| The holidays are here and so is the stress. There is | | | | you are not scheduled for secondary screening. |
| nothing like the stress of booking tickets and | | | | 5. Use curb-side check-in. The porters have to pay |
| traveling during the holidays. Added to that stress is | | | | for their carts in some cases, so give them a little |
| airport security. | | | | and save BIG TIME. I saved 2 to 3 hours of waiting |
| I am a former airport screener and I have made it | | | | in line when I tipped a porter $20 to check me in |
| my personal mission to help passengers get through | | | | curb-side in Orlando. |
| airport security fast, safe and easy. | | | | 6. Keep your cool! TSA could charge you up to |
| Here are my top ten valuable airport security tips to | | | | $5,000 for interfering with the screening process for |
| help you travel through airport security this holiday | | | | unruly behavior or threatening comments. This means |
| season. Be sure to tell me your horror stories or | | | | NO joking around. Do not say any of these words: |
| comments on traveling through airport security during | | | | terrorist, bomb, IED, IID, George Bush and Osama bin |
| the holidays. | | | | Laden. |
| 1. Book your tickets as far in advanced as possible. | | | | 7. Dress for airport security. No body piercings, no |
| This will lower the chance of you being chosen for | | | | thick bracelets or jewelry. No baggy pants and avoid |
| secondary screening, since last minute bookings seem | | | | wearing skirts or dresses. You will increase your |
| to increase your chances. | | | | chances of secondary screening if your clothing can |
| 2. Pack light. Nothing delays the security lines more | | | | easily conceal a weapon. Wear slip-on shoes! This |
| than when the x-ray operator has to ask for a rerun | | | | alone will save you time. |
| on a passenger's bag because they cannot determine | | | | 8. Place your personal bedroom toys in checked |
| if the contents contain a prohibited item or not. | | | | baggage. You could shutdown an airport by mistake |
| Remember that liquid medications, breast milk and | | | | if they are carried in your carry-on luggage. They |
| baby formula are exempt from the 3-1-1 rule for | | | | have similar components as an IED. |
| liquids, gels and creams. Pack your exempt items | | | | 9. Arrive at least 2 hours early for domestic and 3 |
| separate from your regular 3-1-1 carry-on items and | | | | hours for international flights. You don't know if the |
| declare them to the screener at the divesting table | | | | person in front of you will do something stupid and |
| at x-ray. | | | | delay the line. Power outages, weapon scares, bomb |
| 3. Know what items are permitted and prohibited in | | | | threats are just a few reasons airports will shutdown |
| your carry-on and checked baggage. Download the | | | | for hours. |
| Ultimate Packing List on my contact page. 40 million | | | | 10. Normally you can get cheaper ticket prices on |
| prohibited items have been confiscated to date, | | | | Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. During the |
| including explosives, guns, knives and weapons. Do | | | | holidays, avoid traveling that holiday week if possible. |
| not be only of those passengers who delay the line | | | | Fly early than 10am and later than 3pm if possible. |
| by bringing a prohibited item to security checkpoint. | | | | That is peak travel time for security lines. |
| 4. Use online check-in. The airlines will allow you to | | | | Tell me your horror stories of going through airport |
| check-in no more than 24 hours in advance. This is a | | | | security screening during the holidays. |
| BIG stress reducer. If you can print out your | | | | Happy and Safe Travels! |
| boarding pass from home, this alone tells you that | | | | |