Planes Being "De-Iced" - Manchester Airport
Whether you are flying to a business meeting, visiting family or friends, or heading off on that vacation of a lifetime - your airline experience will begin the very same way! For every person taking a flight, their experience begins with a stop at the Airport Security Checkpoint. To help make this experience as simple as possible, there are three things that you should keep with you as you approach the checkpoint: You airline boarding pass, a government issued photo ID (unless you are a child),and your common sense. Yes! Please don't pack your common sense - bring it on the plane with you!
Every airline passenger must be screened for objects that would be considered "Prohibited" by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). For all passengers, this screening includes being scanned by a metal detector. Although there are no restrictions on the type or style of clothing you may wear on an airplaine, passengers wearing oversized, loose fitting, baggy clothing may be asked to submit to further screening in addition to the metal detector. (Yes young men - baggy "pants on the ground" type jeans would meet this criteria, and could possibly cause you to be called aside for further screening!).
The purpose of a metal detector is exactly that - to detect metal objects that a passenger might be wearing or carrying. If the metal detector buzzes as you pass through, the TSA Officers are required to conduct further screening to determine what the cause of the detection is. This "further screening" would include the use of a hand held Metal detector wand as well as a pat-down. Some of the most common causes of the metal detector being activated are:
Heavy Jewelry (including pins, bracelets, necklaces, watches, earings, lanyards, and body piercings)
Clothing with metal snaps, buttons, studs, and snaps
Metal hair barrets or other hair accessories
Belt Buckles
Underwire bras
TIPS: If at all possible, you should refrain from wearing any of these items while traveling by air. If heavy jewelry is a way of life for you, you may save yourself some time by placing it in a plastic bag and placing it inside a side pocket of your carry-on bag before you leave home. Once you clear security and arrive at your gate, it will be easy enough to find and you may put it on while waiting for your plane to board. It is also important to know that the little piece of metal found on many hair elastics is enough to set off a metal detector. I know that bras are a necessity for women as are belts for most men. Although I cannot speak for bras, I can say that removing your belt is easy enough to do, and regardless of the size of the buckle - removing the belt and placing it in a bin could save you some time in the end.
It is also important to understand that although many body piercings may be hidden from the view of the TSA Officers, the metal detectors are very likely to detect them, and you could/will be directed aside for further screening. If directed aside for further screening, you may ask to remove the piercing in private as an alternate to a pat-down search.
Once you arrive at the security checkpoint, you will be asked to remove everything from your pockets including keys, cell phones, loose change, pens, etc. TIP: This is another situation where it can save you some time by having another plastic "zipper" bag to place these items in. By placing these items in your carry on, again you will be able to remove them easy enough when you arrive at your gate, and return the items to your pockets. Otherwise you will be required to put them in a bin, send them through the X-Ray machine, retrieve the bin on the other side, worry about someone else picking them up if you get called aside for additional screening. Just put them in your carry on and go!!
All coats and jackets that you wear or carry to the security checkpoint must go through the X-Ray machine. This includes ALL jackets and coats: winter jackets, suitcoats, blazers, trenchcoats, sports coats, zip-up sweatshirts, etc. When at all possible, you should pack these in your luggage.
At this point in time, all TSA security checkpoints require the removal of your shoes before passing through the metal detector. This includes ALL footwear, including sandals and flip flops. This is the one area that seems to take time for most passengers at the checkpoint. Although it is unreasonable to think that all passengers can wear sandals or flip flops when they travel, you should take this into consideration when determining your travel wardrobe. The simpler the better. "Easy off - easy on" will save you time at the checkpoint.
As you would expect, when placing items on the belt to be scanned, an X-ray image is taken of your items, and that image is scrutinized by a TSA Officer (who you know is just hoping he can find a reason to make you open your bag!!) The more you have in your bags, the more they have to look through. The more they have to look through, the more time it takes and the greater the chances of them wanting to take a closer look at something inside. You should make it a point to fill your carry-on items with only those items you will need while traveling. Anything that CAN go into your checked luggage SHOULD go into your checked luggage. This includes brief cases and pocketbooks. By cleaning them out before you leave home, you'll save yourself some time at the security checkpoint.
Any liquids you are bringing with you onto the plane must be contained in a 3 oz. bottle (or less) and must be placed into a clear 1 quart "zipper" bag, and must be kept outside of your carry on as you pass through the security checkpoint. These items will be examined by the TSA officers and will be returned to you once cleared. It is important to note that beverages, whether sealed or not, are not allowed through a security checkpoint. TIP: If you are a person who is dependant upon having a bottle of water with you as you travel, pack an EMPTY water bottle in your carry on. Once you are on the other side of security, you may either fill it up at a water fountain or many of the restaraunts in the air terminals are happy to fill them for you.
It is important to understand that once you have gone through the security checkpoint, if for any reason you must leave the secure boarding area, you will be required to go through the security screening process again in order to re-enter the secure area. This is also the case if you have a connecting flight and must leave one secured area to go to another.
If you are a companion assisting an elderly person, a child, or a disabled person but are NOT traveling yourself, you should call the airline ahead to see what documentation you need in order to accompany the person to the gate. Please understand that even though you are not traveling, you are still subject to the same security checkpoint screenings as all passengers.
Much of the information that I have given was found on the Transportation Security Administration's Website. For more information regarding airport security, please visit http://www.tsa.gov/ .
So my biggest tip to you when it comes to dealing with airport security, is to use your common sense. By thinking ahead, you will save yourself some time and frustration (as well as that of your fellow travelers) as you "zip" through airport security. As Mrphy's Law indicates: If it CAN go wrong, it WILL go wrong - so be sure to give yourself plenty of time.
TIP: Although you can not bring beverages with you through the security checkpoint, you CAN bring food items with you on a plane. Because food is often expensive at the airport, consider stopping along the way to the airport to pick up a meal or snack. Just remember - no condiment packets and no sauces!!
Travel Safely!!
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