LATEST AIRPORT NEWS Restricted Air Travel Travelers should expect significant changes to check-in policies, carry-on restrictions, and airport security rules. Here are a few changes that may impact your travel plans. Checking In Arrive early: To avoid the possibility of missing your flight, arrive at the airport at least two (three if international) hours before your flight. All airlines recommend confirming your flight's status before heading to the airport. If traveling on an e-ticket, bring a printout of your ticket with you (or ask the issuing agent for a paper ticket). Check bags at the counter: For your security, all bags must be brought to the check-in counter when you arrive at the airport. You may not check luggage curbside or at off-airport sites (though ticketing and seat assignments may still be provided by these sites). Liquids and Gels Prohibited in Carry-On Baggage August 10, 2006  – The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is implementing a series of security measures – some visible and some not visible – to ensure the security of the traveling public and the Nation's transportation system. These security measures include the prohibition of all liquids and gels of any kind in carry-on baggage. These items must be in checked baggage. The only exceptions are baby formula, breast milk, or juice if a baby or small child is traveling; prescription medicine with a name that matches the passenger’s ticket; and insulin and essential other non-prescription medicines. Your Carry-On Bag Sharp objects: It's not just the obvious items. Place any sharp objects, such as your razor, nail file, or corkscrew in your checked luggage. Scissors from children's art kits and first aid kits should be packed in your checked luggage. You will not be allowed to bring these items into the cabin with you. Pack light: Pack only the essentials in your carry-on bag (such as medications, a spare shirt and book). The fewer items you carry, the quicker you'll pass through security. In the Terminal Expect increased security: Cars at the curb will be closely monitored. You may see additional law enforcement patrols and canine units. FAA Federal Air Marshals will be flying anonymously on many flights. Say your good-byes earlier: Only ticketed passengers will be allowed beyond the security checkpoint. (Exceptions may be made for unaccompanied minors and travelers with special needs; contact your airline.) Be sure to allow more time for increased scrutiny at the security gate, and expect to be asked to power-up your laptop (you may want to put your laptop in a padded case inside your checked luggage to avoid this inconvenience). Consider eliminating as many of your non-essential electronic devices as possible. Meet incoming flights at the baggage claim: You will not be allowed through the security gate to meet incoming flights. Only ticketed passengers will be allowed past the gates. 3 Steps to Less Stressful Travel Be Comfortable: You will probably be spending more time in the terminal. If you travel frequently, this may be the time to consider joining an airline club that offers a comfortable lounge. A sweater and a neck pillow can make a long wait more comfortable. Using a locker (if available) keeps your carry-ons secure while you nap or browse terminal shops. It's hard to relax when you're hungry—you may want to tuck a water bottle and a few healthy snacks into your bag (nutrition bars are a great choice). Be Prepared: Expect everything to take longer than usual. Bring extra reading material for yourself, and extra toys or games for children (a pack of cards can help the time fly!). Be Patient: New restrictions, while inconvenient, are there to protect travelers like you. Please don't ask airline employees to be flexible in their enforcement—this situation is difficult for everyone, and our safety's at stake.     January 2003 - 2005 Travel Security Advisory A recent announcement by the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has many travelers concerned about securing their checked baggage. The TSA is suggesting that air travelers leave their checked bags unlocked, "...in order to avoid the possible need to forcibly open bags that require further inspection." This policy has left many travelers wondering how to protect themselves from luggage pilfering while fully complying with the security procedures of the TSA. As of January 1, 2003, the TSA began screening 100% of checked baggage at all 429 commercial airports across the United States. However, the screening procedures vary from airport to airport. At some airports, your bags will be screened prior to your check-in at the ticket counter, while others screen after your luggage is checked in, out of view. Still other airports will have you check in, and then have you take your bags to a screening area. At the many airports where bags are inspected on the way to the check-in counter (and can thus be locked prior to actually checking-in), use of a quality luggage lock is recommended. And, of course, you'll always want to lock your bags upon arrival when traveling by train or bus, or when leaving your luggage in the hands of hotel porters. However, in airports where your bags will be screened out of your view, you will need an alternative to luggage locks. It is imperative for travelers to know immediately upon retrieving their luggage if their bags have been opened, as most airlines require claims for lost or damaged items to be filed before departing the airport. While the TSA recommends the use of plastic cable ties, these can be problematic since they require a sharp tool or knife to remove, and these items are prohibited in carry-on bags. Instead, consider securing your zippers with our easily removed, disposable PrivaSeals. Unlike the locking plastic tie-wraps, PrivaSeals open with a simple twist of the hasp. If you discover upon arrival that the PrivaSeal has been broken, carefully inspect your luggage for missing items. PrivaSeals are inexpensive to replace (a package of twelve is $4.85), and discourage pilfering when your bags are out of your sight. They're a great invention! Here are some additional tips to reduce and eliminate any issues caused by the new security screening: Consider what personal items you may be packing, keeping in mind that they may be embarrassing if your bags are inspected. Put personal belongings in clear plastic zip-top bags. This will reduce inspection time as the TSA screener will not have to handle individual items. Use Eagle Creek's Pack-It System of Folders, Cubes and Sacs. These keep items such as socks, toiletries, underwear, jewelry, and shirts organized within your bag and make it a snap to repack if your bags are searched. Spread out books and documents within your baggage; do not stack them on top of each other. The sheer bulk of such items may lead to a manual inspection. Wait to wrap your gifts. Be aware that wrapped gifts may need to be opened for inspection. This applies to both carry-on and checked baggage. Pack shoes, boots, sneakers, and other footwear on top of other contents in your luggage, as these are most likely to be inspected. Be sure to place them closest to the wheels to balance your bag and keep it from falling over. Do not put film in your checked baggage. Some baggage screening equipment will damage undeveloped film. All film should be kept in your carry-on bag, preferably in a film-safe container. Avoid packing food and drink items in checked baggage. Items such as chocolate bars and cheese can look suspicious in x-rays and may lead to manual inspection. Be aware that items such as wooden matches, bleach, spray paint, firecrackers, lighter fluid and certain batteries are banned even in checked luggage. The TSA website site offers a complete list of Permitted and Prohibited Items.

If you've traveled by air, you've probably worried about whether your precious magnetic recordings, be they tape or disc, will survive inspection by airport security. With the installation of even higher-powered scanning equipment, the concern is even greater.

Could these new, enhanced devices erase your data or are you just wringing your hands over nothing? While erasure is highly unlikely, there are reasons to be cautious, particularly if you are transporting older tape formats or floppy discs.

Check It In or Carry It On?
According to new guidelines issued by the Transportation Security Administration, or TSA, 100% of all checked bags must be screened before being loaded.

During the screening process, checked bags may go through as many as three types of scanners, including X-ray, and two different types of explosive detection systems. Still, it is doubtful that these systems will have a negative impact on magnetically recorded media. In fact, the TSA says, "None of the screening equipment...will affect digital camera images or film that has already been processed, slides, videos, photo compact discs, or picture discs."

But the main concern for media in checked bags isn't electronic damage - it's physical loss. Airport personnel have the authority (and the duty) to open and inspect any suspicious bag, including any bag that is locked. (HINT: Leave your bags unlocked or use a TSA recognized locking mechanism.)

With your bags out of your control, the risk of damage, loss, or even theft is greatly increased. Therefore, you should always carry on your tapes, discs, cameras, laptops and any other valuable or irreplaceable item. The TSA states that the "air carrier has no liability for photographic equipment, computers, VCRs and any other electronic equipment including software or components...TSA HIGHLY recommends that you do not pack these items in your checked baggage."

But even if you carry on these items, there are still dangers lurking. Your laptop and video camera must be removed from their carrying cases and placed in one of the TSA bins for security scanning -- down the belt, through the machine, and out the other side where everyone else is waiting on their belongings.

	Tips from the TSA
	Transporting Film and Photographic Equipment
	Security Checkpoint Procedures
	Travel Tips

And as most travelers know all too well, while your things are being thoroughly inspected, so are YOU! You will be asked to remove your coat, and maybe also your shoes, jewelry, belt, etc. And if it's your "lucky" day, you could also be pulled aside for a thorough frisking. Someone else accidentally (or purposely) picking up your video camera, laptop, or other objects is not uncommon. So keeping a close eye on your personal items is vital.

To minimize the time you are separated from your belongings, think ahead and dress the part: Check your steel-toed boots and wear thin-soled flip flops instead. Unless you're willing to swap out your metal body piercings to plastic or bone, that hidden belly-button ring that makes your mama so proud will set off the metal detector - so take it out ahead of time! And don't forget that things like foil gum wrappers are metal, too. So, empty your pockets into your carry-on bag before going through security.

Handheld Wands, Metal Detectors, & X-rays
Okay, so you're going to carry on your tapes (and hope you don't lose them!). But even carrying the tapes on, they still have to go through scanning systems similar to those used for checked baggage. Can these X-ray systems cause data loss? Almost certainly not. To understand why, you need to understand how magnetic media is recorded.

Data is written onto tape and discs by arranging metallic particles with a powerful magnetic field. For tapes, magnetic energy is delivered by a recording head that comes into direct contact with the tape. For discs, the record head floats just above the surface. Both methods deliver a great deal of magnetic energy in close proximity to a tightly confined area.

To scramble your carefully arranged magnetic particles from a distance takes a tremendous amount of magnetic energy. How much energy depends on the distance and the coercivity of the media -- the magnetic force required to "coerce" it into zero magnetism.

Floppy discs have a very low coercivity rating. In other words, it doesn't take much magnetic energy to scramble them. Ditto for non-metal audio cassettes. Older videotape formats based on metal oxide like 3/4 inch, VHS, and 8mm also have low coercivity ratings.

At the opposite end of the scale are modern tape formats using pure metal particles or pure evaporated metal formulations. These tapes, which include DVCAM, MiniDV, Hi8, and Betacam SP, have very high coercivity ratings and are the most resistant to erasure.

Obviously, X-rays are not magnetic and won't cause problems themselves. There has been some conjecture that magnetic energy created as a byproduct of producing X-rays and even conveyor belt motors might give some cause for concern. However, damage from these sources has not been well documented.

Direct sources of magnetic energy come from the walk-thru metal detectors and handheld wands. While it is doubtful that either of these devices would cause problems, some handheld wands, in theory, do generate enough magnetic energy to corrupt data on low-coercivity formats. This is only a theoretical possibility, however. Practically speaking, security officials won't allow you to walk through the metal detector with metal, and that includes recording media.

Film:
Unlike magnetic media, X-ray will most certainly ruin undeveloped film. While the TSA states that film below 800 ASA/ISO would be unaffected by passenger checkpoint X-ray, it also says that the cumulative effect of multiple passes through these devices can fog even low-speed films.

Conclusion:
According to the TSA, and based on reports from customers, manufacturers and our own personal experiences, it is highly unlikely that any of the scanning devices in use today would corrupt magnetically recorded media. Your most likely source for trouble is damage or loss from the hand inspection of a checked bag or carry-on items lost in the hubbub of a security checkpoint. If you do discover you are missing an item, the TSA provides phone numbers for airport lost and found departments.

For complete information on airport security and other travel tips, please visit TSA's web site at www.tsa.gov.