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Holiday flight traveling tips
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[NOV. 24, 2003]
Air travelers who follow
three simple tips, which can be summarized as "in," "out"
and "off," will contribute significantly to steps the
Department of Homeland Security is taking to ensure aviation
security and make travel as enjoyable as possible during the busy
Thanksgiving holiday season, said Asa Hutchinson, DHS under
secretary for border and transportation security. Hutchinson spoke
Nov. 18 at Reagan National Airport.
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Air travel at Thanksgiving is expected
to be heavy. The Transportation Security Administration will do
everything it can to help travelers move smoothly through security
checkpoints. Employee leave will be restricted, managers will be
working with screeners, and checkpoints may open earlier or close
later, depending on the airport. Also, vendor deliveries will be
scheduled during slow hours and extra attention will be given to
preventive maintenance so screening equipment doesn't have to be
taken off-line when the checkpoint is open.
Following the three travel tips will
prepare air travelers to go through checkpoints and drastically
reduce chances of a more thorough secondary screening being
required. Call it "three for three" -- three tips that can avoid
secondary screening that, on average, takes three minutes per
person. The cumulative effect can be substantial, especially around
Thanksgiving, the heaviest travel holiday because travel is
concentrated in only a few days.
Here's what to do when approaching the
checkpoint:
- IN -- Place all metal items in
a carry-on bag while waiting in line.
- OUT -- Take laptops out of
their cases.
- OFF -- Take coats off.
"It's rewarding that our professional
screeners have contributed so much to restoring confidence in flying
since 9/11," said Under Secretary Asa Hutchinson. "But with more
people flying, there will be additional challenges. Airports will be
crowded, so it's important to allow plenty of time to check-in and
go through security."
"It's also important that air
travelers, including families, recognize the responsibility they
have to contribute to aviation security. A lot of families fly
together at Thanksgiving. When they prepare for takeoff and are
ready to efficiently go through the checkpoint, it helps our
screeners immensely, allowing them to concentrate on their security
mission while making the travel experience more pleasant for
everyone."
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this article] |
With the holiday season approaching, it
also is a good time to revisit the general TSA Travel Tips that are
familiar to frequent fliers:
--Everyone, even frequent fliers,
should double-check the content of their pockets and bags,
particularly carry-on luggage, to ensure that no prohibited items
were inadvertently packed.
--Think about what you are wearing
before going to the airport. Metal clothing or metal jewelry is
likely to require additional screening.
--Pack undeveloped film in carry-on
bags. Checked baggage screening equipment will damage undeveloped
film.
--Wrap gifts upon arrival at your
destination. If gifts require additional screening, screeners may
have to unwrap them.
--Do not over-pack bags. If screeners
have to open them, closing overstuffed bags can be difficult and
result in delays for checked baggage.
If TSA screeners need to open a locked
bag for inspection, they may have to break the lock. There are now
products on the market that have uniform locking systems, enabling
TSA to open and relock the bag during a required inspection.
Passengers without such devices should consider leaving bags
unlocked.
For more
travel tips and a complete list of items prohibited from carry-on or
checked baggage, visit
www.TSATravelTips.us or call toll-free 1 (866) 289-9673.
[U.S.
Department of Homeland Security
news release] |
