|
How can I help airport security
to do their jobs?
- Stay alert and immediately report any suspicious
activity to airport security.
- Arrive at the airport early to allow for
plenty of time to make it through security. Be sure to allow even
more time when traveling with infants, young children, elderly
or disabled passengers.
- Learn to appreciate the fact that the security
officers are taking the time to insure that you will be safe on
your trip.
- Be polite, quiet, follow all instructions
and fully cooperate with any requests.
- Be ready to answer questions, but don’t get
caught up telling a long story. Be complete, but concise.
- Don’t make jokes about terrorism, bombs,
guns, hijacking or other issues that are the concern of airport
security. These jokes are inappropriate and may get you into serious
trouble with the law.
- Pack your own luggage. Be prepared to answer
questions about who packed your bags, if you left your bags unattended
at any time, accepted items from others to carry on the plane
or if you are carrying any hazardous materials.
- Have all appropriate identification and entry
documentation ready for inspection. Airlines do refuse to board
passengers that fail to produce proper identification.
- If the form’s instructions allow you to do
so, complete any security forms and/or customs declaration forms
in advance.
- If you are required to travel with a passport,
make sure it is valid and completely filled out with updated information.
- Have a contact name and phone number ready
if you are taking an international flight.
- Be aware of the items that you pack and wear.
Do research on what’s allowed on board the aircraft and what’s
not. Some items you might consider harmless may only be carried
in limited amounts or are prohibited altogether.
- Don’t travel with wrapped packages since
security will have to open them if X-rays are unable to identify
the contents. Wrap gift packages after you arrive at your destination.
- Don’t over pack your luggage. Cramming items
in your bags will make inspection more difficult and, since they
will need to pull everything out, it will take extra time for
you to repack after the security check.
- Know that all checked bags and carry-on material
are subject to being hand-searched.
- Save security and yourself some embarrassment.
If you would be embarrassed if a certain item was pulled out of
your bags in a public area, see if it’s possible for you to leave
that item at home.
- Keep your luggage and other possessions gathered
together.
- Never leave your luggage unattended.
- Park only in legitimate parking spaces and
never leave your vehicle unattended in loading and unloading zones.
Parking rules are strictly enforced and your car will be ticketed
and may be towed. These types of tickets can carry very large
fines.
- Never accept gifts or packages from unknown
parties.
- Don’t go near abandoned bags, and immediately
report them to security.
- If your luggage has locks, keep the keys
available in case your luggage needs to be inspected.
- Mark your luggage so it can easily be identified
as yours. Use something that makes your bags unique, but avoid
items that could be caught on a conveyor belt. Colorful tape works
nicely.
- Don’t delay picking up your luggage when
you arrive or you may find it has already disappeared when you
get there.
So I told a bad joke, what could
happen?
Security checkpoints are strict, which is what
keeps us safe. Safety is no joking matter at the airport and it
is no place for bad jokes.
- Any comments about bombs, terrorism, guns
etc. heard by any Airline or airport personnel will be taken seriously.
- Arrests have been made of those who make
inappropriate jokes. Penalties can include large fines and jail
time.
- If you think it will be funny to tell the
security guards to carefully search your buddy’s luggage because
he might have a gun, plan on that search happening, along with
questions and delays for both of you.
- Thought you might spice up the long lines
by telling the check-in clerk that your recently dumped psychotic,
demolition expert ex-girlfriend was trying to kiss up by helping
you pack? Think again, you don’t want that much spice in your
life. Although, if you do have that ex-girlfriend, here’s a valuable
tip, don’t let her anywhere near your luggage.
- Plan on announcing that you were running
late because you were having a few drinks with the pilot and he
got too drunk to read his watch? Plan on running a whole lot later.
Your best case scenario is that you’ll be allowed to fly with
the 100 hot, annoyed people your little joke delayed for two hours.
You’d better hope security is good at the other airport when you
land.
What actions did the Federal
Aviation Administration take to protect air travelers after the terrorist
attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon on September 11,
2001?
- All flights that were in U.S. airspace were
ordered to land at the nearest appropriate airport. International
flights that had not yet entered U.S. airspace returned to their
origin or were diverted to other countries.
- All airports in the United States were closed.
- All U.S. airport facilities and airplanes
were thoroughly searched, secured and inspected.
- Before an airport could reopen, it first
had to undergo preparation for new stricter security procedures
and pass an inspection by the Federal Aviation Administration
to verify that those procedures were in place. Airlines also had
to pass safety inspections before any flights were allowed to
resume.
- Once airports were reopened and flights approved,
the airlines were then allowed the discretion to decide when they
would actually resume flights.
What new airport
security measures were put into place after the hijackings and terrorist
attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon?
- Checking bags at curbside (skycap) and off-airport
sites was suspended indefinitely at all U.S. airports. Some of
the off-airport sites may still be able to be used to obtain boarding
passes and seat assignments, but you should call your airline
to see what services they continue to offer at their off airport
locations.
- Airports will watch vehicles more closely
and may restrict parking to keep vehicles a greater distance from
terminals. The regulations concerning vehicles parked near airport
terminals will be much more strictly enforced.
- There will be more thorough searches of passenger’s
belongings including more physical checks of the passengers themselves.
- Only ticketed passengers will now be allowed
to proceed past airport security checkpoints and into the gate
areas. Passengers traveling on an e-ticket will need some form
of paperwork from the airline in addition to an e-ticket number
to be allowed through the security checkpoint.
- Knives or any other cutting instruments of
any type and made from any material are now added to the list
of items you are prohibited from bringing onboard an aircraft.
Knives may now only be transported in checked baggage. Airlines
will no longer provide steak knives for on-board food service.
Many airport food service vendors will no longer provide knives
to their customers and merchandise vendors will no longer sell
any knifes or knifelike items.
- Additional uniformed and undercover law enforcement
officers and canine teams have increased patrols at U.S. airports.
- A large number of federal marshals and deputies,
including U.S. Customs and Border Patrol Agents have been dispatched
to the busiest airports across the country to assist with the
introduction of tighter security measures. You may even find military
personnel patrolling the airports.
- The Federal Aviation Administration is placing
armed, undercover Federal Air Marshals on both domestic and international
flights.
- Just as before the attacks, all passengers
must present a valid government issued photo I.D., such as a driver’s
license, as part of their documentation at check-in and now they
may also be required to present this I.D. at security checkpoints.
.
Who are Federal Air
Marshals?
Federal Air Marshals are the Federal
Aviation Administration’s civil aviation security specialists who
are specially trained for deployment on anti-hijacking missions.
These Federal Air Marshals have only recently been deployed on international
flights, but will now be covering domestic flights. Federal Air
Marshals are armed and trained in the use of firearms on board aircraft.
The Marshals carry weapons and fly undercover and anonymously. The
FAA will not reveal identities of the Marshals or the number of
Marshals in their service for security reasons.
Have any additional
security measures been taken by individual Airlines since the terrorist
attacks of September 11, 2001?
Every Airline is different so you should check
with your airline if you are concerned about any of the issues listed
below.
- Some Airlines may temporarily increase limits
on carry-on baggage or even prohibit them all together. This would
require you to check more or all of your bags. You should contact
the airline for updated information if there is an item you feel
you must bring on board.
- Some Airlines have temporarily suspended
or restricted their programs that allow unaccompanied minors travel.
- Some Airlines have temporarily suspended
or restricted their programs that allow for the transportation
of pets. If you must travel with a service animal you should check
with the Airline for any updates to the procedures allowing service
animals on flights.
- Some Airlines have temporarily suspended
or restricted their mail and cargo programs.
What additional security
measures are under consideration for the future?
The U.S. Department of
Transportation has formed two new commitees that will focus on air
travel security. One commitee will focus on airport security while
the other will focus on Airline security issues. At this point,
they are open to consider any improvements in air travel safety.
Here are some of the issues that have already been mentioned for
review.
- Airport security screeners will be required
to meet new higher standards. The Federal Aviation Administration
already has a rule pending that is expected to go into force by
October 2001 that will give them direct oversight of screening
contractors who supply the security personnel. This rule also
imposes new more rigorous standards for the training and testing
of screeners. In addition, the rule will require the use of new
software that will monitor how well each screener is doing at
detecting dangerous objects. Contractors whose screeners fail
to meet Federal Aviation Administration detection standards can
lose their certification to perform security at the airports.
- The U.S. Government may also consider completely
taking over the security screener workforce. Many security and
terrorism experts have advocated taking this step for quite some
time.
- The U.S. Department of Transportation (F.A.A.’s
parent) is working with the U.S. Department of Defense to see
if highly trained members of the military could be deployed to
augment the Federal Air Marshal force at least until they have
time to increase the number of Federal Air Marshals.
- The F.A.A. is considering
new regulations that will require the cockpit doors on all commericial
aircraft to be bullet and possibly even grenade proof.
- Matching luggage to passengers is common
in many other countries in the world, but not yet done by most
Airlines that operate in the United States. If you check luggage
and fail to physically get on the plane, your luggage is found
and removed from the flight. It is thought that it is a deterrent
for someone planning to put something dangerous in their checked
luggage if they know they must fly on the same plane that carries
that dangerous material.
- There are other measures under consideration
that may never be announced to the public. Some of the most effective
elements of a security system are the ones that no one knows about.
- If you have a concern or a suggestion to
improve airport security, let the F.A.A. and your elected representatives
know what you think.
Will airport security
allow me to meet an arriving passenger at the gate?
Only passengers with a ticket for
travel on that particular day will be allowed beyond the security
checkpoint and into the gate areas. Airlines are making provisions
for persons with disabilities, those who need to be accompanied
by healthcare assistants or parents who need to meet unaccompanied
minors. If your situation falls into one of the previous categories,
you should contact the Airline directly for details on special assistance.
All others should make plans to meet arriving passengers outside
of the security checkpoints.
How can I make it through
the security checkpoint if I only have an electronic ticket (e-ticket)?
Only ticketed passengers with a government
issued photo I.D. will be allowed beyond the security checkpoint.
Within certain guidelines, the Federal Aviation Administration
allows airlines to determine what ticket documentation (paper
ticket, boarding pass, reservation confirmation, airline or travel
agency generated itinerary or receipt for an electronic ticket)
their screeners will allow which means you might find some variance
in procedures. You should check directly with the airline in advance
if you have an electronic ticket because you will need some form
of paperwork to make it through the security checkpoint and into
the gate areas. The airline might be able to mail, fax or email
any additional paperwork you need or you should be able to pick
up the additional paperwork at their check-in counter when you
check your luggage. No matter what paperwork is required, it must
indicate a flight departure for the current date to allow you
to pass through the security checkpoint.
|
