Travel Tips: Frequent Flyer and New TSA Carry On Restrictions Still Causing Confusion at Many Airports – Plan Ahead for Holiday Travels
A recent month-long tour of several U.S. airports including Boston Logan (BOS), Chicago O’Hare (ORD), Los Angeles (LAX), San Francisco (SFO) and SeaTac (SEA) as well as smaller airports in San Diego (SAN), Orange County (SNA), Phoenix, AZ (PHX), Portland, OR (PDX) and Boise, ID (BOI) has revealed that travelers have not yet adapted to the TSA’s new carry on restrictions, particularly the liquid carry on policy.
Larger airports, including O’Hare, SFO and LAX seem to be more streamlined in dealing with the changes, placing video screens, staffed table displays and TSA “3-1-1” posters emphasizing the new requirements. Despite these efforts, delays are still evident.
The initial restriction of all carry on liquids resulted in more efficient security screening and faster aircraft loading as passengers shifted carry on luggage to checked luggage. While security screening and aircraft loading were faster, the increased burden in checked luggage resulted in a spike in lost luggage claims the month the liquid ban was announced.
With relaxed restrictions, travelers can now carry 3-ounce containers of liquids and gels in a single 1-quart sized clear plastic zip lock bag. The liquid containers must fit comfortably in the quart-sized zip lock bag and only one quart-sized zip lock is allowed per passenger.
For U.S. travelers, 3-ounces might make sense. However, the volume allowed in the UK is 100 mL or 3.4-ounces. The U.S. would do well to adopt the 100 mL volume and one airport modified the TSA signs to indicate that 3.4-ounce volumes are acceptable.
The exception to the 3-ounce restriction is liquid prescription medication, baby milk and formula, which must be declared at the security checkpoint. Prescription medications should be in your carry on baggage. If you are unsure about other liquids, place them in your checked luggage. This includes wine and other large items.
Beverages, including your Peet’s coffee and bottled water, are not allowed through the security checkpoint. These items are best purchased once you have cleared security. Any liquids purchased once you have cleared security are allowed as carry on. (NOTE: For international travelers, carry-on guidelines differ by region and country. Please visit http://www.tsa.gov/ or your destination country’s travel website to learn more.)
Some airports provide the zip lock bag for those who forget. Others are out of luck unless a fellow passenger happens to have an extra zip lock bag to share. I keep several extra zip lock bags in a pocket of my carry on bag for fellow travelers – I want to keep travel karma in my favor.
The confusion surrounding the new requirements and the resulting delays are lessened if you are lucky enough to have “status” with an airline frequent flyer program. Many airlines have priority security lines for frequent flyers—these travelers are more familiar with TSA requirements and are more efficient at quickly removing shoes, belts, jackets and laptop computers for security screening.
A recent flight from SeaTac, an airport known for security screening delays, highlighted the continued confusion as people arrived with larger volumes of liquids and gels, too many containers to fit into the single quart-sized zip lock or no quart-sized zip lock at all.
Tom's Frequent Flyer Recommendations:
All liquids, gels and aerosols must be placed in a single, quart-size, zip-top, clear plastic bag. Gallon size bags or bags that are not zip-top such as fold-over sandwich bags are not allowed. Each traveler can use only one, quart-size, zip-top, clear plastic bag.
Each traveler must remove their quart-sized plastic, zip-top bag from their carry-on and place it in a bin or on the conveyor belt for X-ray screening. X-raying separately will allow TSA security officers to more easily examine the declared items.
To ensure the health and welfare of certain air travelers there are
no limits on the amounts of the following liquids, gels and aerosols you may carry through a security checkpoint:
Larger airports, including O’Hare, SFO and LAX seem to be more streamlined in dealing with the changes, placing video screens, staffed table displays and TSA “3-1-1” posters emphasizing the new requirements. Despite these efforts, delays are still evident.
The initial restriction of all carry on liquids resulted in more efficient security screening and faster aircraft loading as passengers shifted carry on luggage to checked luggage. While security screening and aircraft loading were faster, the increased burden in checked luggage resulted in a spike in lost luggage claims the month the liquid ban was announced.
With relaxed restrictions, travelers can now carry 3-ounce containers of liquids and gels in a single 1-quart sized clear plastic zip lock bag. The liquid containers must fit comfortably in the quart-sized zip lock bag and only one quart-sized zip lock is allowed per passenger.
For U.S. travelers, 3-ounces might make sense. However, the volume allowed in the UK is 100 mL or 3.4-ounces. The U.S. would do well to adopt the 100 mL volume and one airport modified the TSA signs to indicate that 3.4-ounce volumes are acceptable.
The exception to the 3-ounce restriction is liquid prescription medication, baby milk and formula, which must be declared at the security checkpoint. Prescription medications should be in your carry on baggage. If you are unsure about other liquids, place them in your checked luggage. This includes wine and other large items.
Beverages, including your Peet’s coffee and bottled water, are not allowed through the security checkpoint. These items are best purchased once you have cleared security. Any liquids purchased once you have cleared security are allowed as carry on. (NOTE: For international travelers, carry-on guidelines differ by region and country. Please visit http://www.tsa.gov/ or your destination country’s travel website to learn more.)
Some airports provide the zip lock bag for those who forget. Others are out of luck unless a fellow passenger happens to have an extra zip lock bag to share. I keep several extra zip lock bags in a pocket of my carry on bag for fellow travelers – I want to keep travel karma in my favor.
The confusion surrounding the new requirements and the resulting delays are lessened if you are lucky enough to have “status” with an airline frequent flyer program. Many airlines have priority security lines for frequent flyers—these travelers are more familiar with TSA requirements and are more efficient at quickly removing shoes, belts, jackets and laptop computers for security screening.
A recent flight from SeaTac, an airport known for security screening delays, highlighted the continued confusion as people arrived with larger volumes of liquids and gels, too many containers to fit into the single quart-sized zip lock or no quart-sized zip lock at all.
Tom's Frequent Flyer Recommendations:
- Allow plenty of time for check in and security screening. For domestic flights, you should arrive at the airport at least 2 hours prior to your scheduled departure. For international flights, arrive 3 hours prior to your scheduled departure.
- Check in online and print your boarding pass at home if possible. When checking luggage, use curbside check in. The convenience is worth the $2 or $3 per bag charge plus tip.
Try flying dry. Pack all non-essential liquids and gels in checked luggage in zip lock bags in case of leaks. - Review and follow TSA guidelines for essential carry on liquids and gels and medications (always keep prescription medications in the original container with the pharmacy label with you in carry on bags).
- If you are traveling for the holidays and do not have the benefit of frequent flyer status, review the TSA’s carry on requirements at http://www.tsa.gov/ and then pack plenty of patience in your carry on bags.
For more Dr. Tom's Traveler Tips see:
Traveler Tips: Plan Ahead to Avoid Delay at Airport Check in and Screening
Traveler Tips: RFID Passports (Update)
Traveler Tips: Overcharging Tourists is Nothing New--How to Protect Yourself
Information from the TSA at http://www.tsa.gov/:
With certain exceptions for prescription and over-the-counter medicines, baby formula and breast milk, and other essential liquids, gels, and aerosols, the following rules apply to all liquids, gels, and aerosols you want to carry through a security checkpoint.
All liquids, gels and aerosols must be in three-ounce or smaller containers. Larger containers that are half-full or toothpaste tubes rolled up are not allowed. Each container must be three ounces or smaller.
All liquids, gels and aerosols must be placed in a single, quart-size, zip-top, clear plastic bag. Gallon size bags or bags that are not zip-top such as fold-over sandwich bags are not allowed. Each traveler can use only one, quart-size, zip-top, clear plastic bag. Each traveler must remove their quart-sized plastic, zip-top bag from their carry-on and place it in a bin or on the conveyor belt for X-ray screening. X-raying separately will allow TSA security officers to more easily examine the declared items.To ensure the health and welfare of certain air travelers there are
no limits on the amounts of the following liquids, gels and aerosols you may carry through a security checkpoint:- Baby formula and breast milk if a baby or small child is traveling;
- All prescription and over-the-counter medications (liquids, gels, and aerosols) including KY jelly, eye drops, and saline solution for medical purposes;
- Liquids including water, juice, or liquid nutrition or gels for passengers with a disability or medical condition;
- Life-support and life-sustaining liquids such as bone marrow, blood products, and transplant organs;
- Items used to augment the body for medical or cosmetic reasons such as mastectomy products, prosthetic breasts, bras or shells containing gels, saline solution, or other liquids; and, Gels or frozen liquids needed to cool disability or medically related items used by persons with disabilities or medical conditions.
You are not limited in the amount or volume of these above items you may bring in your carry-on baggage. However, if these items are in containers larger than three ounces, please perform the following:
- Separate these items from the liquids, gels, and aerosols in your quart-size and zip-top bag.
- Declare you have the items to one of our Security Officers at the security checkpoint.
- Present these items for additional inspection once reaching the X-ray. These items are subject to additional screening.
SOURCE: http://www.tsa.gov/311 accessed 12-1-06. Please visit http://www.tsa.gov/ for more details.
Labels: Travel Tips
2 Comments:
Have you seen the new www.rightforflight.com its TSA Carry-on Rules Travel with Liquids and Gels 3-1-1 Travel Bag is really cool and easy to use.
I found a terrific bag from 311 Travel Bag. It is completely TSA approved. It made my travel so easy! the website is www.clearbagsystem.com. They are Great!!!!
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