How can I help airport security
to do their jobs?
- Stay alert and immediately report any suspicious
activity to airport security.
- Arrive at the airport early to allow for plenty
of time to make it through security. Be sure to allow
even more time when traveling with infants, young
children, elderly or disabled passengers.
- Learn to appreciate the fact that the security
officers are taking the time to insure that you will
be safe on your trip.
- Be polite, quiet, follow all instructions and fully
cooperate with any requests.
- Be ready to answer questions, but don¡¯t get caught
up telling a long story. Be complete, but concise.
- Don¡¯t make jokes about terrorism, bombs, guns,
hijacking or other issues that are the concern of
airport security. These jokes are inappropriate and
may get you into serious trouble with the law.
- Pack your own luggage. Be prepared to answer questions
about who packed your bags, if you left your bags
unattended at any time, accepted items from others
to carry on the plane or if you are carrying any hazardous
materials.
- Have all appropriate identification and entry documentation
ready for inspection. Airlines do refuse to board
passengers that fail to produce proper identification.
- If the form¡¯s instructions allow you to do so,
complete any security forms and/or customs declaration
forms in advance.
- If you are required to travel with a passport,
make sure it is valid and completely filled out with
updated information.
- Have a contact name and phone number ready if you
are taking an international flight.
- Be aware of the items that you pack and wear. Do
research on what¡¯s allowed on board the aircraft and
what¡¯s not. Some items you might consider harmless
may only be carried in limited amounts or are prohibited
altogether.
- Don¡¯t travel with wrapped packages since security
will have to open them if X-rays are unable to identify
the contents. Wrap gift packages after you arrive
at your destination.
- Don¡¯t over pack your luggage. Cramming items in
your bags will make inspection more difficult and,
since they will need to pull everything out, it will
take extra time for you to repack after the security
check.
- Know that all checked bags and carry-on material
are subject to being hand-searched.
- Save security and yourself some embarrassment.
If you would be embarrassed if a certain item was
pulled out of your bags in a public area, see if it¡¯s
possible for you to leave that item at home.
- Keep your luggage and other possessions gathered
together.
- Never leave your luggage unattended.
- Park only in legitimate parking spaces and never
leave your vehicle unattended in loading and unloading
zones. Parking rules are strictly enforced and your
car will be ticketed and may be towed. These types
of tickets can carry very large fines.
- Never accept gifts or packages from unknown parties.
- Don¡¯t go near abandoned bags, and immediately report
them to security.
- If your luggage has locks, keep the keys available
in case your luggage needs to be inspected.
- Mark your luggage so it can easily be identified
as yours. Use something that makes your bags unique,
but avoid items that could be caught on a conveyor
belt. Colorful tape works nicely.
- Don¡¯t delay picking up your luggage when you arrive
or you may find it has already disappeared when you
get there.
So I told a bad joke, what could
happen?
Security checkpoints are strict, which is what keeps
us safe. Safety is no joking matter at the airport
and it is no place for bad jokes.
- Any comments about bombs, terrorism, guns etc.
heard by any Airline or airport personnel will be
taken seriously.
- Arrests have been made of those who make inappropriate
jokes. Penalties can include large fines and jail
time.
- If you think it will be funny to tell the security
guards to carefully search your buddy¡¯s luggage
because he might have a gun, plan on that search
happening, along with questions and delays for both
of you.
- Thought you might spice up the long lines by
telling the check-in clerk that your recently dumped
psychotic, demolition expert ex-girlfriend was trying
to kiss up by helping you pack? Think again, you
don¡¯t want that much spice in your life. Although,
if you do have that ex-girlfriend, here¡¯s a valuable
tip, don¡¯t let her anywhere near your luggage.
- Plan on announcing that you were running late
because you were having a few drinks with the pilot
and he got too drunk to read his watch? Plan on
running a whole lot later. Your best case scenario
is that you¡¯ll be allowed to fly with the 100 hot,
annoyed people your little joke delayed for two
hours. You¡¯d better hope security is good at the
other airport when you land.
What new airport
security measures were put into place after the hijackings
and terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and
the Pentagon?
- Airports will watch vehicles more closely and may
restrict parking to keep vehicles a greater distance
from terminals. The regulations concerning vehicles
parked near airport terminals will be much more strictly
enforced.
- There will be more thorough searches of passenger¡¯s
belongings including more physical checks of the passengers
themselves.
- Only ticketed passengers will now be allowed to
proceed past airport security checkpoints and into
the gate areas. Passengers traveling on an e-ticket
will need some form of paperwork from the airline
in addition to an e-ticket number to be allowed through
the security checkpoint.
- Knives or any other cutting instruments of any
type and made from any material are now added to the
list of items you are prohibited from bringing onboard
an aircraft. Knives may now only be transported in
checked baggage. Airlines will no longer provide steak
knives for on-board food service. Many airport food
service vendors will no longer provide knives to their
customers and merchandise vendors will no longer sell
any knifes or knifelike items.
- Just as before the attacks, all passengers must
present a valid government issued photo I.D., such
as a driver¡¯s license, as part of their documentation
at check-in and now they may also be required to present
this I.D. at security checkpoints.
Have any additional
security measures been taken by individual Airlines
since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001?
Every Airline is different so you should check with
your airline if you are concerned about any of the
issues listed below.
- Some Airlines may temporarily increase limits
on carry-on baggage or even prohibit them all together.
This would require you to check more or all of your
bags. You should contact the airline for updated
information if there is an item you feel you must
bring on board.
- Some Airlines have temporarily suspended or restricted
their programs that allow unaccompanied minors travel.
- Some Airlines have temporarily suspended or restricted
their programs that allow for the transportation
of pets. If you must travel with a service animal
you should check with the Airline for any updates
to the procedures allowing service animals on flights.
- Some Airlines have temporarily suspended or restricted
their mail and cargo programs.
Will airport security allow me
to meet an arriving passenger at the gate?
Only passengers with a ticket for travel on that
particular day will be allowed beyond the security
checkpoint and into the gate areas. Airlines are making
provisions for persons with disabilities, those who
need to be accompanied by healthcare assistants or
parents who need to meet unaccompanied minors. If
your situation falls into one of the previous categories,
you should contact the Airline directly for details
on special assistance. All others should make plans
to meet arriving passengers outside of the security
checkpoints.
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