I haven’t flown anywhere in almost 10 years. This summer I’m going on a trip, and I’d like some tips about recent changes in boarding, baggage, and security procedures.
The last time I flew, you took off your shoes to go through the metal detector, you took your laptop out of whatever case it’s usually in and put it in the plastic tub, and you were supposed to bring shampoo and the like in small bottles… are those rules still in place? Any new ones I should know about? Any tips for getting onto the plane with minimal grief?
I’ll probably be going on Southwest Airlines, which still lets you check two bags free. Of course, I will carry my laptop on the plane… is it best if I don’t have a separate purse, but just put a small purse inside my computer bag and call it one bag? I remember being given MAJOR grief from a security person about my purse AND my computer bag when I was flying a lot around 2002-2003. I don’t remember the details, but he had me kneel down and take stuff out right there on the floor in front of him (and hold up the line behind me). Ugh.
For you frequent flyers, these questions are prolly kind of dumb, but geez… airline travel used to be fun and even a little glamorous. Now it’s one step below riding the Greyhound bus in terms of the hassle factor. (No offense to greyhounds… a good friend of mine was into greyhound rescue.)
The biggest change is the “virtual strip seach” scanners that most major airports have. Most of them don’t have them in all lanes and sometimes you can self-select out of them if they bother you. The “tin man” millimeter wave machines have been changed out so all the real person sees is a go/no go display, while the “marshmallow man” backscatter machines still show your image to the real person (or did so last time I saw them last fall at MCO).
The laptop might be able to stay in it’s case depending on the style of the case. There’s rumors of new bomb-sniffing capabilities coming, but for now you still have to remove your shoes.
There’s still restrictions on what liquids/gels you can take. The containers have to be 3 oz or smaller and in a quart ziploc bag.
Just FYI the liquid amount restriction is for carry-on ONLY. You can take an oil drum full of shampoo if you check it. You can take guns, knives, swords. Here’s a list from the TSAof what you can’t carry on and what you can check. You pretty much only can’t check explosives and spray paint.
Pet peeve of mine: People who put their shoes in bins (which, unfortunately is most people). The TSA agents say you are to put them directly on the belt, but no one actually listens. Listen, I put gum, belt, wallet, phone, laptop, hat, etc in these bins…I don’t want your nasty, germy shoes (that may have just been standing in a puddle of piss in front of an airport urinal) in that same bin.
Also, I broke my ankle in the fall of 2007 and I have a metal plate and six screws in there now. I’m not sure what kind of metal it is. Is that likely to set off the metal detector? Do I need some documentation from the surgeon? He doesn’t practice in this city any more. There is a visible scar.
Usually, implants are made of non-magnetic materials that won’t set off an airport scanner, but no guarantees there. Just be prepared to tell the agent that you have a plate and screws. They may wand the specific area, or if they seethe scar, that may be enough to satisfy them.
There don’t seem to be any hard and fast rules at TSA regarding additional screening, wanding or just seeing a scar and waving you through, but odds are you will not be the first person that they’ve seen with an implant.
Last time I flew, the TSA folks, being the very model of consistency, made me take my shoes off the belt and put them in a bin. This was about a month ago.
A purse shouldn’t be a problem, although some airlines only let you take one purse-like bag (and a laptop bag would count as one by itself). If you put a purse inside your laptop bag, take it out when you go through security and let it go through separately.
In my experience, the only reason they’d make you take out everything is if the scanner flags something suspicious. Once I had a pencil case in my bag and they made me take it out to make sure I wasn’t hiding something very sharp among my writing tools. (On the other hand, my knitting needles have always passed through without a hitch.) Another time I had a tin of cookies and they made me take it out and show it to them.
If you’re in a hurry, when getting in line at the actual security scanners (most major airports have one major line to get into security, and then breaks down into individual lines for the scanners/detectors) look for a line that contains what looks like a lot of business travelers. They’re usually frequent travelers, and that’ll be the line where everyone has their laptops out, belts and shoes off, and will spend the least amount of time walking back and forth through the scanner.
As long as you’re checking a bag(s) anyway, only take onto the plane what you will definitely need on the plane. Wear clothes that don’t need a belt. Wear shoes that don’t need laces. Just try to make it easy on yourself (and the TSA people, and the other passengers): take as few items through the gate as possible.
Funny thing about the liquids, I brain farted when I flew a couple weeks ago (I fly maybe once a year) and just knew that the limit was 4 oz. So I had contact solution that was 4 oz., and a couple juice boxes and squeeze fruit for my son that were both 4.something oz., but I thought maaaybe I’d get away with. I didn’t get questioned about either.
Though they did swab the juice boxes and applesauce for explosives residue :dubious:
I also have a plate and screws in my ankle, I’ve only had the metal detector set off once (at DEN), and then they just wanded me and gave me that pat-down. A note from the surgeon is unnecessary and they will not even look at it if you do have one.
Regarding shoes on belt or shoes on bin, that is different at every airport, and sometimes different depending on which TSA employee is working at the moment.
My YTD travel stats:
2012
Trips 11
Days 41
Distance 23,884 mi
Cities 19
Countries 3
As you can tell from my OP, I’ve been feeling antsy about the upcoming trip and increased airline security procedures. But if you go to the TSA blog and read a little about the bullcrap these people have to put up with from passengers who range from being dangerous and hostile to apparently have shit-for-brains, the rules seem pretty mild and reasonable.
My life is too sheltered and civilized. Thank goodness.
ETA:
Example from the TSA Blog: “Our officers find at least two guns every day at checkpoints in the U.S. A good percentage of those were loaded.” Huh?
I usually put both my laptop/case and purse inside either a totebag or a large backpack so that they count as one personal bag. Then I still can bring a carry-on suitcase and not have to check any luggage.
Bolding mine - I don’t think the TSA cares at all how much you bring through. It’s the airlines that will do the bitching. If they do get upset, just tell them you’re carrying the extra bag for some guy you just met outside (no…don’t).
I always try to make a game of it and see how fast I can do everything without setting anything off.
Mostly been said, but:
>ID & boarding pass ready
>No belt
>Easy to remove shoes
>Liquids in separate 1 quart plastic bag, ready to put in bin (remembering that liquids include makeup, chap stick, and the like)
>Easy access to laptop, ready to put in bin
>Everything out of your pockets (lint, tissues, everything!). Put it in your purse or laptop case.
>Jackets, overshirts, and hats most likely will have to be removed.
>People seem to forget sunglasses, large necklaces and the like, so do a mental check.
>Have a plan for reassembling everything on the other side (this is where the pressure really is!)
>If they ask you to open something or step to the side…RUN! No, just relax, it’s routine.
You’re right about passengers being jerks, so smiling and being polite will often (but not always) get you the same…although they won’t ever let you frisk them.
You know, I’ve never put my liquids in a ziploc bag, and nobody has ever given me grief about them. I usually have just a small perfume thingy though, so it’s not as if I’ve got a whole toilet set in there.
The backscatter machines, well…I travelled last month and they asked me to take off my open cardigan; apparantly the machines can’t really see through clothes. Or something. I have NO idea what that was about. Hope they got a good look at my unshaven pits.
I would pack toiletries in your bags to avoid any hassle and only put critical medication in your purse or laptop bag. I’ve never seen anyone get harassed for having a purse in addition to a laptop, no matter how big either bag was.
Since it’s Southwest, my only recommendation is to check in ONLINE as soon as the 24 hour mark before your flight has passed. Then you will get in the A group for boarding. The advantage, of course, is that you then don’t have to get to the airport as early, you’ll be able to stow your carry-ons above you rather than several rows away from you, and you might be able to get a coveted emergency row seat with more leg room. And yes, you can still check in early online even with bags. You just declare them during the check in and turn them in when you get to the airport. No big deal.
