2008 Annual Meeting

Tips to Avoid Travel Hassles

Many airlines require travelers to cancel nonrefundable tickets prior to ticketed departure. Even if the weather is bad and you suspect your flight is cancelled, be sure to call Garber, (800) 816-8747, or the airline to cancel your reservation. Otherwise, you may forfeit the ticket.

Flying standby may entail a fee. Check your airline’s policies. Some airlines permit you to use kiosks for standby flights.

Be alert to code sharing. Now that many airlines have formed alliances, read your travel itinerary carefully to note when flights ticketed by one airline are actually operated by another airline. This can make check-in confusing if you're caught unaware!

Don't leave for the airport without re-confirming your flight. Why get there early if the flight is delayed or cancelled.

Carry-on baggage is limited to one carry-on bag plus one personal item. Personal items include laptops, purses, small backpacks, briefcases, or camera cases. Remember, 1+1.

To ensure both you and your bag will be accepted for your scheduled departure, arrive at the airport at least 60 minutes before flight departure if you are not checking bags, and 90 minutes if you are checking bags. (For international travel, arrive 120 minutes before departure.) Do not pack or bring prohibited items to the airport. Visit www.TSATravelTips.us for a complete list.

At most airports, a boarding pass and government-issued photo ID are required to pass through security. You can obtain the boarding pass from the airline's ticket counter at the airport, at curbside check-in, at the airline's self-service ticket kiosk in the airport lobby, or from your airline's website.

Avoid wearing clothing, jewelry, and accessories that contain metal and may set off the alarm on the metal detector and result in a pat-down inspection.

Wear footwear that is easily removable. You are not required to remove your shoes before you enter the walk-through metal detector. However, many types of footwear require additional screening.

Do not put film in your checked baggage to avoid damage by screening equipment.

Consider putting personal items in clear plastic bags to reduce chance that a TSA screener will have to handle them.

Avoid over-packing your bag to make it easier for the TSA screener to reseal your bag if it is opened for inspection.

Do not pack or bring wrapped gifts to the security check-point. Wrap on arrival or ship your gifts prior to departure.

TSA’s new protocols require all passengers to remove outer coats and jackets for X-ray before proceeding through the metal detectors. Included are suit and sport coats, athletic warm-up jackets and blazers. However, if a sport coat or blazer is being worn as the outermost garment – not being worn over a blouse or sweater, for example – it does not have to be removed.

Travelers who set off the walk-through magnetometer are automatically pulled aside, and a screener waves a hand-held metal detector over the body. Even if passengers don't set off the metal detector, the TSA warns that passengers may be pulled aside at random for screening. Screeners are required to communicate their actions to the passenger prior to conducting the inspection. TSA policy is that screeners are to use the back of the hand when screening sensitive body areas, which include the breasts (females only), genitals, and buttocks. For non-sensitive areas, including other parts of the torso, screeners are required to use the front of the hand. Screeners are required to offer private screening to passengers who are subject to additional screening. If you are not offered private screening you have the option to request a private screening location. Screeners of the same gender as the passenger will conduct the additional screening (except in extraordinary circumstances).

TSA will investigate all reports of inappropriate conduct and, if warranted, take disciplinary action. If a passenger believes the screening was done inappropriately, he or she should immediately ask to talk to a screening supervisor. A passenger may also obtain a feedback form, which is available at all checkpoints. Alternatively, passengers may call the TSA Contact Center toll-free at (866) 289-9673 or via E-mail (TSA ContactCenter@dhs.gov). Members of the traveling public who believe they have been unlawfully discriminated against by a TSA employee may contact the External Compliance Division in the Office of Civil Rights.

This office can be reached by sending an E-mail to TSA OCR-External Compliance
(TSA.OCR-ExternalCompliance@DHS.gov) or by calling the Office of Civil Rights toll free at 1-877-EEO-4-TSA (1-877-336-4872) or (866) 536-9679 (TTY).