|
 Airlines Enter a New
Frontier
Millions of
Americans use the airlines for their travel needs.
But in the aftermath of September 11 several factors
have made Americans wary of flying the formerly
friendly skies. Long lines at check-in, fewer
available flights, higher prices, the economy and
just plain fear have discouraged many passengers.
Although flying will never be quite the same, there
are things you can do to have a better experience in
the air.
Arrive on
time
Knowing when to arrive could cut down on your pre-boarding
time. The Federal Aviation Administration still
recommends arriving at the airport two hours before
your flight is scheduled to depart. |
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Recommended arrival
times:
American Airlines:
Domestic flights with baggage, 90 minutes; without
baggage, 60 minutes; Hawaii, U.S. Virgin Islands and
international flights, 2 hours.
Continental:
Continental
suggests arriving at the terminal at least two hours
before departure. Passengers with carry-on bags only
can check in and obtain boarding passes online at
www.continental.com
Delta:
Depends
on the airport. Check estimated airport wait time at
www.delta.com
Northwest:
Domestic
flights, 60 minutes; International flights, 2 hours.
United Airlines:
With
checked baggage, 90 minutes; without checked baggage,
60 minutes.
U.S. Airways:
Depends on the airport. Check "Travel
Planning" at
www.usair.com
Southwest:
Provides estimated arrival time for over 50 airports.
Check online at
www.southwest.com.
Checkpoints
On January 1, 2003, the federal government
began screening all checked luggage. Officials have
warned that this new process will
increase waiting
time. Now that federal screeners have taken over
security at our nation's airports a more uniform
check-in process can be expected. You will go
through two checkpoints. The first checkpoint you
will encounter is for baggage. Security screeners
will check all baggage before it is loaded on the
plane. The passenger checkpoint is your second stop.
You will be asked to walk through a metal detector.
If the alarm goes off, you will be escorted to the
side where a screener will do a "hand wand"
check and a pat-down. You may be asked to remove
your shoes for checking. Bags will be x-rayed, and
anything that cannot be identified by the screener
will be searched by hand. Some passengers may be
selected for further security checks at the gate.
Proper
Identification
The following identifications are acceptable for
check-in: a valid driver's license, a state or
government ID with photo, a military ID or a
passport.
What can
I carry
on board?
A better question is, "what can't I
carry on board?" These days, items that once
seemed innocuous - like nail clippers - are
routinely confiscated from passengers. The new rules
are: no knives of any type; no cutting or puncturing
instruments; no athletic equipment; no flammable
liquids or solids; no household cleaners; and no
pressure containers like spray cans. Many of the
items that can't be brought onboard the plane, such
as tools or sporting equipment, can be packed away
in your suitcase and checked. Carry-on baggage is
limited to one carry-on bag plus one personal item.
Personal items include laptops, purses, backpacks,
briefcases and camera cases.
Tickets
The
Transportation Security Administration is
encouraging the use of e-tickets. To this end,
airlines have now installed e-ticket kiosks. This
self-service can help you avoid lines at the airline
counter. However, this service is not available at
every airport. You should check with the airport
that you are departing from for details. Many
airlines will allow you to go straight to the gate
if you don't have bags to check. Passengers with
paper tickets will have to check in at the counter.
Many travelers may not like the long lines and the
intrusive security checks, but given the events of
September 11, these security steps have become a
necessity. Here are some tips to make your trip a
less of a hassle:
-
Be
prepared to be fully searched, and allow
time for the delay if you are. That way,
you won't become stressed out if it
happens.
-
Pack
light. The fewer items you carry, the
less time screeners will need to spend
searching your bags.
-
Wear
clothing without metal attachments (such
as belts or underwire bras). These will
set off alarms during a security walk
through.
-
Be
sure to take two forms of identification.
-
Listen
carefully to the screener's instructions.
It
will save you time and aggravation. |
