Security Tips for Air
Travelers
by the FAA
Before You Leave
When you are preparing for your trip, remember to pack smart
— pack safe. You cannot bring the
items listed below on your person or in carry-on luggage.
-
Knives of any length, composition, or description.
-
All cutting and puncturing instruments. This includes
pocketknives, carpet knives and box cutters,
ice picks, straight razors, metal scissors, and metal nail
files.
-
Corkscrews.
-
Athletic equipment that could be used as a weapon, such as
baseball/softball bats, golf clubs,
pool cues, ski poles, and hockey sticks.
-
Fireworks - signal flares, sparklers, or other
explosives.
-
Flammable liquids or solids - fuel, paints, lighter
refills, matches.
-
Household items - drain cleaners and solvents.
-
Pressure containers - spray cans, butane fuel, scuba tanks,
propane tanks, CO2 cartridges, and self-inflating rafts.
-
Weapons - firearms, ammunition, gunpowder, mace, tear gas,
or pepper spray.
-
Other hazardous materials: dry ice, gasoline-powered tools,
wet-cell batteries, camping equipment with fuel, radioactive
materials (except limited quantities), poisons, and infectious
substances.
-
Beware - many common items used everyday in the home or
workplace may seem harmless, however, when transported by air,
they can be very dangerous. In flight, variations in
temperature and pressure can cause items to leak, generate
toxic fumes or start a fire.
-
Personal care items containing hazardous materials (e.g.,
flammable perfume, aerosols) totaling no more than 70 ounces
may be carried on board. Contents of each container may not
exceed 16 fluid ounces.
-
Matches and lighters may only be carried on your person.
However, "strike-anywhere" matches, lighters with
flammable liquid reservoirs, and lighter fluid are forbidden.
-
Firearms and ammunition may not be carried by a passenger
on an aircraft. However, unloaded firearms may be transported
in checked baggage if declared to the agent at check in and
packed in a suitable container. Handguns must be in a locked
container. Boxed small arms ammunition for personal use may be
transported in checked luggage. Amounts may vary depending on
the airline.
-
Dry ice (4 pounds or less) for packing perishables, may be
carried on board an aircraft provided the package is vented.
-
Electric wheelchairs must be transported in accordance with
airline requirements. The battery may need to be disconnected,
removed, and the terminals insulated to prevent short
circuits.
-
Leave gifts unwrapped. Airline security personnel will open
gifts if the X-ray scan cannot
determine the contents.
- If in doubt, don't pack it.
Allow Extra Time
-
Arrive early. Heightened airport security measures increase
the time needed to
check in. Arriving at the airport two hours before your
flight’s scheduled departure is
advisable, however, passengers may want to consult with
their airline for more
specific arrival times. Build in even more time at the airport
if traveling with young children,
infants, or persons with disabilities.
-
Consider taking public transportation to the airport, if
possible. Parking and curbside
access will be controlled and limited.
-
Curbside check-in is available only at specific locations.
Contact your airline to see if it is
available for your flight.
-
Do not leave your car unattended in front of the terminal.
Security measures dictate that unattended cars will be towed.
At the Airport
-
Watch your bags and personal belongings at all times.
-
Do not accept packages from strangers.
-
If you see unattended bags or packages anywhere in the
airport terminal or parking
area, immediately report them to a security officer or other
authority.
-
Report any suspicious activities or individuals in the
airport or parking lot to airport security.
-
Don't joke about having a bomb or firearm. Don't discuss
terrorism, weapons, explosives, or other threats while going
through the security checkpoint. The mere mention of words
such as "gun," "bomb," etc., can compel
security personnel to detain and question you. They are
trained to consider these comments as real threats.
Checking In
-
Adult passengers must bring a government-issued photo
ID. The FAA requires that air
carriers request government-issued identification, such as a
driver’s license or draft card, if
the passenger appears old enough to have an ID. If a
government-issued photo ID is not
available, bring two pieces of ID, one of which must be from a
governmental authority.
-
E-ticket travelers should check with their airline to make
sure they have proper
documentation.
-
Automated kiosks are available for airlines that have
appropriate security measures in
place. Travelers interested in this option should check with
their airlines.
-
Be prepared to answer questions about your bags. When asked
who packed your bags and
if you might have left them unattended at anytime, think
carefully and answer the questions
honestly. Criminals may use unsuspecting passengers to carry
bombs or other dangerous
items onto aircraft.
-
Be cooperative as screeners ask to hand-search your bags.
Security personnel will search a bag if the x-ray scan cannot
determine its contents.
Screener Checkpoints
-
Only ticketed passengers are allowed beyond the screener
checkpoints, unless a passenger
requires parental oversight or must be accompanied by a
medical assistant.
-
Travelers are limited to one carry-on bag and one personal
item (e.g., purse or briefcase).
-
Electronic items, such as laptop computers and cell phones,
may be subjected to
additional screening. Be prepared to remove your laptop from
its travel case so it
can be X-rayed separately.
On the Airplane
-
Listen carefully to the flight attendant’s safety
instructions. Note where the closest exit to
your seat is located.
-
Wear your seat belt.
-
Report unattended items to your flight attendant.
Click here to view Air
Travel Tips from Hotel Fun 4 Kids and also see As our Family Prepares to Fly, We Will Adjust to Changes in the Sky.
|
Tips on Flying with
Children and Car Seats from the National Safe Kids Campaign
Also see As our Family Prepares to Fly, We Will Adjust to Changes in the Sky
For more information on Kid Friendly
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