For the week of November 20 - 26, 2002

Air travelers offered tips for easier boardings

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By GREG MOORE
Express Staff Writer

The U.S. Transportation Security Administration is advising holiday travelers to dress and pack properly to expedite their passage through security procedures.

As of Monday, the TSA has standardized security procedures at airports nationwide. The agency completed its takeover of airport screening one day ahead of its Nov. 19 deadline.

Suggestions include:

• Bring a boarding pass or ticket confirmation and a photo I.D.
  
  

• Avoid wearing jewelry or clothing containing metal. Instead, pack it in your carry-on luggage until you’ve cleared security.
  
  

• Wait to wrap your gifts. They may need to be unwrapped for inspection.
  
  

• Put film in your carry-on, not checked, luggage. The checked-baggage screening equipment at large airports can damage it.
  
  

• Sporting goods that could be used as weapons, such as ski poles or a baseball bat, cannot be brought as carry-on luggage. The same goes for tools such as pocket knives, screwdrivers, sharp-pointed scissors and hammers.
  
  

• Do not bring food to the security checkpoint unless it is wrapped or in a container. Unpeeled natural foods such as fruit are permitted, but half-eaten fruits must be wrapped.
  
  

• At the checkpoint, laptop computers must be removed from their cases and placed in one of the bins provided.
  
  

• Firearms can be carried as checked baggage, but must be unloaded and packed in a hard gun case. They must be declared to the airline at check-in.
  
  

• If you are going to assist an unaccompanied child or other person through security, but are not flying yourself, you will need to get a gate pass at the airline ticket counter.
  
  

• Explain the security process to your children beforehand. Tell them that joking remarks such as, "I’ve got a bomb" are illegal, and could result in the whole family’s being delayed.
  
  

• Notify the screener about syringes or other diabetes supplies. They can be carried on with you, but should carry pharmaceutical labels.

Pat Sepe, screening supervisor at Freidman Memorial Airport in Hailey, said screening of checked luggage there would begin within two weeks. He said explosive trace detector machines are in place at both the Horizon and Skywest counters, but personnel ranks to operate them have not been filled.

However, he said, an explosive-detection machine, separate from the X-ray machine, is in use intermittently on carry-on luggage.

Anyone with further questions can call the TSA Consumer Response Center toll-free at (866) 289-9673.

 

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