Let's Make it Clear. What are the Clear Bag Policies?

It’s football season, and if you have ever been refused admission to a stadium because your tiny clutch purse was too large, you may have hiked a half mile back to your car, and you immediately became aware of stadium bag policies and clear bag policies. You didn’t want to go through that again. And you probably went shopping for clear bags that allow you to get through security. And then you had more questions …

•  Are all clear bag policies the same?
• If I buy an attractive clear purse, how do I know it gets me into all security checkpoints, and how do I know the policies won’t change?

 First, let’s answer this clear-bag question: Do you want to carry your personal items in a one-gallon, re-sealable, clear, plastic storage bag? If yes, you’re good to go. The one-gallon freezer bag pretty much complies with all stadium-bag and clear-bag policies for sporting venues.

 Next … MOST stadium-bag policies are the same. So, when you find the stylish, clear purse(s) the get you through security and accessorizes with your shoes, you can be confident that it will get you through other clear-bag checkpoints. That said … remember, not all security personnel are alike, and some might have had a bad day, so it’s good to do the following:

• Look up the clear bag policies for your regular venues (such as your home-team professional and college stadiums).
• (Regarding home-team venues, you'll find that you can get clear bags imprinted with your team's logo, still complying with clear-bag policies, such as sorority options you see at KEYPER.)
• Look up the bag policies of any new venues you’ll be attending.

Of course, you may want to get ready for any given sports season without a particular venue in mind. So, are there general clear-bag and security-bag standards?

What Are the Clear Bag Policies in General? How Do They Differ from Stadium Bag Policies?

NFL Stadium Bag Policies Are a Great Place to Start, and to Answer Most of Those Questions.

Many people think that “stadium bag” polices began with certain shooting events, and particularly with the tragic Boston Marathon event. The NFL actually began establishing their stadium-security best-practices task force immediately after the 9/11 terrorist attack in 2001, and had formulated their first revised stadium security policies by November of that year. NFL’s policies continued to evolve, including a “bag-size template” at security gates in 2007, and then finally the “clear bag” and “stadium bag” policies in 2013.

NFL’s current policies follow, and they’re generally consistent with most stadium-bag policies, but here’s an important distinction: “Stadium Bag” policies include “Clear Bag” standards, and they include dimensions of acceptable bags that don’t have to be clear. That said, here’s the NFL Policy of acceptable bags:

 Clear Bags

• Bags that are clear plastic, vinyl or PVC and do not exceed 12" x 6" x 12"
  OR
• One-gallon clear plastic freezer bag (Ziploc bag or similar)

Clutch Bags

• Small clutch bags, 4.5" x 6.5", with or without a handle or strap, can be taken into the stadium with one of the clear plastic bag options

What does it mean that the clutch bag can be taken into the stadium “WITH” one of the clear bag options? This is where you want to be prepared for differences of opinion, so … if bringing the clutch, make sure it’s within the dimensions, make sure it fits in your clear bag, and make sure it’s a clutch that you don’t mind throwing away, if you have to. In other words, you may be better with just the clear bag and not bringing the clutch. If bringing the clutch that isn't clear, you may want to go smaller than the 4.5" x 6.5" dimensions, because, again, it might come down to the individual security guard to make a decision, and they don't like to debate.

What Are Travel-Related Security Policies?

This is a much larger question, best addressed by visiting the TSA “What Can I Bring” page. It gets to the broader topic of carry-ons. However, for now, we’re shopping clear bags, and you want them to cover as much security clearance as possible, so you should know that TSA’s clear-bag-related policies are mostly related to their Liquids Rule.

 What’s a Fashion-Minded Woman to Do, If You Just Want to GET INTO THE GAME?

You will find that the world of fashionable clear bags is quickly expanding. At KEYPER, we combine the Security-Clearing standard of our CLEAR-IT Bags with the always useful and anti-theft-designed innovation of our KEYPER key-ring bracelet, so you not only clear security, but you can do it hands-free while holding team towel and your honey’s hand! Once at your seat, secure the purse with your KEYPER to your seat handle, or to the rail of the box, and enjoy the game!