Having traveled much the past several years, and almost being a Flight Attendant. I find some tips for the travelr helps in the stress of travel if prepared.
Approximately 1.8 million passengers pass through our nation's airports every day. TSA has prepared the TSA Traveler's Guide to help ensure passengers have the answers they need to common security screening questions. For travelers on-the-go, TSA has the "My TSA" mobile application for iOS (iPhone) devices, Android smartphones and mobile web users.
What to Know Before You Go
Travelers with Disabilities and Medical Conditions
One of the primary goals of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is to provide the highest level of security and customer service to all who pass through our screening checkpoints. Our current policies and procedures focus on ensuring that all passengers, regardless of their personal situations and needs, are treated equally and with the dignity, respect, and courtesy they deserve.
Traveling with Special Items
Here are some helpful guidelines for transporting special items from the security perspective. Please note that airlines and other countries may have additional rules and restrictions on these and other items. You should check with your airline for more information. If you are traveling...
Acceptable IDs
Adult passengers (18 and over) are required to show a U.S. federal or state-issued photo ID in order to be allowed to go through the checkpoint and onto their flight....
It’s important to know that even if an item is generally permitted, it may be subject to additional screening or not allowed through the checkpoint if it triggers an alarm during the screening process, appears to have been tampered with, or poses other security concerns. The final decision rests with TSA on whether to allow any items on the plane. Also, please note that some dangerous items below are illegal in certain states and passengers will be subject to state law. It is a passenger’s responsibility to be aware that origination and destination cities may have local laws prohibiting the possession of these items.
- Sharp Objects
- Sporting Goods
- Guns & Firearms
- Tools
- Martial Arts & Self Defense Items
- Explosive & Flammable Materials, Disabling Chemicals & Othe...
- Other Items
Sharp Objects
| Item | Prohibited | |
|---|---|---|
| Carry-on? | Checked? | |
| Box Cutters | NO | OK |
| Ice Axes/Ice Picks | NO | OK |
| Knives - except for plastic or round bladed butter knives | NO | OK |
| Meat Cleavers | NO | OK |
| Razor-Type Blades - such as box cutters, utility knives, and safety razor blades (disposable razors and their cartridges are permitted) | NO | OK |
| Sabers | NO | OK |
| Scissors - metal with pointed tips and blades shorter than 4 inches are allowed, but blades longer than 4 inches are prohibited | NO | OK |
| Swords - cutting or thrusting weapons, including fencing foils | NO | OK |
| NOTE: Any sharp objects in checked baggage should be sheathed or securely wrapped to prevent injury to baggage handlers and inspectors. | ||
Sporting Goods
| Item | Carry-on? | Checked? |
|---|---|---|
| Baseball Bats | NO | OK |
| Bows and Arrows | NO | OK |
| Cricket Bats | NO | OK |
| Golf Clubs | NO | OK |
| Hockey Sticks | NO | OK |
| Lacrosse Sticks | NO | OK |
| Pool Cues | NO | OK |
| Skates (including ice skates and rollerblades) | OK | OK |
| Ski Poles | NO | OK |
| Spear Guns | NO | OK |
| For more information, please read our Traveling with Special Items section. | ||
Guns & Firearms
| Item | Carry-on? | Checked? |
|---|---|---|
| Ammunition - Check with your airline or travel agent to see if ammunition is permitted in checked baggage on the airline you are flying. Small arms ammunitions for personal use must be securely packed in fiber, wood or metal boxes or other packaging specifically designed to carry small amounts of ammunition. Ask about limitations or fees, if any, that apply. Read our Firearms & Ammunition section. | NO | OK |
| BB guns | NO | OK |
Compressed Air Guns (to include paintball markers) - Carried in checked luggage without compressed air cylinder attached.
| NO | OK |
Firearms - firearms carried as checked baggage MUST be unloaded, packed in a locked hard-sided container, and declared to the airline at check-in. Read our Firearms & Ammunition section. As defined by 49 CFR 1540.5 - "A loaded firearm means a firearm that has a live round of ammunition, or any component thereof, in the chamber or cylinder or in a magazine inserted in the firearm."
| NO | OK |
| Flare Guns - May be carried as checked baggage MUST be unloaded, packed in a locked hard-sided container, and declared to the airline at check-in. Read our section on Camping andFirearms & Ammunition section. | NO | OK |
| Flares | NO | NO |
| Gun Lighters | NO | NO |
| Gun Powder including black powder and percussion caps | NO | NO |
| Parts of Guns and Firearms Read our Firearms & Ammunition section. | NO | OK |
| Pellet Guns | NO | OK |
| Realistic Replicas of Firearms | NO | OK |
| Starter Pistols - can only be carried as checked baggage and MUST be unloaded, packed in a locked hard-sided container, and declared to the airline at check-in. Read our Firearms & Ammunition section. | NO | OK |
| NOTE: Check with your airline or travel agent to see if firearms are permitted in checked baggage on the airline you are flying. Ask about limitations or fees, if any, that apply. | ||
Tools
| Item | Carry-on? | Checked? |
|---|---|---|
| Axes and Hatchets | NO | OK |
| Cattle Prods | NO | OK |
| Crowbars | NO | OK |
| Hammers | NO | OK |
| Drills and drill bits (including cordless portable power drills) | NO | OK |
| Saws (including cordless portable power saws) | NO | OK |
| Tools (greater than seven inches in length) | NO | OK |
| Wrenches/Pliers/Screwdrivers (seven inches or less in length) | OK | OK |
| NOTE: Any sharp objects in checked baggage should be sheathed or securely wrapped to prevent injury to baggage handlers and Security Officers. | ||
Martial Arts & Self Defense Items
| Item | Carry-on? | Checked? |
|---|---|---|
| Billy Clubs | NO | OK |
| Black Jacks | NO | OK |
| Brass Knuckles | NO | OK |
| Kubatons | NO | OK |
| Self Defense Sprays - One 4 ounce (118ml) container of mace or pepper spray is permitted in checked baggage provided it is equipped with a safety mechanism to prevent accidental discharge. Self Defense Sprays containing more than 2% by mass of Tear Gas (CS or CN) are prohibited in Checked Baggage. For more information visit www.faa.gov., click on Passengers, then Preparing to Fly. | NO | OK |
| Martial Arts Weapons | NO | OK |
| Night Sticks | NO | OK |
| Nunchucks | NO | OK |
| Stun Guns/Shocking Devices | NO | OK |
| Throwing Stars | NO | OK |
| NOTE: Any sharp objects in checked baggage should be sheathed or securely wrapped to prevent injury to baggage handlers and Security Officers. | ||
Explosive & Flammable Materials, Disabling Chemicals & Other Dangerous Items
| Explosive Materials | Carry-on? | Checked? |
|---|---|---|
| Blasting Caps | NO | NO |
| Dynamite | NO | NO |
| Fireworks | NO | NO |
| Flares (in any form) | NO | NO |
| Hand Grenades | NO | NO |
| Plastic Explosives | NO | NO |
| Realistic Replicas of Explosives | NO | NO |
| Flammable Items | Carry-on? | Checked? |
| Aerosol (any except for personal care or toiletries in limited quantities) | NO | NO |
| Fuels (including cooking fuels and any flammable liquid fuel) | NO | NO |
| Gasoline | NO | NO |
| Gas Torches | NO | NO |
| Lighter Fluid | NO | NO |
| Common Lighters - Lighters without fuel are permitted in checked baggage. Lighters with fuel are prohibited in checked baggage, unless they adhere to the Department of Transportation (DOT) exemption, which allows up to two fueled lighters if properly enclosed in a DOT approved case. If you are uncertain as to whether your lighter is prohibited, please leave it at home. | OK | NO |
| Torch Lighters - Torch lighters create a thin, needle-like flame that is hotter (reaching 2,500 degrees Fahrenheit) and more intense than those from common lighters. Torch lighters are often used for pipes and cigars, and maintain a consistent stream of air-propelled fire regardless of the angle at which it is held. Torch lighters continue to be banned. | NO | NO |
| Strike-anywhere Matches - One book of safety (non-strike anywhere) matches are permitted as carry-on items, but all matches are prohibited in checked baggage. | NO | NO |
| Flammable Paints (See Other Items below for non-flammable paints) | NO | NO |
| Turpentine and Paint Thinner | NO | NO |
| Realistic Replicas of Incendiaries | NO | NO |
| NOTE: There are other hazardous materials that are regulated by the FAA. This information is summarized at www.faa.gov, click on Passengers, then Preparing to Fly. | ||
| Disabling Chemicals & Other Dangerous Items | Carry-on? | Checked? |
| Chlorine for Pools and Spas | NO | NO |
| Small compressed gas cartridges (Up to 2 in life vests and 2 spares. The spares must accompany the life vests and presented as one unit) | OK | OK |
| Fire extinguishers and other compressed gas cylinders | NO | NO |
| Liquid Bleach | NO | NO |
| Spillable Batteries - except those in wheelchairs | NO | NO |
| Spray Paint | NO | NO |
| Tear Gas - Self Defense Sprays containing more than 2% by mass of Tear Gas (CS or CN). | NO | NO |
| Vehicle Airbags | NO | NO |
| NOTE: There are other hazardous materials that are regulated by the FAA. This information is summarized at www.faa.gov.
Cruizing?
Tip 1: Pack your carry-on bags wisely. Pack a change of clothes and important meds or toiletries in the bags you will take on the plane and personally transport onboard. This is important for two reasons: First, if your luggage gets lost by the airline on the way to your cruise, at least you'll have some essentials with you. It can take a while for your luggage to be found and then shipped to the next port of call. Second, in case your suitcases are delayed in being delivered to your cabin, you'll have a bathing suit or dinner attire on hand and can enjoy all the onboard activities right away, rather than waiting for your bags to show up. Tip 2: Know the dress codes. While some folks still like to dress to the nines (formal gowns and tuxedos) for ships' formal nights, most people dress in business attire (suit for men, cocktail garb -- flowing pants suits or silk dresses -- for women). The irony is that the more luxurious the line (with the exception of the upscale Crystal Cruises, whose passengers really do like to dress up), the more elegantly casual passengers dress. The more contemporary the line -- like Carnival and Royal Caribbean -- the dressier folks are on formal occasions. If you love to dress up, know that some lines do offer tux rentals so you don't have to pack your own. Allergic to formal wear? Most cruise lines offer buffet-style dining for dinner, even on formal nights (or sup in your cabin via room service). Check out our comprehensive feature on cruise line dress codes. Tip 3: Consider doing laundry onboard. If you want to pack light (and do laundry en route), make sure to read our cruise reviews -- not all ships offer free (or for-fee) laundromats. Otherwise, laundry is a service provided by cruise lines, but it can get expensive (though cruise lines often offer complimentary laundry and pressing services to suite guests and top-tier past passengers). You can always save on laundry costs by bringing travel detergent and rinsing out underwear and shirts in your cabin's bathroom, or packing a bottle of travel-sized Febreze to get one more day's use out of a gently worn outfit. Tip 4: Don't assume your favorite toiletries will be in your cabin. You'll always find basic toiletries onboard, such as soap and shampoo. In main cabins on some cruise lines -- Royal Caribbean, NCL, Carnival -- toiletries offered are limited (in some cases to pump bottles of mystery soap affixed to the wall), so you may want to make room in your luggage for your favorite brands. Same goes for hair dryers. Most staterooms come with weak dryers so if you're picky, pack your own. Tip 5: Bone up on the bathrobe policy. In most cases, you don't need to pack a bathrobe. They're provided in all cabins on most luxury lines, as well as mainstream lines like Carnival and Holland America, and in balcony cabins and above on most other lines. On Princess, they're available by request. If you're not sure if your cabin will come with a robe, read the FAQ section of your cruise line's Web site or ask your travel agent (or on Cruise Critic's message boards). But be forewarned: Bathrobes aren't souvenirs. You have to pay if you like yours so much you want to take it home. Tip 6: Dress for your destination. Simply put, some places are more formal than others. Expect to pack more resort-casual wear if traveling to Europe (all regions) or Bermuda (duffer alert: golf courses in Bermuda have strict dress codes). In contrast, other cruise itineraries are more casual than the norm -- in that category we include Hawaii, the Mexican Riviera, the Caribbean and French Polynesia. And don't forget to think about your in-port activities; flip flops are fine for a beach day, but you'll want more comfortable shoes for long days of sightseeing or active excursions like hiking or biking. Tip 7: Save some room in your suitcase. Don't forget that you're likely to pick up at least a few souvenirs during your cruise and that you'll need room in your luggage to bring them home. This is particularly prevalent on Hawaiian-based itineraries where, by voyage's last night, just about everyone has dispatched their continental garb for Aloha-wear. Consider packing an extra duffle that can fold up into your suitcase on the way to the cruise and later be filled and checked for the trip home. Tip 8: Mix and match. If you can make your clothes do double duty, you won't be hit with excess bag fees or find yourself fighting with your spouse about who gets the last hanger in the cabin's small closet. Stick with one color theme so you can re-wear bottoms with different tops, or bring shirts that can be dressed up for dinner on one night and worn sightseeing the next. Opt for the layered look to handle differing temperatures in the various cruise ports. Change up the look of one formal outfit with different accessories (jewelry, ties, scarves), rather than bring two suits or cocktail dresses. Remember -- you will never see most of these people again (with thousands onboard, you might not see the same person again before the cruise ends!), and most won't remember if you wear the same outfit twice. Tip 9: Remember the basics. Most cruise ship cabins don't come with alarm clocks, so if you want to know the time and set an alarm (rather than a phone wakeup call), bring your own. If you're using your cell phone for this job, make sure you don't incur roaming charges simply by leaving it on in foreign waters. Other items you might want to pack because they're not provided or super-expensive to buy onboard include: extra hangers, over-the-counter meds, batteries, camera memory cards, sunscreen, ear plugs, plastic bags for transporting liquids or wet things (or keeping water out of your gear on water-based tours) and power strips to charge all your electronics. Tip 10: Keep all important documents with you. Always make sure you pack your necessary IDs and cruise documents -- and never pack them in your checked luggage. You'll want your passport or other photo ID and cruise ship boarding pass on hand, so even if your suitcase misses the boat, you can get onboard. Make sure you have the correct type of identification, as wannabe cruisers have been turned away from the pier for having just a copy of their birth certificate (and not the required original) or a passport with a name that doesn't match the one on the ship's manifest (often in the case of a honeymoon cruise). Also, remember to acquire any necessary visas and immunizations necessary for your cruising region and carry them with you, too. Looking for more packing tips? Check out these other packing resources: Cruise Packing 101 Slideshow: 10 Must-Pack Items for New Cruisers Interactive Packing List Packing Advice from The Independent Traveler
Kids
1. Bring new toys and books. Something that they have never seen before will hold the attention far more than something that has been played with dozens of times already. For our then-ten-month-old, it was a toy phone (not a noisy one) and a set of keys. For the one-year-old it was a new Curious George book and a new car. This time, the baby needed no entertaining but the big brother did. We catered to his current obsession withGo Diego Go, and bought a few books featuring Diego. The key to this, is to not bring them out to soon. We wait until the meltdown begins and then bring out the big guns. If you bring out the secret weapon too soon, then you have no recourse.
2. Use the technology made available to you. Even if you don’t let your kids watch the television at home, now is the time to break those rules. Little screens in the armrests of chairs are a godsend for those traveling with small children, and for those around them. Don’t worry about headphones, if your child won’t keep them on, or if you worry about the noise damaging their ears, the pictures will most likely be enough to distract the most irritated of children.
3. If you have your own technology, bring it. If your tablet or phone is off limits to your children, get a sturdy case and load up a few apps that they can use, along with digital copies of their favorite movies. Just suck it up and let them play. They won’t do permanent damage with just a day’s travel. In fact, knowing that they are being allowed to use something ordinarily off limits is one of the biggest draws of this.
4. Pack for individual diaper scenarios. Rather than needing access to the overhead compartment every time a diaper change is needed, prepare for one-by-one situations. When packing your carry on, place a plastic bag inside each diaper. Before the plane takes off, move all your in-flight magazines into one of the seat pockets, then put two diapers of each size, your changing mat and your wipes of choice in the other. If you like disposable travel mats, then put a mat and a diaper inside each bag. When the seatbelt sign turns off, you can get to the bathroom before anyone else and without too much fuss.
Image: Sarah Pinault
5. Have your child travel in footie pajamas. Our eldest wore his sneakers over the feet on this journey and loved it. They will like the novelty of traveling in pajamas, you will like the convenience. If there is a diaper blow out or vomit incident, it is nice to only be dealing with one item of clothing. It is also then easy to pack for such emergencies: you only need a few extra sets of pajamas each instead of full outfits for each child. Unless your child is prone to messy situations, I recommend two spare sets.
6. Bring a spare t-shirt for yourself. Obviously you can’t travel in footie pajamas, or even have a full change of clothes on hand, but if you are thrown up on you will appreciate a clean smell around your upper body instead of wiped up vomit.
7. Forget the pacifier wipes, but bring a hand cleanser. I like individual packets of Wet Ones with anti bacterial goodness. Your child will be touching something gross before you have chance to call out their name, so make sure you have your hand cleanser of choice with you. The bathrooms may be questionable and inaccessible, especially once on board.
8. Bring one carry on, and only one carry on. You no longer need a book to read, you no longer need your own snacks. You can no longer use your carry on in place of checking luggage. Once you have filled a bag with the essentials for a long flight, you won’t have the strength to carry anything else, and you will appreciate only having one bag to keep track of in a busy airport.
Image: Sarah Pinault
9. If your child is old enough, do however, let them bring their own carry on. Last year, our flight was severely delayed by volcanic ash over Iceland. We were saved by a fellow traveler, with a two-year-old and a Trunki full of toys. We bought one as soon as we landed, and this recent trip was the first time we had our son travel with it. They can pull the case as a distraction to keep them moving, they can sit on it and you can pull them along, it can contain enough toys to keep them occupied for any delay. I heartily recommend the Trunki, but anything that will roll for them, and that has a nice arm strap for you if they tire of it, will work. If you are bringing a backpack, don’t let them bring a backpack unless it is small enough for you to carry as well, they will get sick of it at some point.
10. Bring snacks. Meals on flights will not necessarily time well with your child’s needs, and airport food is not always suited to the palate of a toddler. Use snacks they are familiar with, snacks that don’t break any customs laws, and snacks that don’t need refrigerating and are still edible after a good deal of squishing. Familiarity with the snack you bring means they are less likely to vomit. Trust me, once your child is sick mid-flight once, you will be as obsessed with vomit as I am. Inside the airport, your best bet is a fruit cup, since you cannot bring your own fruit with you unless travelling within the US.
Image: Sarah Pinault
11. If you have an infant, use the baby carrier of your choice. I like the Baby Bjorn, but know many who don’t. Most airports will let you wear your baby through security, so if they are asleep you will be allowed to keep them on. Not so if they are in a stroller, most will ask you to remove the sleeping child. Use of a stroller is a personal choice, and we have gone both ways in the past. We were going to see family who had a nice stroller waiting for us on the other end, so we opted not to bring the added gear to the airport and found it to be very freeing. When we traveled with one child we took the stroller and he slept in it at the airport, freeing us up to relax a little. However, be warned and do your research, some places have peculiar stroller policies. You may think that it will be great to have the stroller the second you get off the plane, but some airlines/airports will not allow the return of your stroller until you are through customs. Check procedures before you fly.
12. Get to know the people around you but don’t bug them. If you have a cute child, let them say “Hi” to the people whose sleep they may disrupt. Make yourself known to the flight attendants and find out which is the best bathroom for diaper changes.
Toby! Don't play with that. Image: Sarah Pinault
13. Stick to a routine. If you make the same trip frequently, there is a lot to be said for knowing your route. Sometimes saving fifty bucks by using a different airline just isn’t worth it. We take the same flight on Virgin Atlantic every time we travel. We know what to expect and where to go, the only wild cards are the kids!
Leave the disciplining at home. I don’t mean let your child run wild and beyond their usual constraints, but if you are working on something with your child and it comes up on the plane, well you are probably best to not use this as a learning experience. Just stick a pin in it. Keeping the child calm is much more valuable, to this mom and passenger, than using every teachable moment. Those around you will appreciate it. | ||
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