Airport Security and Checkin

Katie — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 23:25:13 +0000

I PLEDGE NOT GET TO THE AIRPORT 3 HRS EARLIER AND OTHER SAGE TRAVEL ADVICE

Packing for a trip, any trip, long or short has so many pitfalls. This latest scare has just made it more difficult but I refuse to give in and NOT TRAVEL. Take the case of checked vs. non-checked luggage. I always checked most of my luggage and carried only a large purse on the plain. I hated schlepping all that stuff through airports when I had to stop at baggage for my large piece anyways. I would pack all my make-up and hair products in checked luggage so would just sail through security with a small notebook computer that I carried in my large purse and nothing else to hold me back. But then the checked baggage fees put a crimp in that smooth plan so Chuck and I have learned to take one large carry on if the trip is less than 1week and does include dressy cloths because of the cost of checking baggage. I am much more successful than Chuck thanks to CHICOS clothing brand, but I did have to scale back on my shoe choices and amounts, and any women can agree that is the most difficult decision. I got pretty darn good with the make-up but the hair products did pose a challenge.

Last September we were lucky enough to actually grab a $9 fare on Spirit Airlines. After taxes and other obscure fess the cost per trip was $20.00 each way. Our checked luggage also traveled for $20.00 each way so it cost our luggage as much as it cost u s to fly to and from Florida. But now it is very important to follow the TSA advice on how to pack carry on liquids. I also read this site completely and found some weird items that are not allowed- A Snow Globe could be a weapon of mass destructions so please read the site if you have any questions. Finally, I think the advice on when you should get to the airport is right on. Chuck would get there 2 hrs plus for domestic travel and I would grumble and whine and finally got him down to I hr pre flight. Now this. The Wayne County Airport Authority says no need to get there 2, 3, 4 hrs earlier. All those people afraid of missing their flights and getting there 6 hrs earlier over the holiday travel were the people who were jamming up the system. So, follow the guideline and you will be fine. I will compromise with my husband, and get there 90 minutes but I will hold the line on the 2 hrs ahead of time. You can go to TSA.GOV for all the restrictions but here are a few from the TSA.GOV web site:

With certain exceptions for prescription and over-the-counter medicines, baby formula and breast milk, and other essential liquids, gels, and aerosols, the following rules apply to all liquids, gels, and aerosols you want to carry through a security checkpoint.

All liquids, gels and aerosols must be in three-ounce or smaller containers. Larger containers that are half-full or toothpaste tubes rolled up are not allowed. Each container must be three ounces or smaller.
All liquids, gels and aerosols must be placed in a single, quart-size, zip-top, clear plastic bag. Gallon size bags or bags that are not zip-top such as fold-over sandwich bags are not allowed. Each traveler can use only one, quart-size, zip-top, clear plastic bag.
Each traveler must remove their quart-sized plastic, zip-top bag from their carry-on and place it in a bin or on the conveyor belt for X-ray screening. X-raying separately will allow TSA security officers to more easily examine the declared items.