You can be on Entrepreneur’s cover!

Too Much Swag! SXSW Freebies Delaying Air Travel Screening bags packed with festival freebies is slowing down departing flights from the Austin festival.

By Linda Lacina

entrepreneur daily

Some SXSW Interactive attendees got an unwelcome surprise when they reached the airport to depart for home.

Several flights have experienced unexpected delays at Austin Bergstrom International Airport due to swag, or promotional items, in checked suitcases setting off alarms. It's not been confirmed how many flights have been affected.

SXSW is a haven for marketers, and attendees leave with bags packed with everything from bulky electronics, like speakers and cameras, to basics like T-shirts and tote bags.

Initially, the ABIA reported that inks on certain magazines were registering as bombs. However, officials later determined that Transportation Security Administration agents aren't able to determine what's in some densely-packed bags going through screenings. In those cases, security agents are forced to go through those bags by hand, item by item.

The ABIA recommends that airline passengers leaving SXSW pack promotional items in their carry-ons to get through security more quickly.

Linda Lacina

Entrepreneur Staff

Linda Lacina is the former managing editor at Entrepreneur.com. Her work has appeared in the Wall Street Journal, Smart Money, Dow Jones MarketWatch and Family Circle. Email her at llacina@entrepreneur.com. Follow her at @lindalacina on Twitter. 

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Editor's Pick

Business News

From Tom Brady to Kevin O'Leary – See Who Lost Big in the Wake of the FTX Crypto Collapse

The crash exposed an $8 billion hole in FTX's accounts, leaving investors and customers scrambling to recoup their funds.

Business News

Mark Zuckerberg Says This CEO Is the 'Taylor Swift' of Tech

Meta's CEO posed with Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang on Instagram Wednesday.

Business News

This Highly-Debated Piece of Cinematic History Just Sold For Over $700,000 at Auction

The wood panel from "Titanic" is often mistaken as a door. Either way, he couldn't have fit. (Sorry.)

Money & Finance

5 Simple Wealth-Building Tips For This Generation's Forward-Thinkers

Explore practical finance tips for young professionals striving to overcome economic challenges.

Leadership

What We Have to Gain By Talking About Grief and Loss At Work

I lost my husband to cancer during Covid — here's how it changed how I lead at work.