Transportation Security Administration

[AJE]

TSA Holiday 3-1-1 Tips
Knowing that holiday travel brings inexperienced and infrequent travelers to airports, we’d like to provide holiday-specific 3-1-1 information to help you get through the security checkpoints smoothly and quickly.

TSA’s 3-1-1 program means:

Liquids, aerosols and gels must be in containers three ounces or less,
Items must be put in a one quart, clear plastic zip-top bag, and
Only one zip-top bag per passenger.
Apply 3-1-1 to gifts. 3-1-1 isn’t just about shampoo and toothpaste. Food items such as jams, salsas, sauces, syrups and dips will not be allowed through the checkpoint unless they are in containers three ounces or less and in the passenger’s one quart zip-top bag. This applies to gift items including lotions, creams, scented oil, liquid soaps, perfumes, and even snow globes, that are in excess of three ounces -- even if they are in sealed gift packs. We suggest you ship these items prior to your trip or put them in your checked baggage.

Any of these items WILL A gift you plan to bring in your carry-on bag might be on TSA’s Prohibited Item list. These items delay the screening process for you and other passengers. If you’re not sure which items are allowed, click here to see the list of Prohibited Items.

Arrive on time. Metal in your clothing may set off the walk-through metal detector. Pack coins, keys, jewelry, belt buckles and other metal items in your carry-on bag. Shoes must be removed and screened by TSA, so wear shoes you can easily take on and off to speed the process. Winter coats, blazers, suit jackets and bulky sweaters also must be removed and put in the bin for screening.

Dress the part. If in doubt, put your liquids in checked luggage.

Be considerate and save jokes for after the checkpoint. Our security officers are working to keep bombs off of airplanes. Please follow their directions. Belligerent behavior, inappropriate jokes and threats will not be tolerated, and will result in delays and possibly missed flights.

[Crys]

Here's a link to more info on the TSA screening:

http://www.tsa.gov/311/index.shtm

And hey -- be nice to the screeners as you're going through. They're understaffed, seriously underfunded (and thereby sometimes under-trained and under-equipped) and they're the only thing that's actually standing between you and any terrorists who might make it into the country. For all the Washington rhetoric, they're really it. Some of the rules seem silly if you don't know anything about different ways to smuggle weapons on board, but these are some of the few rules I will always advocate following to the letter.