Dark-haired woman in a tweed jacket on a GRITtv news set, captioned Jill Filipovic, Editor, Feministe
Key Takeaways
A TSA agent at Newark Airport wrote "Get Your Freak On Girl" on the inspection notice inside a traveler's bag after finding a vibrator, which was widely seen as unprofessional.
The traveler, blogger Jill Filipovic, initially laughed but later expressed concern that the agent may have acted this way expecting most women to be too embarrassed to complain.
The incident prompted practical travel advice: leave sex toys at home when flying and purchase what you need at your destination to avoid similar situations.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened when TSA found a vibrator in luggage?
In 2011, blogger Jill Filipovic traveled to Dublin and discovered a TSA inspection notice in her bag with "Get Your Freak On Girl" handwritten on it after an agent at Newark Airport found her small bullet vibrator. The note was widely criticized as unprofessional. Filipovic later expressed concern that the agent assumed she would be too embarrassed to file a formal complaint.
Can you bring a vibrator on a plane?
Sex toys are generally allowed in checked luggage and are often permitted in carry-on bags depending on the item. However, to avoid awkward encounters like the one described in this article, bringing discreet items in checked bags or simply purchasing toys at your destination is strongly advised by the author.
Is it unprofessional for TSA to comment on sex toys in luggage?
Yes. TSA agents are expected to be professional in all inspections regardless of what they find. Commenting on personal items, especially in writing on an inspection notice, is widely viewed as inappropriate behavior. The woman in this incident agreed it crossed a line despite her initial amusement, and the incident raised questions about whether TSA agents assume people will stay quiet rather than report inappropriate conduct.
Lifestyle travelers heading to resort destinations, annual events, or weekend trips with other couples navigate a specific logistical challenge that most travel guides do not address: what to do about the adult items in the bag that is about to go through airport security.
The question matters more than it sounds. A poorly handled bag inspection, a customs agent with an agenda, or a hotel housekeeper who finds something unexpected can turn an otherwise smooth trip into an uncomfortable conversation. With some advance planning, most of these situations are entirely avoidable.
This is a practical guide — based on publicly available TSA and customs information and the accumulated experience of lifestyle travelers — to moving through airports and across borders without incident.
What TSA Actually Permits
The Transportation Security Administration's publicly available guidance classifies personal massagers and vibrators as permitted items in both carry-on and checked baggage. The classification exists because these are not hazardous materials, do not resemble weapons, and are not controlled substances.
That said, the security lane is not where you want to test the full range of what is technically permitted. A few practical notes:
Battery-operated or rechargeable items with motors may be inspected more closely because they register differently on imaging equipment. An agent who opens a bag for inspection has the same professional obligation regardless of what they find — the 2011 case of a blogger who received a handwritten "Get Your Freak On Girl" message on her TSA inspection notice from a Newark Airport agent is a documented example of how that professional standard can fail. The conduct was widely criticized as inappropriate, and the agent's apparent assumption — that the traveler would be too embarrassed to complain — speaks to a problem of presumed shame that affects women in particular. The correct response to that kind of incident is to file a formal complaint with TSA, which operates a public complaint process precisely for situations involving agent misconduct.
Large or visually unusual items draw more inspection attention regardless of their classification. Novelty items, items with complex shapes, or items involving multiple components may prompt more scrutiny than a straightforward compact vibrator. Checked luggage removes the item from the carry-on lane and reduces the interpersonal dimension of the inspection, which many lifestyle travelers find preferable for this reason alone.
Removing batteries before travel is a commonly cited practical step. A vibrator that cannot accidentally activate during handling is one fewer potential complication.
International Travel and Customs
TSA's rules apply to domestic US travel and to outbound security from US airports. Once you cross an international border, the destination country's customs regulations govern what can be imported. These rules vary significantly.
A general framework: adult toys are explicitly restricted or prohibited in several countries, particularly across parts of the Middle East, South and Southeast Asia, and a small number of other jurisdictions. For lifestyle travelers heading to popular resort destinations in Mexico, the Caribbean, or Western Europe, adult items are generally unrestricted — but checking the destination country's customs guidance before travel is worth the five minutes it takes.
For resort destinations that host lifestyle events — properties in Mexico, Jamaica, or the Caribbean that are well-known to the community — on-site shops are frequently available and carry exactly the kind of items lifestyle guests are likely to want. Sourcing locally removes the travel question entirely.
The approach that works best for us is to pack minimally and source on-site or at the destination. Resort properties we have been to through Swing.com's event calendar almost always have what we need available on-site. On the few trips where we brought things from home, we used checked luggage, removed batteries, and packed items in a toiletry bag or nondescript pouch. We have never had a problematic inspection, but we have also never given TSA a reason to spend extra time on our bag.
— Lifestyle travelers on Swing.com we've heard from
Hotel and Resort Logistics
Beyond the airport, lifestyle travelers face a secondary consideration: accommodating adult items in hotel or resort spaces shared with housekeeping staff.
The standard approach: use the in-room safe for smaller items during the day if housekeeping service is expected. For resort properties hosting lifestyle events, on-property staff are generally experienced with the community's needs and unlikely to react with anything other than professionalism — but a closed suitcase or nightstand drawer is a reasonable default.
For longer trips, resealable bags that keep items contained, clean, and discreet within a larger bag accomplish the same purpose without requiring dedicated packing space. Travel-sized cleaning solution — which is TSA-compliant in appropriate volumes — keeps items hygienic through multiple days of travel.
Using Swing.com to Plan Lifestyle Travel
Swing.com's event calendar includes lifestyle events and resort takeovers at destinations across the United States, the Caribbean, and internationally. Many of these events are held at properties specifically equipped for lifestyle guests — which means on-site amenities, informed staff, and a social environment calibrated to the community.
Booking through Swing.com's event links connects you directly to the event organizers and the venue's own booking process, which is the most reliable way to understand what a specific property offers, what to expect as a lifestyle traveler, and what you do and do not need to bring. The event and venue details are maintained by the organizers themselves — more current and specific than any third-party guide.
Lifestyle travel is one of the most rewarding dimensions of community participation for many couples. A little advance planning around the logistics means more of your mental energy is available for what the trip is actually about.
Swing Editorial··4 min read