If you are apprehensive about flying, or thinking of canceling
your trip, then the current security-screening process is a
convenient and extremely persuasive excuse.
On any given day, for any particular flight, the security
procedure at U.S. airports is everything awful you can think
of: time-consuming, annoying, inconsistent, infuriating,
demoralizing, offensive, ineffective, intrusive, demeaning -
well, you understand what I am saying.
The little old grandmother was sitting in a chair - with her
shoes off as I walked through security in Seattle airport.
Remember to "Tie Your Shoelaces!!" - I was thinking. She
appeared very frazzled and upset. No, they did not find a bomb
in her shoes.
When you fly today in the U.S., you may encounter a random
shoe check at the security checkpoint. Be smart - wear slip-on
shoes when you fly. You don't want to hop around, struggling
with shoe-laces, while your laptop computer or carry-on
luggage goes sliding through the X-ray machine and down the
belt. Note, that travelers wearing shoes with chunky soles and
heels get checked more frequently than those wearing
thin-soled dress shoes. Maybe security screeners think that it
is easier to hide explosives in fat, clunky, rubber-soled
shoes.
I wasn't chosen at random this time around - but on another
flight from Fort Lauderdale airport, I was asked to open my
suitcase two separate times during one check-in process. On
yet another flight (international), I was asked to remove my
open-toe sandals. (Don't know what they could have found that
time)!
If you have to travel, there's only one way to deal with
security. Grin and bear it, survive, and take every precaution
and use every shortcut you can think of.
The following suggestions may seem personally distasteful.
After all, who wants to change how we dress or what we wear
just to accommodate these arbitrary, and, probably,
ineffective regulations? But, if we don't want our security
screenings to last long enough to miss our flight, we better
know this stuff:
1) Long ago, we figured out that wearing metal jewelry and
clunky watches will set off the alarm at security. Now that
the machines are set to ultra-sensitive, even watches with
minimal bits of metal-casing, crowns and strap buckles, for
example, ring the bells. The solution? Wear a cheap, plastic
Swatch-type watch when you fly.
2) Traveling with a trench coat? No good! The metal grommets
on the belt set off the alarms at security checkpoints. So do
metallic buttons on your favorite blazer, the metal zipper on
your jacket, your metal belt buckles, and bobby pins, hair
clips, and metallic barrettes of any kind. Your undergarments
can ring bells - under-wire bras and socks with metallic
threads have been known to set off alarms. Don't spend endless
minutes getting "wanded." Check your metal before you fly.
3) Those pockets bulging with metal - coins, keys, key
chains, pens, mechanical pencils, glasses with metal frames,
tin cans of mint, and even chewing gum with metallic wrappers.
Then we have the cell phones, pagers and all the other
pocket-sized items we keep close to us. Empty your pockets and
bag-it with a zip-lock sandwich bag before you go through
security. Rather than throwing your items into a plastic
container, one item at a time - just toss the bag into the
container, go through the screening and grab the bag when it
comes through the X-ray machine.
4) Do you have a fancy pillbox to store your medication? Or
a day-by-day pill dispenser? Leave them home. Keep all your
medicines - prescriptions, as well as over-the- counter drugs
- in their original bottles. If you must travel with special
paraphernalia - needles, etc, check in advance with your
airline and carry a readable doctor's note explaining your
medical condition. Then - expect to receive extra scrutiny
anyway.
5) Examine your carry-on bags one more time. Check the
linings, pockets all the nooks and crannies. You may be
surprised at what you find, Better, you find the Swiss Army
Knife or the stray cuticle scissors - rather than the
humorless security person. Put everything in clear, plastic
zipper bags, to avoid having a stranger paw through every
compartment and cranny of your carry-on luggage. Put plastic
dry-cleaner bags over your clothes. Clear plastic toiletries
and cosmetic bags or mesh packaging that doesn't obscure
contents will sometimes discourage security staffers from
opening everything. If they can "see it", they're less likely
to disturb it.
6) Don't "Rush To Board." Being first in line to board isn't
necessarily beneficial. "Random" checks at the boarding gate
are not particularly random at the head of the line. First
come, first searched! In fact, some airlines are known to pull
aside one of the first ten passengers for a thorough "random
check". Their security staffers obviously need something to
do. So, aim to be, say, eleventh on line to board.
Enjoy your flight and don't forget to "Tie Your Shoelaces."
-30-
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Marilyn King has been a travel professional since 1988. Her
"Flight To Quality" has provided quality travel arrangements
for individuals, corporations and groups: Europe, South
America and the Caribbean. Visit her at -
( http://www.FlightToQuality.com ), Subscribe to her "Free for
Life" newsletter - "Psssss.....t!" Receive your Free eReport -
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