From eerie bats to chilling skeletons, these 13 unusual items are perfect for your Halloween travel checklist.

Last month, as I was getting ready for a Disney cruise—part of Disney Cruise Line's Halloween on the High Seas adventures—I needed to know if I could take a lightsaber on board to finish my costume.

Cue TSA's amusing response to that query: "Unfortunately, a real lightsaber isn't currently feasible. However, feel free to bring a toy lightsaber in your carry-on or checked luggage. May the force be with you!"

This got me curious about other bizarre items people have traveled with. I asked members of Dinogo's TPG Lounge on Facebook, and the responses were so entertaining—and perfectly timed for the season—that I had to share. From sewing machines to human skulls, these travelers truly took "spooky szn" to new heights, leaving TSA agents baffled.

Spooky decorations and eerie trinkets

Cheerful jack-o-lanterns: "I live in the U.S. Virgin Islands but spend my summers in Connecticut," shares TPG Lounge member Jenn Manes. "I had to fly back to the island for a quick, 24-hour work trip at the end of July. I didn’t need to pack much, so I filled my suitcase with Halloween decorations."

Skeletal models: Jill Greenblatt, Ophir Marko, and Jerri Tolson Tryon have successfully passed through security with skeleton replicas and even a faux human head. Greenblatt, who was using the skeleton as a prop for a play, says TSA didn’t bat an eye. In contrast, Marko, who brought home a child-sized skeleton for his kids, and Tolson Tryon, both had their bags checked. "It was for demonstrating radiography when I sold radiography film for DuPont," Tolson Tryon explained. "I received a few second (and third... and supervisor) glances. [I] carried it on the plane in what looked like a bowling ball bag."

Gothic treasures: For his story of unusual baggage, Dan Eskenazi reminisces: "I’m from Salem and haven’t lived there in years. Recently, I dug through some old totes from my goth days and found some intriguing Halloween items to pack in my carry-on. Security gave me some puzzled looks during the scan." His collection? He mentions it included tarot cards, three voodoo dolls, and a devil's puppet head, among other curiosities.

Beloved dolls: Darlene Crouthamel recounts being halted en route to a vintage doll convention due to the voice boxes inside the dolls she carried. "I had Chatty Cathy talking dolls in my carry-on, and I had to explain them to TSA because their voice mechanisms appeared suspicious on the X-ray," she recalls. When asked if they began chatting in her bag, she replied, "Only when I pulled the string to show them. However, we’ve had a few mysteriously talk on their own at home." Cue the chills.

Sweets

Cauldron Cakes: Now that we’ve discussed decorations, what’s Halloween without some candy—especially the enchanting kind? "I brought Cauldron Cakes from Wizarding World of Harry Potter, and the TSA agents were thoroughly perplexed by them in the X-ray," Chelsie Spacke shares with us.

Gummy bears: I have a soft spot for gummy bears, so this story grabs my attention—especially since Drew Tipton mentioned he brought back 50 pounds of them to the U.S. from overseas. "I was returning with them because my wife worked with disadvantaged children," he explains. "She used them as treats since I found all sorts of varieties that aren’t available here in the States."

Oversized trick-or-treat bags: Angie Clouse shares an amusing (if slightly embarrassing) story about a candy-filled trip back from Disney with her daughter, Lauren. "My college-aged daughter and I attended the Disney Halloween party. Her backpack and carry-on were packed solely with candy. She’d been chatting up the guy behind her in the TSA line—until she had to unpack her bags for screening, which filled three TSA bins."

Costumes

Weapons (both real and fake): Before 9/11, items like the replica Fiji war club that Katie Isaacson took on a flight were allowed as carry-ons. Thankfully, Mieke Lisuk realized she needed to check the genuine six-foot-long, hand-carved hunting spear she brought from Borneo. However, Lynn LaChance Solak faced a different fate: "I bought my son-in-law a decorative fiberglass steampunk pistol in Key West. I wasn’t thinking clearly and thought it would be fine in my carry-on... Of course, [TSA] told me I couldn’t take it, so I had to turn around and buy a small suitcase at an airport gift shop to check it in."

Spooky style: TPG Lounge moderator Gloria Lee reflects on the pitfalls of dressing up to fly. In her case, her outfit featured a jack-o-lantern dress, purple and black striped tights, and an orange and black fascinator. "I ended up stuck at the airport overnight on 10/31 due to severe storms," she shares. "What’s 'super cute' on 10/31 becomes a 'walk of shame' on 11/1."

Sewing machine: Remarkably, Laurene Christensen didn’t pack a costume for her flight, but she did bring an entire sewing machine in her checked luggage to a conference, intending to create one for her daughter during her downtime. Now that’s commitment!

Remains

Shrunken head: While most items on this list have been quirky rather than eerie, the following are remnants of once-living beings—both human and animal. To start, Heather L. Arnold recounted that the strangest item she ever brought on a plane was a shrunken head destined for "Antiques Roadshow." Yikes!

Taxidermy bat: "I brought a [taxidermy] bat back in my carry-on ... earlier this year," Becki Hyde recounted. She’s not alone in this, as at least two others—including Eskenazi, who included a mounted bat in his goth collection—also reported flying with them.

Cremains: Among the hundreds of responses I received, transporting cremains was by far the most common, with over a dozen individuals sharing their experiences of carrying their loved ones' ashes to their final resting places. Most were human, but some were the remains of beloved pets as well. Unfortunately, not everyone had an easy time. "Despite having a letter from the crematorium and the ashes passing through the X-ray smoothly, TSA still insisted on rummaging through the ashes to check for contraband," Dean Mazurek recalls.

For more insights on this topic and other travel discussions—both entertaining and serious—consider joining the TPG Lounge Facebook group.