How to go through airport security with a team

[Adamc4]

Only Aviation High School could be so well rehearsed on flight travel Thanks so much for the video and especially the help and assistance in helping us get to St.Louis

[Alexa Stott]

Something important to note: taking things out of your pockets is actually really important at airports that use the body scanners. So even if you think you're okay with non-metal items, you won't be if you try to go through one of those things. They'll make you go through again even if it's something as small as a gum wrapper or receipt. And here's the TSA list of prohibited items.

For international teams, most of the security stuff holds up (though you might not have to take off your shoes--it depends on the country) and you may have to go through an extra security checkpoint at your gate. They'll just have you open your bag(s) for them and give it a quick check. I've had to do this before when flying back to the US.

[Koko Ed]

Make sure and get to the airport good and early.
Last year after champs the lines went out the door and I was two hours early and barely made my flight. It might be a good idea getting there three hours early to assure you make your flight. Better safe than sorry.

[Jaxom]

Originally Posted by Alexa Stott

Something important to note: taking things out of your pockets is actually really important at airports that use the body scanners. So even if you think you're okay with non-metal items, you won't be if you try to go through one of those things. They'll make you go through again even if it's something as small as a gum wrapper or receipt.

Good tip. This even includes something like your boarding pass & ID -- which they just looked at -- put in your shirt pocket. Guess how I know this?

To the original -- this was a nice video and had lots of good advice. Thank you for sharing it.

I don't travel as much as Steve, but I'd like to add a couple of things I don't recall seeing in the video:
1) Take everything out of your pockets & put it in your laptop bag (or whatever carry-on you're using) BEFORE you get in the security line. When you get into the security line and are waiting for the folks in front of you, do what you can to speed up (or at least not slow down) the process. Loosen your shoelaces, take off your jacket, whatever.
2) Steve mentioned making sure you bring your chargers. It's amazing how much all of that wire, plugs, and transformers weighs when you put them all together; consider putting all of that in your suitcase with wheels. Think about other things that might weigh a lot, and put them in your wheeled container as well. It's nicer to walk through airports without a ton of weight on your shoulder(s). Just make sure you put everything that has to be shown separately in the security line into the same container, so you're not digging through multiple bags.

I'll also second one of Steve's tips: be courteous and smile. The folks working security frequently have people upset at them; seeing smiles & having people be nice to them helps their day too. Even if something goes wrong, don't be one of those folks that cause problems.

[Tristan Lall]

That's a really useful video.

I noticed one little error: at security checkpoints in the U.S. and Canada (and probably in other places), you do not need a prescription for medically necessary liquids/gels, and they may be in containers exceeding 100 mL.¹ Present them at screening and state that they are medically necessary. The regulations require that you be allowed to travel with them.

¹ Details for Canada & United States.

[KathieK]

My particular brand of contact lens solution used to trigger the machines at my local airport. I started putting it in my checked baggage. Make a note of the brands you use of items like this, in case they should get confiscated! There is a full grocery store a few blocks from the venue in St. Louis (Culinaria on 9th) if you need to replace something.
Besides being courteous to people you encounter, be cooperative! If you are pulled aside to be searched for whatever reason, cooperate! Do NOT joke about security threats. It's not a joke as you will quickly discover.
And based on my flights yesterday to St. Louis from Hartford through Chicago, allow for plenty of extra time. Due to lower staffing of air traffic controllers starting this week, both my flights were delayed. Bring something to snack on in case you are delayed, and also have the phone number of any bus or shuttle service you may have booked to pick you up. That way you can call to let them know you are delayed (I was about two hours late by the time I arrived.)

[Libby K]

Originally Posted by KathieK

There is a full grocery store a few blocks from the venue in St. Louis (Culinaria on 9th) if you need to replace something.

I just tried googling it and it is now apparently called Schnuck's.

315 N 9th St, about three blocks straight out of the Americas Center main entrance.

[DonRotolo]

Originally Posted by Libby K

Arrive earlier than you would alone to the airport.

Originally Posted by Koko Ed

Make sure and get to the airport good and early.

My favorite saying is "better 3 hours too early than 3 seconds too late".

For keeping the entire team accounted for, we use a nifty trick: Students are organized by room, and one is the "leader". When we call for attendance, each leader raises their hand ONLY if they see the others in their room. Each mentor has 2 or 3 leaders to watch, and they raise their hand when their leaders have their hands raised. When the coach sees the 5 or 6 mentors with their hand raised, everyone is accounted for.

In this way, we take attendance maybe a dozen or more times as we traipse through the airport, maybe 30 times in a trip, each one taking just a few seconds.

[BrendanRadabaug]

Remember no OINK OINK-ing or BOOM-ing in the airport or on the flight. they really don't like that.

[fb39ca4]

Originally Posted by Alexa Stott

And here's the TSA list of prohibited items.

TIL you can bring screwdrivers less than seven inches in length on carry on bags on a plane.

[Alexa Stott]

Originally Posted by fb39ca4

TIL you can bring screwdrivers less than seven inches in length on carry on bags on a plane.

Yep. They just changed some of the restrictions regarding sharp items under a certain length.

[JohnBoucher]

Originally Posted by Alexa Stott

Yep. They just changed some of the restrictions regarding sharp items under a certain length.

They just delayed some of the changes.

[seg9585]

Here's another thoughtful airport security travel tip, courtesy of the movie "Up in the Air":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=636ZFJODQU4

[Hallry]

Thanks so much for the great video, we sent it to all of our teams members traveling to watch before our flight tomorrow morning.

[engunneer]

Originally Posted by BrendanRadabaug

Remember no OINK OINK-ing or BOOM-ing in the airport or on the flight. they really don't like that.

My students in Seattle would call me Gunn (last name). In the airport, they got some startled looks when they called out to me (I am always delayed in security), but they quickly recovered with "MR. Gunn!", which sounds quite odd in the group.