Packing to Perfection

Call Security

Pet Friendly?

Watching Your Weight

All Abroad!

All Children Allowed

Helpful Tips

Select clothing and accessories day by day.

Keep in mind your destinations and planned activities and lay out all of your selected clothing on a flat surface. If you are in doubt of certain articles, leave them out.

Pack clothes in dry cleaning bags.

Fasten all zippers, hooks and buttons, then roll or fold items and place them in plastic dry cleaning bags. This will keep the garments separate and help prevent wrinkling.

Distribute weight evenly.

This prevents shifting of the contents and makes your bag easier to carry.

Place heavier clothing on the bottom.

Layer heavier items, such as suits and jackets face down, folded to the size of the suitcase. If you are taking a sport coat, wear it on the plane to avoid wrinkling and taking up too much room in your suitcase. Sweaters and lightweight jackets should be layered next. Lightweight items, such as shirts or blouses, should be placed on the very top.

Place socks in shoes.

Socks can be rolled and placed inside your shoes. Ties can also be rolled and placed in shoe heels. Shoes should be packed toe to heel in a nylon or flannel shoe bag to keep dirt from coming into contact with your clothing. Place shoes along the sides of the suitcase.

Pack tightly.

Use soft clothing you can roll up to fill in the gaps and corners.

Prepare for laundry.

Re-use the plastic dry cleaning bags for laundry and damp swimsuits.

Pack a carry-on.

A carry-on bag should include medications, toiletries, passports and other items that you do not want to lose. For toiletries, carry small amounts and use plastic bottles. Also make sure that tops are on securely.

Secrets to a Wrinkle-Free Jacket

Turn the body inside out and keep the sleeves right-side out. Lift up the collar. Shoulders should be straight. (The suit will make a rectangle, naturally.) Lay flat and fold into half or thirds, depending on the size of the suitcase. Tuck tissue paper into the folds, as well as the sleeves, for a ready-to-wear jacket.

Checked Baggage

Most airlines allow passengers to check two bags free of charge. Some airlines may allow up to three bags free of charge. Each checked bag must weigh no more than 50 pounds and measure up to 62 linear inches (height plus length plus depth). If your bag exceeds this limit, you will be charged a fee. This fee varies by airline.

Carry-on Bag

The maximum size carry-on bag for most airlines is 45 linear inches (height plus length plus depth). Anything larger should be checked.

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) recommends the following tips to help you reduce your wait time at the security checkpoint.

Before the Airport

• Do not pack or bring Prohibited Items to the airport.



• Place valuables such as jewelry, cash and laptop computers in carry-on baggage only. Tape your business card to the bottom of your laptop.



• Avoid wearing clothing, jewelry and accessories that contain metal. Metal items may set off the alarm on the metal detector.



• Avoid wearing shoes that contain metal or have thick soles or heels. Many types of footwear will require additional screening even if the metal detector does not alarm.



• Put all undeveloped film and cameras with film in your carry-on baggage. Checked baggage screening equipment will damage undeveloped film.



• Declare firearms & ammunition to your airline and place them in your checked baggage.



• If you wish to lock your baggage, use a TSA-recognized lock.



• Do not bring lighters or prohibited matches to the airport.



• Do not pack wrapped gifts and do not bring wrapped gifts to the checkpoint. Wrap on arrival or ship your gifts prior to your departure. TSA may have to unwrap packages for security reasons.

At the Airport

Each adult traveler needs to keep available his/her airline boarding pass and government-issued photo ID until exiting the security checkpoint. Due to different airport configurations, at many airports you will be required to display these documents more than once.

• Place the following items IN your carry-on baggage or in a plastic bag prior to entering the screening checkpoint:
  
  - Mobile phones
  
  - Keys
  
  - Loose change
  
  - Money clips
  
  - PDA's (personal data assistants)
  
  - Large amounts of jewelry
  
  - Metal hair decorations
  
  - Large belt buckles
  
  
  
• Take your laptop and video cameras with cassettes OUT of their cases and place them in a bin provided at the checkpoint.



• Take OFF all outer coats, suit coats, jackets and blazers.

The Federal Aviation Administration recommends the Top 10 Tips for Traveling outside the U.S.

1. Make sure you have a signed, valid passport and visas, if required. Also, before you go, fill in the emergency information page of your passport.



2. Read the Consular Information Sheets (and Public Announcements or Travel Warnings, if applicable) for the countries you plan to visit.



3. Familiarize yourself with local laws and customs of the countries to which you are traveling. Remember, the U.S. Constitution does not follow you! While in a foreign country, you are subject to its laws.



4. Make two copies of your passport identification page. This will facilitate replacement if your passport is lost or stolen. Leave one copy at home with friends or relatives. Carry the other with you in a separate place from your passport.



5. Leave a copy of your itinerary with family or friends at home so that you can be contacted in case of an emergency.



6. Do not leave your luggage unattended in public areas. Do not accept packages from strangers.



7. Prior to your departure, you should register with the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate through the State Department’s travel registration website. Registration will make your presence and whereabouts known in case it is necessary to contact you in an emergency. In accordance with the Privacy Act, information on your welfare and whereabouts may not be released without your express authorization. Remember to leave a detailed itinerary and the numbers or copies of your passport or other citizenship documents with a friend or relative in the United States.



8. To avoid being a target of crime, try not to wear conspicuous clothing and expensive jewelry and do not carry excessive amounts of money or unnecessary credit cards.



9. In order to avoid violating local laws, deal only with authorized agents when you exchange money or purchase art or antiques.



10. If you get into trouble, contact the nearest U.S. embassy.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) allows each airline to decide if it will allow you to travel with a pet in the passenger cabin. If an airline does allow you to bring a pet into the cabin, the pet container is considered carry-on baggage, and you must follow all carry on baggage rules. Check out Hartmann’s Deluxe Pet Carrier, ideal for carrying small pets. See FAA guidelines below:

• Your pet container must be small enough to fit underneath the seat without blocking any person’s path to the main aisle of the airplane.



• Your pet container must be stowed properly before the last passenger entry door to the airplane is closed in order for the airplane to leave the gate.



• Your pet container must remain properly stowed the entire time the airplane is moving on the airport surface, at take off and at landing.



• You must follow flight attendant instructions regarding the proper stowage of your pet container.

The following considerations are provided by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) when traveling with children.

The Screening Process

X-Ray

• All carry-on baggage, including children's bags and items, must go through the X-ray machine. Examples include: diaper bags, blankets, and toys.



• All child-related equipment that will fit through the X-ray machine must go through the X-ray machine. Examples include: strollers, umbrella-strollers, baby carriers, car and booster seats, backpacks, and baby slings.



• When you arrive at the checkpoint, you should collapse or fold child-related equipment and secure items that are in the pockets, baskets, or attached to the equipment. You will place these items on the X-ray belt for inspection. Plastic bins are provided to deposit such items.



• When child-related equipment does not fit through the X-ray machine, the equipment must be visually and physically inspected.



• Ask screeners for assistance to help reunite you with your bags and child-related equipment, if needed.



• Babies should NEVER be left in an infant carrier while it goes through the X-ray machine.

Metal Detector

The screener will need to resolve the alarm for both the adult and child if something sets off the alarm as you are carrying a child through the metal detector.

• Babies and children must be removed from their strollers or infant carriers so they can be individually screened.



• You may not pass the child to another person behind you or in front of you during this process.



• Do not pass your child to the screener to hold.



• The screener may ask for your assistance with secondary screening of your child.



• If your child can walk unassisted, it would be best to have the child walk through the metal detector independently.

Children with a Disability

If your child has a disability, screeners may ask you what abilities your child has in order to determine the best method for screening (e.g. carry the child through the walk-through metal detector, hand-wand procedure). If your child has a disability, screeners will never attempt to remove the child from his or her equipment. This will only be done at the discretion of the accompanying adult.

• Please allow yourself and your family extra time to get through security - especially when traveling with younger children.



• Call your airline or travel agent for information on recommended check-in times for your departure airport.



• Talk to your children before coming to the airport and let them know that it's against the law to make threats such as, "I have a bomb in my bag." Threats made jokingly (even by a child) can result in the entire family being delayed and could result in fines.

• Speak to your children again about the screening process so that they will not be frightened or surprised. Remind them to not joke about threats such as bombs or explosives.



• Advise your children that their bags (backpack, dolls, etc.) will be put in the X-ray machine and will come out at the other end and be returned to them.



• Let your children know that a screener may ask to see Mom or Dad's shoes, but that these too will be returned after the inspection.



• You may want to consider asking for a private screening if you are traveling with more than one child.