Air Travel Security Tips
Home. Business trip. Honeymoon. Family vacation. No matter where you're going, air travel is an essential part of your trip. That's why most of our efforts are dedicated to getting you there. At every commercial airport, large and small, our Security Officers are motivated individuals who take pride in making YOUR travel secure.
We screen every passenger; we screen every bag so that your memories are from where you went, not how you got there. We're here to help your travel plans be smooth and stress free. Please take a moment to become familiar with some of our security measures. Doing so now will help save you time once you arrive at the airport.
Musical instruments are permitted as carry-on or as checked baggage.
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 internationally, also check with the authorities in the country you plan to visit.
Also, if you are transporting particularly large items please verify your airline's policies on these items before you arrive at the airport. These standards differ from one airline to another.
NOTE: Please check with your airline before arriving at the airport to verify their policies for transporting particularly large items. It is the air carrier's responsibility to restrict items due to size limitations and these standards are different from one air carrier to another.
Our general security considerations for religious and cultural needs allow you multiple options.
Our general security considerations for religious or cultural needs allow you multiple options. If you do not want to go through the metal detector you may request a personal search (pat-down inspection) as an alternative. You may also ask the Security Officer for a private area for this personal search and will be provided a Security Officer of the same gender. If you refuse appropriate screening you will not be allowed to pass the security checkpoint and you will be unable to board your plane.
Loose Fitting Garments
You are permitted to wear loose fitting or religious garments during the screening process. You may be directed to additional screening if your clothing (religious or otherwise) is loose fitting or large enough to hide prohibited items. If you are directed by the security officer to proceed to additional screening, then you will undergo a combination of hand-wand screening and/or pat-down inspections that could include any portion of the body and head area that requires further examination.
At any time during the screening process, you may request that screening of your person or property take place in a private screening area. It is our policy that passengers should be screened by a Security Officer of the same gender.
Head Coverings
On August 4, 2007, TSA implemented revisions to its screening procedures for head coverings. TSA does not conduct ethnic or religious profiling, and employs multiple checks and balances to ensure profiling does not happen.
All members of the traveling public are permitted to wear head coverings (whether religious or not) through the security checkpoints. The new standard procedures subject all persons wearing head coverings to the possibility of additional security screening, which may include a pat-down search of the head covering. Individuals may be referred for additional screening if the security officer cannot reasonably determine that the head area is free of a detectable threat item. If the issue cannot be resolved through a pat-down search, the individual will be offered the opportunity to remove the head covering in a private screening area.
TSA's security procedures, including the procedures for screening head coverings, are designed to ensure the security of the traveling public. These procedures are part of TSA's multi-layered approach to security screening.
Religious, Cultural, or Ceremonial Items
Religious knives, swords and other objects similar to the one on the right, are not permitted through the security checkpoint. We advise you to place such items in your checked baggage. Check our permitted and prohibited list for more information.
You may request a hand-inspection from our Security Officers for your religious, cultural or ceremonial items. If the item is prohibited from the cabin of the aircraft you will be asked to place the item in your checked baggage. If the item is delicate, fragile or special handling is otherwise required please let the Security Officer know so that he or she can handle the item accordingly.
TSA recognized baggage locks will give you an extra sense of security.
TSA Recognized Baggage Locks
TSA screens every passenger's baggage before it is placed on an airplane. While our technology allows us to electronically screen bags, there are times when we need to physically inspect a piece of luggage. TSA has worked with several companies to develop locks that can be opened by security officers using universal "master" keys so that the locks may not have to be cut. These locks are available at airports and travel stores nationwide. The packaging on the locks indicates whether they can be opened by TSA.
Source:Office of Citizen Services and Communications