Tips For Travelers
Travel isn’t always relaxing. Spending time in airports isn’t the way most people would choose to spend an afternoon. Whether you’re headed to your parents for the holidays or going on a last minute business trip, traveling is frustrating at the best of times. Packing can be stressful to. When you’re waiting at the gate, you might be wondering what will be available at your destination and what you should leave behind. Last minute packing is the worst; running around at the last minute to make sure you have everything you need.
Packing may well be the most important part of your travel. You don’t want to leave anything behind that you might need later, nor do you want to be stuck at the airport repacking and rearranging after a miserable trip through security. One of the sacred rules of airline travel today: you cannot bring liquids past the security checkpoint. This includes beverages, toothpaste, liquid deodorant, lotion, lip gloss, aerosols and much more. Many of us are so used to packing these items in our carry-on luggage we don’t think twice about it and only after your bag passes through the x-ray machine and the security officer rifles through your bag and confiscates your Country Apple Bath and Body works lotion does the reality set in—and they’re not giving it back!
Packing is an especially important part of your travel. You don’t want to forget something essential. When you’re going through security, you need to follow procedures that may leave you digging through your purse or carry-on when you’re in a rush to catch a flight. The first tip about flight security is paying attention to the rules about carrying liquids through security. This not only includes beverages, but toothpaste, liquid deodorant, lotion, lip gloss, aerosols, and much more. Many people are used to packing these items in their carry-on bags without thinking about the restrictions. Restricted items that might be confiscated by the security officers may not be returned!
To avoid losing the new lotion that you got for Christmas, pack larger bottles of liquids in checked bags. Security does allow a one quart, clear, zipper-top bag with liquids in amounts smaller than three ounces (but no aerosols) to be carried with you on the plane. Remember, pack small, travel size liquids in a clear Zip-Loc bag and pack all other liquids in your checked luggage. Think carefully about your shoes. You’ll be required to take them off at the security checkpoint. Don’t wear shoes that are difficult to remove because this will slow down the security process. Wear easy to remove sneakers or flip-flops. If you need to, you can carry the shoes you want to change into in your carry-on bag. Being well prepared will help you avoid other passengers getting impatient with you.
If you reserved your ticket online you may have to print out your ticket at the check-in station. Otherwise your first stop is the ticket line. While these kiosks are extremely convenient they do require that you know what you’re doing. Remember to bring along both your record locator, usually a 13-digit number and your confirmation number as well your driver’s license or other identification. Once you’ve found and printed or received your ticket you’ll have to check your bag or bags at the ticket counter and show you’re ID. Only then are you ready to go through the security checkpoint.
The security checkpoint is not as bad as you think: it moves fast and as long as you know what to do it runs smoothly. When you arrive you will need to present the security person with your ID and your boarding past. You must then remove your shoes and place these, any electronic devices larger than your hand and your zip-lock bags containing liquids, in containers and then place your carry-on items on the conveyor belt that takes your items through an x-ray machine. Meanwhile you pass through a metal detector. Once you’ve successfully passed through the security checkpoint and collected your items all that’s left is to board the plane.
It is a good idea to gather information for trips from several sources. This prevents you from having to worry whether or not you have everything you need when the time comes. I have become interested in gathering travel tips as they have proven to be very handy. I hope my tips may help you the same way they did me; good luck and have fun!