Air Travel Security and Terrorism

Terrorist acts are unpredictable and occur at random, making it impossible to fully protect yourself. However, there are some measures you can take to minimize the risk. Being smart about air travel could save your life. Here's a checklist to help stay safe during your journey.

Know Before You Go
The first and best protection against terrorism is to avoid travel to unsafe areas. If there have been reports of terrorist attacks, kidnapping, or general unrest happening in a certain area, you may not want to travel there. Check with the U.S. State Department to find out if your destination has any travel advisories or warnings.

Planning your Flight
If at all possible, schedule direct flights because take-off and landing are the most dangerous times of a flight. If you must stop over, try to avoid high-risk airports. Minimize the time spent in the public area of an airport, which is less protected by security. Check with your airline to find out how far in advance you should arrive at the airport.

Packing
As much as possible, avoid luggage tags, dress, and behavior that may identify you as an American. Leave any gifts unwrapped in case security decides to explore your bag. Do not place unused film or a camera with film in your checked luggage. The x-ray machines used to scan checked luggage will destroy your film. Travel as light as possible.

Checking-in
Unless you require special assistance from an airline representative, such as needing to change your flight, you can check-in at curbside where the lines are usually shorter. If you don't have any luggage to check, proceed straight to the gate to check in there. Note that wherever you do your check-in, you will need your picture ID (passport for international travel) and proof that you are a ticketed passenger.

Know What You Can and Can't Carry onto the Plane
These items are forbidden:

• Sharp metal objects, such as knives, scissors, razors, metal nail files, box cutters, or corkscrews
• Anything flammable, such as liquid drain cleaners, solvents, household cleaners, or pressurized containers
• Any firearms or weapons, including mace, tear gas, pepper spray, grenades, ammunition, and any athletic equipment that could be used as a weapon, such as a baseball bat, golf club, ski pole, or hockey stick
• Strike-anywhere matches and non-FDA approved lighters

Getting Through Security
Avoid wearing any shoes, clothes, jewelry, or accessories that contain metal. Remove any coins, pens, keys, etc. from you pockets and stash them in your carry-on to save time at the metal detector. Take off your outer coat or jacket and your shoes. Be prepared to take your laptop computer out of its case.

Be Aware of Your Surroundings
Be vigilant of suspicious persons or abandoned luggage. Report them to airport security and leave the area.