TEMPE, Ariz. - An Arizona woman says she's out an $83 bottle of Jimmy Choo perfume, all because of an airport security check. She say TSA screeners confiscated her perfume because they thought it was shaped like a weapon.
Record promoter Lois Lewis was on her way to see clients in Denver, and never dreamed she was in trouble.
Reporter: "This is the offending bottle?"
"That's the one, yes. This is the 'grenade,'" said Lewis.
A frequent flyer, she always travels with her perfume in a separate plastic bag. But this time, the TSA stopped her.
"Lane six is completely closed at this point. Everyone is staring. There are seven TSA agents on my side. Took all of my information, made a copy of my ID, and then started talking about they were going to have to search my person. And that's when I started. I went from humorous to, 'All right let's be real, it's perfume,'" she said.
She finally got on her flight to Denver where she purchased a new bottle for $83.
Other perfumes like Viktor and Rolf's Flower Bomb have been pulled from airport duty-free stores because their shape can replicate that of a grenade.
"They said if as a passenger you were to get on an airplane and you were to wave this around that people could maybe construe that as you making some sort of a threat," said Lewis.
On her way back she put her new bottle in her checked back.
"And when I did get to Phoenix Sky Harbor, my bag had been gone through, my bag had been searched, which has never happened before," said Lewis.
Reporter: "Do you see any point to them saying that someone could wave this around and say it was a grenade?"
"I really don't. I know the TSA is there to protect us. I know that. I am a traveler. I travel a lot. Many many flights a year. I have a husband. I want to come home. I want to be safe, but I want to be logical," said Leiws.
According to KTVK-TV, the TSA says it stands by its decision and that it has a policy that no toy weapons or items that replicate weapons are allowed through security because they can be perceived as a threat.
The agency suggests the Jimmy Choo perfume be placed in checked luggage so there are no problems.
