How can you get your confiscated items back? Most airports now offer a mailing station near the metal detectors so you can pay to mail small items back to your home.

Retrieving an item taken at a security checkpoint is difficult because once you "voluntarily abandon" an item to catch your flight, the TSA is not legally required to return it. However, you have a few options if you act quickly. If you realize the mistake at the checkpoint, you can ask to step out of line and take the item to an airport mailing center (like a 24/7 kiosk) or put it in your checked luggage. If you’ve already flown, you can check the airport’s "Lost and Found" or the local TSA office; some airports allow you to pay for a courier to pick up and ship the item to you. Most prohibited items that are not picked up are eventually sent to state-run surplus agencies and sold on auction sites like GovDeals.com. For high-value items like specialized tools or pocket knives, it is always worth calling the local airport TSA supervisor immediately, as some locations maintain a "courtesy hold" for 30 days if you can provide a detailed description and pay for the return postage.