Tips for Travel Under the New Security Rules
In the wake of September 11, 2001 heightened airport security measures in the U.S. and for flights to the U.S. have increased the time needed to check in and the variety of security measures that passengers may face. The heightened security has meant longer waits and longer lines at the ticket counter, the gate screening area, and at the gate. The following advice will help you cope with this new situation by providing tips for making the process go as quickly as possible.
Arrive Early
Most airlines advise arriving at the airport two hours before your flight's scheduled departure, but you may need more or less time depending on your needs. Arrive earlier if you have to go to the ticket counter line to check bags or for special needs, or if you are traveling with young children or persons with disabilities.
Make Sure that You Have Proper Identification
You are now required to have an acceptable set of identification in order to either enter the secure areas of the airport or to board an aircraft. Typically, a current photo identification that was issued by some level of government will be sufficient. For example, a driver's license, state ID cards, military ID cards, and passports are acceptable, but photo identification issued by a school or private employer are not acceptable. For a domestic U.S. flight, if you do not have an appropriate photo ID, some airlines allow you to substitute two non-photo IDs that are issued by some level of government. When in doubt, check with your airline.
Get Your Ticket or Boarding Pass Before You Arrive
If possible, arrange your trip so that you have either a paper ticket, a copy of an electronic ticket receipt, or a boarding pass in hand before getting to the airport. If you follow the next tip and only have carry on items, you can avoid the lines at the ticket counters and go straight to the gate areas. Make sure that your airline allows you to get a boarding pass or to change your current boarding pass at the gate or at a passenger service area inside the secure area of the airport.
Avoid Using the Ticket Counter
One of the longest lines you face is likely to be at the ticket counter or curbside check in. You can avoid these lines by not having anything that needs to be checked or by not having any business to conduct at the ticket counter. Generally, airlines will limit passengers to one carry on item and one personal item such as a briefcase or laptop computer. Check with your airline for details on what is allowed. Also, keep in mind that many items such as baseball bats, golf clubs, and other common items can no longer be carried in the cabin and must be checked.
Clean Out Your Carry-On Bags Before Flying
If you have not flown since September 11, you may have items in your bags, such as scissors or pocket knives, that are no longer allowed in the cabin. Take the time to completely empty any bag that you will use on board, before you fly, in order to ensure that you are not accidentally carrying any of these items. Needless to say, this can avoid an embarrassing situation at the airport.
Make It Easy to Be Screened
In order to keep the security screening processes as short as possible, you should do one or more of the following: avoid packing your carry on bags tightly so that it is easy for the screener to search through them; keep your ticket, boarding pass, and ID within easy reach; wear shoes that can be taken off and put back on relatively easily; and make sure that you can show that any computer or electronic device in your carry on luggage actually works.
Don't Be Surprised by the Security Measures
In addition to the familiar metal detectors and x-ray machines, there may be a number of other measures in place at the airport, such as armed military personnel, bomb detection equipment, bomb-sniffing dogs, and photo ID checks at the gate prior to boarding. Among other things, you may be asked to take your laptop out of its case to be screened separately by the x-ray machine, you may be asked to take off your shoes so that they may be checked, and you may have your bags, shoes, or clothing tested for explosives residues. There will very likely be other measures added over time as new security threats emerge.
Don't Take It Personally
In addition to the standard security measures that everyone faces, you may be taken aside and given extra scrutiny one or more times by airport security and airline personnel. In most cases, such scrutiny is not an indication that an individual is being singled out. If you feel that you are being unfairly singled out, you should take the time and effort to document your experience and lodge a complaint with the airline, the airport authority, or the U.S. Department of Transportation. Airguide provides several resources for passenger complaints, including links to a Department of Transportation form for cases of alleged discrimination based on race, ethnicity, national origin, or religion.
Get to Know Your Airline's Policies
It is a very good idea to get to know an airline's policies with respect to security, ticketing, and other passenger-related issues. Ask the airline for a copy of their security guidelines as well as for a copy of their policies regarding passenger compensation due to delays. If you are doing anything out of the ordinary on your trip or require any special accommodations from the airline, contact the airline at least a day before your trip and get the information that you need.
Maintain a Positive Attitude
Traveling by air, even when things go smoothly, can often be stressful. The new security measures will certainly provide more opportunities for passengers to be delayed or otherwise inconvenienced, and provide more opportunities to become tense, angry, or frustrated. Keep in mind that all of these measures were put in place to deal with realistic potential threats to air travelers over time and that these measures will make it much less likely that any hijacker or saboteur will threaten anyone's safety.
Things You Should Not Bring on Board:
Items Banned from Flights
Some items should not be carried on an aircraft in either carry-on or checked luggage because of the danger they represent for the passengers and crew. Many of these items are commonly used at work or in the home, but may become a hazard in flight for a host of reasons, including changes in temperature and pressure that can cause items to leak, generate toxic fumes or start a fire. Some exemptions are allowed for medical devices and personal care items. If in doubt, check with your air carrier.
New Categories of Banned Items
In the wake of the events of 11 September 2001, the FAA has prohibited the following items from airplane cabins (though they can be carried as checked luggage):
Knives of any length, composition or description
Cutting instruments of any kind and composition, including carpet knives and box cutters (and spare blades), any device with a folding or retractable blade, ice picks, straight razors, metal scissors and metal nail files
Corkscrews
Baseball/softball bats
Golf clubs
Pool cues
Ski poles
Hockey sticks
When in doubt, transport item in checked baggage
Other Categories of Banned or Hazardous Items
Explosives and Firearms: Matches, sparklers, other fireworks, flares, gunpowder, ammunition or other ordnance, blasting caps, dynamite, loaded firearms (in some cases, unloaded firearms and sporting ammunition may be carried in checked baggage if properly packed)
Note: In the United States, federal laws apply to aircraft and to the secure areas of the airport such as the gate areas. State or local laws concerning the carrying of concealed or unconcealed weapons do not apply. Attempting to enter these areas with weapons may lead to your arrest.
Other Weapons: Knives of any kind, throwing stars, swords, or other items commonly used in martial arts competitions. Rules in other countries will vary with respect to the carraige of knives and other weapons.
Gases and Pressure Containers: Flammable aerosols like hair spray, spray paint, or insect repellant; also carbon dioxide cartridges, oxygen tanks (scuba or medical), mace, tear gas, pepper spray, self-inflating rafts, and deeply refrigerated gases such as liquid nitrogen
Flammable Liquids and Solids: Gasoline, propane, butane, and other fuels; lights with flammable reservoirs, matches, flammable paints, paint thinners, some cleaning solvents, some adhesives, cigarette lighters, and lighter fluid. Personal care items containing flammable perfume, aerosols, or other hazardous material may be carried on board if each container is less than 16 fluid ounces (473 ml) and the total is less than 70 fluid ounces (2.07 liters).
Oxidizers and Organic Peroxides: Bleach, nitric acid, fertilizers, swimming pool or spa chemicals, and fiberglass repair kits
Poisons: Weed killers, pesticides, insecticides, rodent poisons, arsenic, and cyanides
Infectious Materials: Medical laboratory specimens, viral organisms, and bacterial cultures
Corrosives: Drain cleaners, car batteries, wet cell batteries, acids, alkalis, lye, and mercury
Organics: Fiberglass resins, peroxides
Radioactive Materials: Smoke detectors, radioactive pharmaceuticals, and other radioactive materials
Dry Ice (frozen carbon dioxide): Up to four pounds (8.8 kg) may be carried on board for packing perishables providing the package is vented
Magnetic Materials: Strong magnets such as those in some loudspeakers and laboratory equipment
Other items: Wet-cell batteries, chemical oxygen generators (either used or unused), or any equipment containing fuel or other flammable liquids
Declaring Hazardous Materials
In the U.S., you must declare hazardous materials to airlines, express package carriers, or the U.S. Postal Service. Violations carry a civil penalty of up to $27,500 for each occurrence and, in appropriate cases, a criminal penalty of up to $500,000 and/or up to five years imprisonment.
Increase Safety By Flying Smart
A frequent flier of my acquaintance, an international lawyer, resorts to deception and disguise whenever the U.S. State Department warns of terrorist activity aimed at US commercial airlines. He stashes his American passport in the overhead locker, keeps his face buried in a copy of Le Monde and discards the obligatory pin-stripe suit for nondescript khakis.
A smart traveler's survival strategy, if not exactly the stuff of Special Forces personnel, is the right way to shield oneself inside a fuselage, according to high-risk travel consultants and experts in aviation safety. Business travelers who cannot postpone or cancel a trip whenever there are vague threats to civil aviation should carry copies of their passports and hide the originals; avoid eye contact; and try to blend in, says a spokesman of Real World Rescue, a training center in San Diego, that claims to prepare travelers for ''all contingencies.''
These rules apply not only to Americans and other Westerners, who are often targets, but also to citizens of all countries who want to play it safe. The idea is to camouflage oneself. ''Everyone traveling who stands out may be placing themselves at risk,'' states the Real World Rescue guide.
Catastrophe in the air is random and rare. Nevertheless, the recent spate of hijackings and crashes serves as an unsettling reminder that flying, while statistically one of the safest modes of travel, can sometimes prove extremely frightening, or fatal.
There are, however, several recommended precautions one can take to minimize risk.
Study the route. It is not unusual for people on business to sprint to airports and board aircraft headed for unfamiliar destinations via unknown routes. Prevent surprises by understanding your itinerary and the potential consequences of landing in a country engaged in conflict, civil war or prone to political unrest.
A little planning pays off. Check travel advisories, such as those provided by the U.S. State Department. The Web has made this a simple task; no need to trudge off to an embassy or consulate to read the bulletins, just visit: travel.state.gov. The State Department will even send travel safety updates by e-mail if you register with the free service. Other Web sites devoted to travel safety and air security also post travel warnings based on State Department and other sources. (See www.realworldrescue.com and www.airsecurity.com, which has a ''Hot Spots'' feature).
Schedule a nonstop flight. This minimizes the number of takeoffs and landings, which experts say are the most dangerous phases of flying.
Check out the aircraft. Some commercial airlines have better safety records than others, and some equipment is considered more reliable. If possible, choose a wide-body aircraft. ''They have lower densities and therefore fewer people per exit,'' explained Todd Curtis of AirSafe.com, a site that offers practical information for frequent fliers. Aircraft with at least 30 passenger seats are also certified under more strict regulations than small craft.
Robert Boser, a former commercial pilot and editor of AirlineSafety.com, thinks that it is prudent to avoid twin-engine turboprops, especially in wintry weather. In the aftermath of the Alaska Airlines crash this month, some air-safety consultants are advising against flying MD-83s until the National Transportation Safety Board completes its investigation.
The Federal Aviation Administration's Office of System Safety (nasdac.faa.gov/internet/) allows public access to four aviation safety databases and airline activity data that can be used to calculate individual accident and incident rates for major airlines. Airsafety.com and the Flight Safety Foundation in Alexandria, Virginia, also carry some helpful safety data.
Choose reputable airlines. Overall, experts recommend sticking with American, Canadian, European, Japanese, Singaporean and Australian carriers over Russian, Chinese, African and South American carriers. The Taiwan carrier China Airlines, Korean Air and Garuda Indonesia rank near the top of the list of major airlines involved in fatal crashes.
Charlie LeBlanc, managing director of Air Security International, which advises corporations that dispatch large numbers of employees overseas, says it is important to know something about an airline's maintenance routine, safety record and even its financial standing.
''When money gets tight, maintenance gets cut,'' he warned. ''The closer an airline is to meeting just the minimum standards, the closer it is to a mishap.'' Not surprisingly LeBlanc is advising clients to stay away from the airlines implicated in the recent Afghan and Indian hijackings.
Follow the safety demonstration. Frequent fliers have heard the flight crew's opening gambit about seat belts, exits, oxygen masks and flotation devices so many times they stop listening. This is a mistake, according to the Federal Aviation Administration and others who evaluate air safety. Aircraft differ slightly. The passenger who pays close attention to the evacuation demonstration is more likely not to panic in case of an emergency. Quick reflexes are vital in an emergency. The agency also publishes an Air Travelers Checklist, which emphasizes safety procedures.
Some airline experts suggest reserving a seat nearest to an exit; many crashes are survivable, especially if passengers can escape quickly from toxic fumes and fire. Stay low if there is smoke; most passengers die from asphyxiation by standing up.
Real World Rescue's chief consultant, who organizes programs in travel survival and security, urges travelers to establish an emergency plan of action on an airliner. ''It can be for fire, crash or hijacking. Know what you are going to do from exactly where you sit,'' he writes.
Don't drink. Those who make airline safety their business regard alcohol consumption as a potential hazard. Even mild inebriation clouds a passenger's ability to remain alert, think quickly and act decisively. These attributes are necessary whether the aircraft has mechanical trouble at 30,000 feet (9,000 meters) or has been hijacked to a foreign tarmac. ''Maintain an awareness of what's happening,'' advised Todd Curtis of AirSafe. ''Lay off alcohol.''
Monitor the weather. ''Try to fly when the weather is good,'' said Boser of AirlineSafety. Thunderstorm activity, heavy winds or snowstorms near the airport at the time of departure and landing do increase risk somewhat.
Consider your rights. Understanding safety and evaluating the risk of airborne danger require quick and easy access to information about civil aviation. Consumer advocates such as Ralph Nader are pressing for a passengers' lobby and a passengers' bill of rights that would include the right to know more about aircraft maintenance, safety procedures and crash investigations.
Nader's Aviation Consumer Action Project (www.acap1971.org) has been monitoring adherence to safety procedures, emergency evacuation tests, ticket pricing and other aspects of the industry. ''The federal government is expert at recovering wreckage, but not so good at preventing wrecks,'' Nader said after EgyptAir Flight 990 crashed off the East Coast of the United States in October.
Of course, political action and excessive precaution can get in the way of practicality. It is not always possible for the harried, laptop-toting passenger to conduct a thorough risk assessment before boarding a flight. So it is important to keep in mind that of the more than 17 million worldwide departures last year, most occurred without incident. An irate fellow traveler is more likely to cause chaos in the cabin than a terrorist.
Still, preparedness cannot hurt. Paying attention to the preflight briefing and fastening your seat belt are still regarded as the most valuable tips for people taking to the air.
Check-In Tips
Remember that lines at the check-in desk and passport control are longest nearer the departure time.
On intercontinental flights, you may need to check in two hours (even longer if you are flying to Israel) before departure time. For other flights, check in is usually one hour before departure.
Many airports have special check-in desks for passengers with hand-luggage only and for Concorde, First and Business class passengers.
Do not drink too much alcohol before checking in, the airline has the legal right to refuse to take you on the flight.
It is often possible to reserve a seat when you purchase your ticket, or by telephone days ahead of the flight. If you are a nonsmoker, find out if you are near the smoking section, or if the airline has nonsmoking flights.
Aisle seats allow the most freedom of movement, but you may be frequently disturbed by occupants of adjacent seats. In addition, their food and drinks will be passed across your lap at each service. The aisle seats can also be unpleasant near toilets and service galley areas, especially when there are passengers waiting in line.
The seats with the greatest legroom are located at the aircraft's cabin bulkhead, door, or next to an emergency exit. Remember that, even on the same type of aircraft, seating configuration may vary from airline to airline. So do not assume that a particular row or seat number will always be the same. Check each time.
Keep your eyes on your baggage at all times; your confusion or hesitancy makes it easy for thieves and pickpockets.
As you part with your bags at the check-in, make sure that all the bags are tagged with the correct flight number and airport code and that you get one receipt for each checked bag, your boarding pass, airline ticket and passport back from the airline check-in personnel.
If you have not obtained foreign currency before going to the airport, get it before going through passport control. Few international airports have banking facilities after passport control.
On the Aircraft
Follow exactly instructions about fastening seat belts and extinguishing cigarettes. Keep your seat belt loosely fastened throughout the flight; no pilot flies into turbulence deliberately, but unexpected turbulence can take everybody by surprise.
Put your hand-luggage under the seat in front of you, and put your coat and lightweight articles in the overhead bin. Do not put bottles of duty-free beverages or perfumes in the overhead lockers.
Listen to announcements made on the aircraft; they may affect your landing arrangements or transfer flight.
On a long trip, try to get some sleep if possible, earplugs and eye-masks sometimes help.
Many people find that sleep helps to diminish the effects of jet-lag. Even if you never take sleeping pills, one taken on a long flight will not hurt and could ensure that you arrive refreshed and relaxed. Check with your physician before taking any medication.
The low-cost or no-cost drinks tempt some people into drinking too much alcohol, which can cause unpleasant symptoms in pressurized cabins. Alcohol produces dehydration, is a diuretic, increasing urine production, and makes jet-lag worse.
Fizzy drinks can also have unpleasant consequences. Fruit juices or flat mineral water are best.
If you wear contact lenses, remove them on a long flight. The effect of dry air and pressurization can make them uncomfortable.
Another medical tip is to remove your shoes to combat the swollen ankles suffered by some air travelers. Doctors also suggest, with your legs extended, rotate your toes forward, and backwards, circle to the right and left.
Pressurization of the air in the cabin can make a toothache flare up and ear pain appear. When flying with babies, it is advisable to have them drink from their bottles to decrease the pressure in their ears especially at takeoff and landing.
The cabin pressure may also make fountain or felt tip pens leak in your pocket and creams or shampoo's may leak in your handbag.
If you need a landing card, fill it in before your reach your destination to save yourself time upon arrival.
Smoking
Most airlines do not allow smoking on board, but have smoking areas in their airport lounges. If you are permitted to smoke on some restricted flights or areas:
Do not smoke when the "No Smoking" light or sign is on.
Do not smoke in the toilets or when walking in the aisles.
Use the ashtrays, not the floor.
The effects of smoking are worsened in a pressurized cabin, increasing discomfort to the eyes and throat. Even if you have a supply of cheaper, duty-free cigarettes, try not to smoke more than usual.
plus just some humour:
Thirteen Murphy Laws For Frequent Flyers
1. No flight ever leaves on time unless you are running late and need the delay to make the gate before its closes.
2. If you are running late for a flight, it will depart from the farthest gate within the terminal.
3. If you arrive very early for a flight, it inevitably will be delayed.
4. Flights never leave from Gate 1 at any terminal in the world.
5. If you must work on your flight, you will experience turbulence as soon as you touch pen to paper.
6. If you are assigned a middle seat, you can determine who has the seats on the aisle and the window while you are still in the boarding area. Just look for the two largest passengers.
7. The passenger sitting inside to you has a weak bladder.
8. The crying baby on board your flight is always seated next to you.
9. Another middle seat problem. If identical twins are flying you can be sure they will be assigned seating either side of you.
10 The less carryon luggage space available on an aircraft, the more carryon luggage passengers will bring aboard.
11 You have seen all the films before, or if not the one you fancy either breaks down in the middle or is just about to reach the climax when the system closes down for the landing.
12. There is nothing on the menu that you fancy except the one item that has gone before the cabin service reaches you.
13. And finally when you do make it to the rest room it is engaged, the cabin staff then reminding you that under the new regulations queuing is forbidden. You are beaten to the door next time around!
enjoy your trip!