Archive for the Category »Airport Security «

Apr
24th		   Air Travelers: Don’t Plan on Packing Golf Clubs as Carry On Bags Just Yet… #pocketknifeban
2 Comments Category: Airline policies, Airport Security, Banned Airline Items, Travel Tags: ,

From tsa.gov

Tomorrow was supposed to be the day pocket knives, ski poles, pool cues, lacrosse sticks, and golf clubs would be allowed  in carry-on bags on commercial flights. They were banned post 9/11.

BUT – if you’ve already packed them for a trip – go remove them.  The items will no longer be allowed to be brought on in a passenger’s carry on bags. The TSA’s plan to allow them back in passenger cabins has been delayed due to backlash – mostly against the pocket knives.

The TSA wants more time to consider the safety of the idea. The benefit to allowing them, according to the TSA, would be faster security lines so agents could focus on greater threats.

According to a survey of 1800 Americans, about 73% say they don’t want pocket knives in plane cabins. The TSA was only going to allow knives with blades of 2.36″ or less. What do you think?

Here is a list of banned and allowed items from seatguru.com:

http://www.seatguru.com/articles/tsa_prohibited_items.php

 

 

 
Mar
05th		   Travel Tip Tuesday: Get ready for extra-long lines, but at least the TSA will look good….
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I just went through customs this week after our country’s budget cuts were announced, and it wasn’t pretty. It is not clear whether any overtime or regular cuts had been made yet, and my wait at LAX customs was almost two hours. TWO hours of lost productivity… aggravated fliers after a long international flight…and just plain wasted time.

I realize we have to make cuts to stay on budget. BUT  – news reports today say that the TSA ordered $50 million of new uniforms this week – knowing sequester cuts may set it. Really? AND  – the uniforms are reportedly made in Mexico.

Does anyone else see something wrong here? People will be out of work, travelers will be waiting in longer lines, but darn! Those duds will be spanking new.

Be prepared to wait longer in security lines at major airports… plan your time accordingly – perhaps bring something to do while you wait in customs lines – especially if you are traveling with children. (Some international airports I know have special lines for families to let them go faster. Very nice.)

Another bit of news relating to airport security – the TSA announced today that passengers will soon be allowed to carry on board Swiss-army style knives… That has some unions angry.

Stay tuned!

 

 
Dec
18th		   Travel Tip Tuesday: Naughty or Nice: Should This Child’s Item Have Been Let Through Security?
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Let’s face it – traveling with kids can be crazy sometimes.! More gear, more luggage, more things needed to entertain them.  But it can be crazy fun too. The above photo was taken on our Alaskan cruise for “pirate night.”

Disney Cruise Line lets you know in advance there is a pirate night in case you want to bring your finest swashbuckling attire….and travelers do go ALL OUT. Jack Sparrow never had it so good. (Never heard of pirates in Alaska, but I figure this night must have been a success on their Caribbean cruises  and they carried over the fun.)

Knowing this my kids wanted to bring all sorts of things – one son even asked to take a toy sword…. which reminded me of a story.

From “Quicksmartgo.com”

I saw a friend of mine at a party recently who said he and his son were going through airport security, and  the young boy got stopped because he had some significant blade in his backpack. I didn’t see the item, but apparently, it was for a school project – it was some sort of artifact, or something important, that he had been carrying around with him until the project was due.

The point is – the dad had NO IDEA it was there…. TRAVEL TIP: Since many of us will be travewling with kids this holiday, check their carry on bags too if they pack it themselves or are bringing their own backpacks. It might prevent unwanted delays at security, and possibly confiscation of something personal. I would have never assumed anything would have been in my child’s backpack either.

My friend was stopped at security for a while…. and I’m not sure I’m so happy with the outcome. TSA agents let the boy keep his weapon-like item. Happy for him, since it was for school, but yet, would they allow a true criminal past… and we aren’t allowed to pack more than 3 ounces of liquid or tweezers in our carry ons?

Here is a naughty and nice packing list from Seatguru.com   – I find it easier to navigate than the TSA’s…. and some of the items listed are quite entertaining. I don’t know about you but I’ve never tried to pack cranberry sauce in my carry on!

http://www.seatguru.com/articles/tsa_prohibited_items.php

Safe travels this holiday everyone!

 
Dec
04th		   Kids and Gifts and TSA – Oh My! Brace Yourself for Another Christmas at the Airport – Here’s How.
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I am embarrassed to admit that I have been one of those fliers who gets to the check in counter to find that my bags are overweight, and start  moving things from one bag to another to meet the weight limit and save $100. It ain’t easy with three kids and all sorts of heavy gear for a ski trip, or even my most recent trip to Alaska.

I wanna help you learn from my travails, especially now with the crazy holiday airport scene. These are the days when many people who don’t fly a lot and aren’t familiar with the latest airport security, and families with children, are making a trip to see relatives for the holidays. So you have crowded airports, exhausted parents, and slower security.

First, if you are thinking of shipping your gifts, plan ahead and start ordering presents NOW so you don’t have to pay excessive rush fees. This could actually be a cheaper way to go than carrying them with you on the plane – There are excess baggage fees,…and remember those overweight baggage fees I was mentioning? Amazon is a great way to go if you start shopping now.

If you have small gifts, and do decide to fly with them, DON”T wrap them. If for some reason the package seems suspicious, TSA agents will have to unwrap them…taking your time, and ruining a beautiful wrap job. Agents at LAX reportedly unwrapped one gift that contained 35 lbs of marijuana!

Also remember that if you put those gifts in checked baggage, there have been gifts stolen from bags. Nice holiday spirit, right?

THe TSA puts out a helpful list of items that are prohibited to carry on…. http://www.tsa.gov/traveler-information/helpful-hints-holiday-travelers

From Kissthecookcake.com

Most food items are not allowed – so be sure to ship that homemade jelly for Christmas morning .. or the family tradition gingerbread cookies ahead of time. Note: Cakes and pies are ALLOWED to be carried on… but – get this – they are subject to further screening. Not sure I’d really want to eat it after 5 TSA agents have searched it.

I’ll be posting helpful tips all the way through this holiday -No reason this time of year has to be more stressful -  Thanks so much for reading and I wish you a joyful season.

From Atlantic.com

 

 
Sep
18th		   Travel Tip Tuesday: How To Remember Where You Parked At The Airport
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We’ve all done it. Raced to the airport, drove in circles in a an airport parking lot looking for a spot, finally grabbing one with glee as you race against the clock and departure time.

OOPS. You’re in such a rush, you forget to look at where you’ve parked.

Finding your car upon return isn’t so easy. Sometimes after a long trip, you can just forget anyway because you’ve had so many business trips lately, or the location  just got mixed in with all the other information floating in your brain.

A friend of mine has a good strategy: She takes a photo of the place she parks as she gets out of her car. The secret here is to have your smart phone, or camera, out and ready to use as you get out of the car so you don’t forget that too as you rush out! If you can remember, also take a photo of the name of the lot if you are off-site…. that way you remember which shuttle to take back to that lot.

Happy Travels.

 
May
15th		   Travel Tip Tuesday: Don’t Miss Your Flight Because of Your Boarding Pass
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So technology can be incredibly helpful, right? A time saver!

However, we all know it can get us in trouble too. For instance – now that the airlines can electronically send you your boarding pass, we all can save time by printing it at home and scooting to security once at the airport. And even better – if you are somewhere where there is no printer,  you can simply load it to your mobile phone and check in.

BUT  – beware – even though some airlines offer it, you need to make sure the airport from which you are flying has mobile phone scanners at the security check. Otherwise, you will be forced to run back and print up your boarding pass at the kiosks near the airline check in desks… and wait on a security line again!

You can check on our airline’s website to see which airport offers mobile checking for that airport – each airline differs. Better yet – call and speak to someone. You wouldn’t want technology to come back and bite you twice!

 
Dec
06th		   Tues Travel Tip: Old Age is Hard Enough – How to Prepare for Embarrassing Pat Downs?
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Warning: Don’t visualize the following details.

The latest story from JFK airport is that two women in their 80s going through security were required to pull down their pants to show a back brace and colostomy bag. We’ve heard similar stories – another senior was forced to remove her wet diaper because the body scanner showed a spot on it.

At what point can we preserve an elderly person’s dignity and yet still practice tough national security? In 2009, a Nigerian man tried to blow up a flight to Detroit on Christmas Day with explosives in his underpants. So the very personal hiding spots are not without precedent.

The TSA has adjusted screening procedures for certain people – Just a couple months ago it modified pat downs of kids under 12 – But I wonder if announcing that is a smart thing to do since a would-be sick-minded terrorist could then hide something on a child.

The problem of screening seniors is only going to grow with the aging boomer population and a whole sea of medical devices requiring special screening: Catheters, prosthetics, pacemakers, and artificial hips….

According to reports, prosthetic devices can possibly set off metal detectors, and catheters and bags are visible on body scanners, making those passengers candidates for more intimate inspections. Metal detectors and wands can disrupt some devices such as implanted defibrillators, so those passengers must ask for pat-downs instead.

Welcome to the post 9/11 world. How do we get around it? Would you want your grandmother to be asked to drop her drawers? A doctor’s note may not be enough. Sensitivity training is going on right now, according to TSA reports.

The best thing to do to avoid a pat down is to be extra careful about removing things from your pockets and your body that may trigger the metal detector or body scanner, and spawn a more intensive search.

If you are traveling with a senior, especially one with a medical condition, make sure to explain the whole security process – and what may happen in a pat down. At least preparing them will reduce some of the shock.

If you or a senior member of the family do need a pat down, ask to go to a private room – which means you REALLY need to get to the airport early.

Of course, there are those, like me, who choose the pat downs. I am a little OCD about radiation – I know I know, they say it is such small levels in the body scanners. I have joked with the women patting me down… changed the subject to ignore the embarrassing situation…and just deal with it. After all, I chose to have one.

But for seniors, we have to practice a little more sensitivity. Any ideas?

 
Nov
18th		   New TSA Travel Rules for Family Travel
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Finally… a little something to make traveling with children easier this holiday season. This from the TSA:

  • New Screening Procedures for Passengers 12 and Under: TSA has implemented new procedures that reduce, though not eliminate, pat-downs of passengers 12 and under that would otherwise have been conducted to resolve alarms while also ensuring effective security measures. Passengers 12 and under are also able to leave their shoes on when going through security checkpoints.

And here are some good travel tips to keep in mind this time of year -

  • Holiday Travel Tips
  • Travelers should remember the three simple steps to security: have ID’s out, coats and shoes off, and laptops and 311 bags out for screening. TSA reminds travelers to follow 3–1–1 for carry-on luggage for non-exempt liquids: 3 ounce bottle or less for all liquids, gels and aerosols; placed in a 1 quart-sized, clear, plastic, zip-top bag to hold all small bottles; 1 bag per passenger placed in screening bin. The limitations on liquids apply only to carry-on bags and larger quantities may be packed in checked baggage.
  • TSA also recommends that passengers do not travel with wrapped packages. In order to determine if the contents of a package are a threat, a security officer may need to unwrap and inspect the item. Snow globes of any size are not permitted in carry-on bags because officers cannot accurately determine the volume of liquid. TSA recommends passengers pack these items securely in checked baggage.
  • Food items such as pies and cakes are permitted but may require further inspection. If travelers are not sure if a food item is considered a liquid or gel it is best to pack the item in checked baggage or ship it to a destination in advance.

TSA reminds travelers to be vigilant during the holiday travel season by reporting suspicious activity to local law enforcement. The traveling public plays an important role in security, so “If You See Something, Say Something.”

The TSA has also devised a mobile app to help you  with any security or screening questions.

For more information on these and other helpful tips, please visit www.tsa.gov.

Here’s to the beginning of the holiday season!

 
Nov
15th		   Travel Tip Tuesday: How to Best Navigate Airports, & Find Surprising Services
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Don’t ya hate when you have a great idea, and someone beats you to developing it?

A few years ago I wrote up a book proposal  – a guide to the world’s busiest airports with maps and hours of operation for all amenities. Since travelers were spending more time at airports due to longer security checks, I thought it was a great idea. There have been many times myself when I landed somewhere at a late hour and wondered where I could find a restaurant that was open. Or times when I wanted to pick up a gift on the way home, and didn’t know where to go.

Anyway, I shopped the book around to a few literary agents, and they liked the idea.. just thought it might make a better magazine series, or couldn’t figure out if anyone beyond business travelers would need it.

SFO

In comes the “App” age. The airport guide is the perfect app idea. In today’s airports we are experiencing upgraded and even exciting amenities like cutting edge design, charging stations, gourmet food, and massage chairs so there is a lot more we can get excited about.

Airport Charging Station

There are some useful apps out there to help you get through airports, whether delayed, on a layover, or have time to kill waiting for a flight. They can also help you discover  hidden gems in various terminals.

I once had to buy a stopwatch for a shoot, and actually found a pretty great watch store in Denver’s airport… stumbled upon a fun wine bar in Oakland… have spent hours shopping in Heathrow…and even seen a full-service spa offering Brazilian bikini waxes. Good to know.

All of this can be info at your fingertips. Here are some airport assisting apps for you to check out – easy to carry right in your phone!

1) Flysmart App: Free on the iphone. Gives you maps of more than 25 domestic airports and what each one offers.

2) Airports are launching their own apps – look for guides under the airport’s name.

3) Gate Guru – free Android and iphone.

4) ifly Airport Guide -free Android and iphone.

Here’s to never getting lost in terminals again. :)

 
May
02nd		   Former NY Mayor Rudy Giuliani, U.S. Government Words of Caution
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In light of the HUGE news last night, today Rudy Giuliani said just hours ago ” In the short term (this development) could be very dangerous for us…”

The U.S. State department acknowledges that acts of retaliation are quite possible. As symbolic as the death of bin Laden is, the reality is that there are other terrorists – part of Al Qaeda and not – who are still intent on hurting American citizens and interests. Images of Americans jubilant in the streets may not help. There was always concern bin Laden would be seen as a martyr.
The United States put American diplomatic facilities around the world on high alert and issued a global travel warning for Americans early today.

“Given the uncertainty and volatility of the current situation, U.S. citizens in areas where recent events could cause anti-American violence are strongly urged to limit their travel outside of their homes and hotels and avoid mass gatherings and demonstrations,” the State Department said. “U.S. citizens should stay current with media coverage of local events and be aware of their surroundings at all times.”
The Homeland Security official said the agency remains “at a heightened state of vigilance,” although the national terror-threat level was not immediately raised following bin Laden’s death.
“Our security posture, which always includes a number of measures both seen and unseen, will continue to protect the American people from an evolving threat picture both in the next days and beyond,” the official said.

There are reports that airports will additionally be under heightened security so allow enough time to get through any lines to make your flight.

Fellow travelers… for more info on staying safe abroad – visit www.travel.state.gov.

 
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