s a hazardous item’
He either had to leave it or mail it.
Airport travel can be stressful, given the strict security measures and baggage policies in place. But for one man, his troubles began at the check-in counter. Shel (@traveltmz), a travel content creator, shared his experience with United Airlines in a three-part series on TikTok, showing his attempt to check in a packed microwave, only to have the agents refuse to allow it on board.
The agents appeared to have contacted the appropriate department before informing Shel that he would need paperwork stating the microwave had been “drained” in order to bring it on the plane. “Drained for what?” Shel asked the agents, who responded, “Because it’s a hazardous item.”
Shel argued that there was “no fluid in the microwave” and that he had paid extra to check in the appliance. However, the agents stood firm, refusing to allow it on the United flight and instead suggested alternative methods for transporting the microwave, such as using FedEx or UPS. They even offered to rebook Shel’s flight to the next day, allowing him to handle the microwave.
United Airlines rejects checking in a microwave
Shel told the agents that he could not miss his flight. To this, the agents recommended that he either leave the microwave by the trash outside of the airport or have someone collect the appliance before he left if he wished to depart that day. “Those are the two options. But we can’t put it on the plane, unfortunately,” the agent said.
Shel asked the agents for a written explanation of why he couldn’t bring the microwave, but was directed to visit United Airlines’ website and contact the corporate office through their feedback system instead. “We don’t have a letter. That’s not something we do here. We put people on planes, and they go to their destinations,” the agent added.
“So, you want me to trash my brand new microwave? […] I need to know what the hazards are on the microwave,” Shel argued. When he maintained that the appliance did not have any fluids, the agent explained that they were only complying with United’s dangerous goods policy and procedures.
Microwaves are not prohibited from planes
According to the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) guidelines, travelers can transport a microwave with them as checked baggage through the checkpoint. However, whether it passes inspection is not guaranteed and is at the discretion of the TSA officer. TSA also encourages travelers to check with their airline for their own policy regarding the transport of microwaves. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) also does not have any policy regarding the bringing of microwaves or their being specifically classified as dangerous goods.
The same is true for United, according to their website. However, since the agents consistently flagged the microwave as hazardous, it is likely they include appliances under a blanket policy for hazardous materials, as standard microwaves also do not contain any internal fluids, coolant, or even a battery—which are typically the main concerns at airports.
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