Tips for holiday traveling

by Casey Payton

The holidays can be a very joyous occasion. Families get together and
share stories and eat great food, but if you're traveling this holiday
season it could put some unnecessary stress on you and your family. So
to make things easier the Transportation Security Administration has
listed some helpful tips when traveling.

Before entering the airport, be sure to:
Do not pack or bring Prohibited Items to the airport. Read the
Permitted and Prohibited Items list.
Pack travel-size containers less than 3 ounces comfortably in one,
quart-size plastic, zip-top bag. Learn more.
Place valuables such as jewelry, cash and laptop computers in carry-on
baggage only. Tape your business card to the bottom of your laptop.
Avoid wearing clothing, jewelry and accessories that contain metal.
Metal items may set off the alarm on the metal detector.
All types of footwear are required to be removed and placed through
the X-ray machine for screening.
Put all undeveloped film and cameras with film in your carry-on
baggage. Checked baggage screening equipment will damage undeveloped
film.
Declare firearms & ammunition to your airline and place them in your
checked baggage.
If you wish to lock your baggage, use a TSA-recognized lock .
Do not bring lighters or prohibited matches to the airport.
Do not pack wrapped gifts and do not bring wrapped gifts to the
checkpoint. Wrap on arrival or ship your gifts prior to your
departure. TSA may have to unwrap packages for security reasons.

At the airport:
Place the following items IN your carry-on baggage or in a plastic bag
prior to entering the screening checkpoint:
Mobile phones
Keys
Loose change
Money clips
PDA's (personal data assistants)
Large amounts of jewelry
Metal hair decorations
Large belt buckles
Take your laptop and video cameras with cassettes OUT of their cases
and place them in a bin provided at the checkpoint.
Take OFF all outer coats, suit coats, jackets and blazers.

Although there is nothing you can do about long lines and terrible
airplane food, but if keep these tips in mind when you are traveling
and it will surely make things easier for you and your family.

For more information visit www.tsa.gov/index.shtm.