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