Air travel can be complex due to safety regulations and baggage rules. Bring proper documentation, arrive early, and follow security guidelines. Check prohibited items and follow instructions on the plane.
Traveling by air can be an intimidating prospect if you’ve never been before or if it’s been a while since your last trip. With the addition of safety regulations and many airlines tightening the way they handle hand and checked baggage, traveling on an airplane today is more complex than it was years ago. However, with a few simple rules of thumb and a few basic inquiries to your airline or airport, you can ensure that the next time you travel on a plane you will have the best possible time.
Bring the proper documentation with you
Before you can fly, you’ll need to arrive at the airport well in advance of your flight and with the right documentation. You will need a government-issued photo ID, such as a driver’s license or passport, to check your bags and enter the security checkpoint. Children under 18 may not be required to have this identification. You also need a boarding pass to go through security; other than authorized personnel, only those who have a ticket on a flight are allowed to enter the gate area.
Get to the airport early
Airlines usually advise passengers to arrive at the airport 90 minutes to two hours before their flight if they are traveling within the same country and three hours if they are flying overseas. You need to adjust this time based on the time of day and day of the week; airports are often less crowded on a Saturday, for example, so you may not need to arrive early. On a busy day, especially during major holidays, it may take a long time to check your bags and get through security, so it’s best to allow yourself some extra time.
There is usually a deadline set by the airline for check-in or baggage screening, often 30 minutes before the scheduled flight departure. Passengers are generally required to arrive at the gate 15 minutes prior to departure time. Many airlines allow passengers to print their boarding passes at home 24 hours before their flight; some airlines also have mobile boarding passes, which are sent to a cell phone. Checking in before going to the airport can save you time, especially if you are not checking your baggage and therefore can go straight to the security line.
Overcome security
Once you’ve checked your bags and queued through security, we recommend that you have your photo ID and boarding pass handy. In many places, including the United States, you will need to show it to a security officer at a checkpoint before entering the checkpoint. At this point, you’ll likely need to remove all metal objects from your pockets or body, including, in some cases, belts and jewelry, and place them in a plastic tub provided. Any carry-on bags must be placed on the conveyor belt to pass through an x-ray machine. In many cases, laptops would also need to be removed from their bags to pass through the machine separately; you may also need to remove coats and shoes and have them x-rayed.
After your carry-on bags and other items have been placed on the conveyor belt, you will also be scanned, sometimes by passing through a simple metal detector and other times by briefly standing in a full-body scanner, also called advanced imaging technology (AIT) equipment. In most cases, a security officer will let you know when you should go through the detector or scanner. The radiation used by the AIT is considered safe for pregnant women; in the United States, passengers can choose not to be screened by this equipment and opt for a screening instead. Checks can also be performed if the metal detector alarm sounds, the AIT indicates something unusual, or if the security officer suspects a problem.
People with disabilities, or who need assistance going through security, should ask for help. Most medical devices, including wheelchairs, prosthetic devices and service animals, will be able to pass through the security checkpoint, although additional screening may be required. Carrying documentation explaining your condition may be a good idea, if you have any questions.
Hand luggage guidelines
Many countries have guidelines on what can and can’t be carried when traveling by plane, so you’ll want to make sure that all items you have on you or in your hand luggage are allowed. In the United States, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has a comprehensive list of prohibited items, and you should be sure to check it immediately before you leave. If you end up having a prohibited item with you at the gate, it will be confiscated and you can’t be sure you’ll get it back. You will need to make sure your bags, pockets and jackets are clear of any items you cannot take with you.
While many of the items that the TSA prohibits when traveling on an airplane sound like common sense, others may not be so obvious. Sharp objects such as swords, knives, scissors, box cutters and razor blades are prohibited. An exception is made for safety razors, as well as knives with rounded ends or plastic ones. A wide range of sporting items are also not permitted in carry-on bags when traveling by air, including pool cues, baseball bats, golf clubs and ski poles. All rifles and firearms as well as flares and gunpowder are also disqualified. You may be allowed to carry some of these items in checked baggage, but you should check with the airline beforehand.
Many tools are also prohibited when traveling by air, including crowbars, hammers and saws. Screwdrivers, wrenches, pliers, and other tools less than 7 inches (18 cm) in length are permitted, but not longer. All weapons and flammable objects are also prohibited, with the exception of some common lighters.
Non-flammable liquids, such as shampoo or shaving cream, are only permitted in containers of 3.4ml or less; anything larger, even if it contains only the allowable amount of liquid, will usually be confiscated. All containers should be able to fit in a clear, resealable plastic bag no larger than 100 liter (approximately 1 litre). Baby food, breast milk and some drugs may be allowed in larger quantities; if you are carrying these excluded items, you should keep them separate from other containers of liquids and declare them to the security officer, who may examine them separately.
In the Safe Area
From now on, traveling by plane becomes quite easy, as every step will be thoroughly explained for you. If gate information is not printed on your boarding pass, there should be monitors in the area with this information provided. Most airports have shops and restaurants within the secure area that you can visit if you have time before your flight. Make sure you are at your gate no less than 15 minutes before your flight, and keep your ears peeled for any flight announcements, such as a delay or gate change.
On the plane
Once you board and before the aircraft takes off, the flight attendants will provide a briefing on the safety protocol on the aircraft. Pay attention to this instruction, as although it will most likely not be necessary, in case of an emergency you will be happy to know what measures to take to ensure your safety. Your cell phone should remain switched off once the plane leaves the gate. While on an airplane, you should follow all instructions provided by the flight crew, including when to wear your seat belt and when to turn off electronic devices.
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