There’s
Still Time to Travel and Pack Smart This Holiday Season
by Susan Foster, packing
expert and author of Smart Packing for Today’s Traveler
You can minimize
holiday travel stress by using some simple tips to make your holiday airport
and flight time enjoyable. Hopefully this sage advice will help you arrive at
your destination more relaxed and ready to enjoy your time away from home.
1. Allow plenty of
time to get to the airport: bad weather, heavy traffic en route, full parking
lots, and crowded airport transportation systems all add to travel stress.
2. Arrive at the
airport early! Changing security
procedures add to the chaos of holiday travel as many infrequent travelers fill
planes. Allow time to have a relaxed meal, shop at interesting airport stores,
make phone calls, or check messages.
3. If traveling with a
carry-on only, remember the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) 3-1-1
ruling for liquids/gels/lotions.
All carry–on liquids etc must be less than 3 ounces, placed into one 1-quart
zip-top baggie (do this at home!), one baggie per passenger. Be sure to remove
the 1-quart baggie from your suitcase for separate screening.
If you are bringing
food to your destination for the holiday feast, YOU MAY NOT carry on items if
they contain more than 3 ounces. If more than 3 ounces, these must be in packed
your checked luggage only: wine, liquor, cranberry sauce, gravy, jam, jelly,
creamy dip, soup. You can understand why most of these would be better bought
or made at your destination.
4. Wear clothing that
is screening friendly (think slip-on shoes, tee-shirt under a bulky sweater),
remove jewelry and tuck into a zip-top baggie and place into a carry-on bag
before entering the security line, completely empty pockets into a baggie and
tuck into a carry-on, remove coat and place into a bin or pack into a checked
or carry-on bag. In the U.S., travelers must remove shoes and place them in a
bin for screening. All countries require removal of coats, jackets and heavy
sweaters for screening.
5. Oversized
electronics, such as laptop computers, video game consoles, DVD players and
video cameras must be removed from their cases and placed in a separate bin for
screening. E-readers and small electronics such as the iPad may be screened within a bag.
6. Neatness -- the TSA
says every bag check takes 3 minutes, so pack your bag so they can see the
contents easily and quickly.
7. Don’t wrap gifts!
Wrap at your destination, as packages may be unwrapped for security inspection.
Better yet, shop in advance and ship, shop at your destination, or buy
easy-to-pack gift cards.
8. Pack survival
snacks that are not liquid or gel,
and that don’t require refrigeration. Crackers, granola bars, trail mix,
raisins, fresh fruit (apples, bananas, oranges, grapes) all can successfully
pass through airport security screening.
9. Buy a water bottle
in the airport after you have
cleared security. TSA screeners also allow an empty water bottle to pass
through the security checkpoint to be refilled inside the secure area.
10. If traveling with
an infant, be sure to pack extra diapers, baby food and supplies to accommodate
possible delays. Baby formula and breast milk may exceed the 3-ounce, 3-1-1
rule limit, as well as other infant/toddler foods.
If you follow these
guidelines, you’ll be able to sit back, relax, and allow the daily troubles to
slip away as you head off on your holiday.
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