WASHINGTON, April 11, 2003 (PRIMEZONE) -- Customers regularly ask AAA Mid-Atlantic's 200 travel agents advice on negotiating the heightened security procedures at airports and elsewhere. "Travel Tips" was published recently by the Mid-Atlantic Foundation for Safety and Education, and contains some of the pointers listed below.
"The most important thing for travelers to take to the airport is patience," said Lon Anderson, Director of Public and Government Relations. "Virtually all aspects of travel -- from packing to parking -- will be affected by the heightened security measures. There are also heightened security measures at Amtrak and at tunnels, bridges, and roads in states across the region, and these may result in periodic delays for travelers."
What to Pack. The Federal Aviation Administration has limited air travelers to one carry-on bag and one personal item (usually a smaller bag, such as a purse; backpacks often are rejected). It also has tightened restrictions on what items may only be transported in checked baggage, and authorized security personnel to confiscate the following items if found in carry-on luggage:
-- Cutting instruments of any kind -- including carpet knives, box
cutters, spare blades, anything with a folding or retractable
blade, ice picks, straight razors, metal scissors, metal nail
files, and corkscrews.
-- Items that could be used as weapons -- including baseball bats,
golf clubs, pool cues, ski poles, and hockey sticks.
AAA Mid-Atlantic advises that, when in doubt, travelers should pack any questionable item in checked baggage. However, the FAA has said that the following items may be included in carry-ons:
-- Walking canes and umbrellas (after inspection); -- Safety razors, including disposable razors; -- Syringes (if accompanied by documented proof of medical need); and -- Nail clippers, tweezers and eyelash curlers.
Getting to the Airport. The deadline to arrive at the airport is generally one-and-a-half hours for domestic flights and two hours or more for international flights. Travelers should contact their airline or visit its website for the exact requirement. Curbside access -- and even parking -- are likely to be limited during times of heightened security. Information is available airline-by-airline, and airport-by-airport, and travelers should check with each.
Check-in Procedures. Travelers need to be prepared for changes in check-in procedures as well:
-- Be prepared to show a government-issued identification card
(driver's license or passport) at check-in, and again at security
checkpoints and at the gate.
-- Travelers using e-tickets will have to show documentation of their
travel itinerary.
-- Only ticketed passengers will be allowed beyond security
checkpoints, except for those with specific medical or parental
needs.
-- All electronic items, such as laptops and cell phones, may be
subjected to additional screening. Be prepared to remove your
laptop from its case so that both items can be X-rayed separately.
-- International travelers accompanied by children may be asked for
additional information; they should check with the airline in
advance.
For additional tips, travelers should check the website of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (www.dhs.gov) and the Federal Aviation Administration (www.faa.gov). For a copy of AAA's "Travel Tips," it is free to the general public at AAA Mid-Atlantic's 52 branch offices, or by calling its Public Relations division at 703/AAA-4100.