How To Travel Safely and Hassle Free

Getting through crowded airports these days is a challenge, with heightened security. Make sure to call your airline to find out how much time before your flight you must be there. You may come across some security measures that never were in place before.

Key Travel Tips

Following these tips will help you reduce your wait time at the security checkpoint.

Before the Airport:

• Do not pack or bring prohibited items to the airport.
• Place valuables such as jewelry, cash and laptop computers in carry-on baggage only. Tape your business card to the bottom of your laptop.
• Avoid wearing clothing, jewelry and accessories that contain metal. Metal items may set off the alarm on the metal detector.
• Avoid wearing shoes that contain metal or have thick soles or heels. Many types of footwear will require additional screening even if the metal detector does not alarm.
• Put all undeveloped film and cameras with film in your carry-on baggage. Checked baggage screening equipment will damage undeveloped film.
• Declare firearms & ammunition to your airline and place them in your checked baggage.
• If you wish to lock your baggage, use a TSA-recognized lock
• Do not bring lighters or prohibited matches to the airport.
• Do not pack wrapped gifts and do not bring wrapped gifts to the checkpoint. Wrap on arrival or ship your gifts prior to your departure. TSA may have to unwrap packages for security reasons.

At the Airport

Each adult traveler needs to keep available his/her airline boarding pass and government-issued photo ID until exiting the security checkpoint. Due to different airport configurations, at many airports you will be required to display these documents more than once.

Place the following items IN your carry-on baggage or in a plastic bag prior to entering the screening checkpoint:

• Mobile phones
• Keys
• Loose change
• Money clips
• PDA's (personal data assistants)
• Large amounts of jewelry
• Metal hair decorations
• Large belt buckles
• Take your laptop and video cameras with cassettes OUT of their cases and place them in a bin provided at the checkpoint.
• Take off all outer coats, suit coats, jackets and blazers.

Prepare For Takeoff

Dress the Part

Be aware that any metal detected at the checkpoint must be identified. If you set off the alarm, you will be required to undergo additional screening, including a hand-wanding and a pat-down inspection that includes the torso. You can remove metal items at the security checkpoint and place them in the plastic bags offered at several airports or in the bins provided. The bins will be sent through the X-ray machine. You can save time by not wearing metal items or by placing them in your carry-on baggage before getting in line.

TSA Shoe Screening Policy

You are not required to remove your shoes before you enter the walk-through metal detector. However, TSA screeners may encourage you to remove them before entering the metal detector as many types of footwear will require additional screening even if the metal detector DOES NOT alarm.

Screeners will encourage you to remove the following footwear that is likely to require additional screening:

• Boots
• Platform shoes (including platform flip-flops)
• Footwear with a thick sole or heel (including athletic shoes)
• Footwear containing metal (including many dress shoes)

Footwear that screeners are less likely to suggest you remove includes:

• "Beach" flip-flops
• Thin-soled sandals (without metal)

OTHER TIPS:

Avoid wearing clothing, jewelry or other accessories that contain metal when traveling through the security checkpoints:

• Heavy Jewelry (including pins, necklaces, bracelets, rings, watches, earrings, body piercings, cuff links, lanyards or bolo ties)
• Clothing with metal buttons, snaps or studs
• Metal hair barrettes or other hair decoration
• Belt buckles
• Under-wire bras
• Hidden items such as body piercings may result in your being directed to additional screening for a pat-down inspection. If selected for additional screening, you may ask to remove your body piercing in private as an alternative to the pat-down search.
• Take metal items such as keys, loose change, mobile phones, pagers, and personal data assistants (PDAs) out of your pockets.
• Place heavy jewelry and other metal items in your carry-on baggage or in plastic bags if they are offered, until you clear security.
• Pack all your coats and jackets in your baggage when possible. All coats and jackets must go through the X-ray machine for inspection. These include, but are not limited to, trench coats, heavy winter coats, suit jackets, sport coats and blazers. If you choose to wear an outer coat or jacket to the checkpoint, you will need to either place it in your carry-on or put it in the bin that is provided for you.

Courtesy of the Transportation Security Administration