If going to FL by airline, read....

[RebAl]

Is there any problem with locking you check-in luggage?

[Ian W.]

there's no problem with locking anything, as long as you can open it if they ask you to . probably not a bad idea to lock it, especially if you have robot parts in it.

[Jeff Waegelin]

Do they make you turn laptops or other electronics on to make sure they are, in fact, electronics? My laptop won't run on battery power anymore (and I'm too cheap and lazy to buy a new battery), and I don't want to have to plug it in to power it up.

[Ian W.]

there's a good chance they will at least make you take it out and x-ray it sperately. if they feel the need, they might ask for you to turn it on. if that's the case, explain to them the problem, and ask if they can plug it in for you. don't say you NEED to plug it in, explain the problem politely. and don't get mad if they start to piss you off. if the national guard comes over, that's gona just piss you off even more, and waste even more time. i'd say just hope they don't make you turn it on.

[Rob Jenkins]

The last time that I flew was something like a year and a half before September 11th and all of the heightened security. I had a camera with me and I had to turn it on and show that it worked, then they wiped it for traces of explosives. It was fine with me cause it was obviously just a camera, but I would hate to go without a battery or something. I honestly don't know if they will let you plug in a lap top to show that it works...same thing with cell phones. So I'm getting an extra battery before nationals for my phone, and bringing 2 sets for anything else that I might be bringing electronic. With the heightened security I just don't think it's worth risking it, especially when these people are just doing there jobs and trying to keep everyone safe.

[Alfred Thompson]

They frequently ask you to "do something" that changes the display on your cell phone. I make sure mine is turned on to save time. Usually a scroll through the menu is fine.
Laptops are x-rayed outside their carry on case. I haven't been asked to turn it on or anything though I suppose that could happen.

[kevinw]

Even before September 11th, I was periodically asked to turn on my laptop for security, so I would not at all be surprised if they ask you to do so now. My advice would be to buy a battery.

[Joe Matt]

They usually don't make you turn on your computer now. They use an electronic nose to test for anytype of residue (bomb making stuff, anthrax, etc).

Also, don't bring much on carry-ons, except for a laptop, books, and other things that could be taken out easily and dosn't have other things with it (extension coards, cloathing, etc)

[Joe Ross]

I live across the country from where I go to college, so I've flown several times, both before and after 9/11, both through large airports (LAX, Dallas/Ft Worth, Chicago) and medium size (Rochester). My sister has also flown through Long Beach (small) and JFK. The following are the results of her and my experiences, which should be taken with a grain of salt, but are a good indication of what you might encounter.

When they say 1 carry on and 1 "personal item", they really mean 1 item that can go in the over head bin, and one that will easily fit under the seat in front of you.

The smaller airports are much more picky in screening. The big ones have to get a whole lot more people through, and don't have as much time to be thorough on everyone. Don't expect this though, because I have been carefully searched at LAX, although only once, as compared to every time at Rochester.

I travel with a laptop and palm pilot. Before 9/11, I just had to send the laptop through the x-ray machine, still in the case. I was allowed to pass the palm pilot around the metal detector, as long as I turned it on to show them that it worked. Since then, they make me remove the laptop from the carrying case and x-ray it seperately. I also have to x-ray the palm pilot. I have not had them ask me to turn either on since 9/11.

If you are flying in a group or out of a large airport, you definetly need to allow more time then if you are flying alone out of a smaller airport. 2 hours is the suggested time, but I've often used less at Rochester, although all 2 hours are often needed at a larger airport.

I've noticed that people using passports as ID are much more likely to be picked for the "random" screening, then people using a drivers license.

They do random checks on the checked luggage, but are much less stringent. I did get pulled aside once and have to explain something that was in one of my bags, but it was at the destination.

I hope this answers some of the questions, at least

[Jnadke]

Hehe... Thanks for the heads up... I'll have to remember that when I pack my stuff...

Hrrm... I need to take a dremel and, hopefully, the laptop... this is gonna be a difficult one...

[Pat Sarmiento]

It's not that difficult. Having traveled by air numerous times with the team and for personal reasons shows pretty much everything you can do at the airport to save time as well as pass security. (e.g. my mom thought we had to leave 2 hours before departure at O'Hare and Boston Logan, but we had an hour to burn at the gate each time...)

- Have your ID ready and reachable at ALL TIMES. They check it at check-in, security, and on boarding, and if everyone has to take a minute to reach it, it can slow things down.

- Know exactly what's in every bag, especially if you're checking a bag or box for your team. Check-in personnel will ask what's in non-suitcase baggage, and if you don't know they may have to resort to opening it. Don't worry about tools and pieces of metal and the like. As long as it's declared and safely stowed (and isn't part of the illegal materials list...and it mainly concerns explosives and chemicals), it should pass. One suggestion is to have the contents taped to the box, or the person who packs it checks it.

- At security, know how you're going to get everything through security. By the conveyors, they have taken airline food storage trays (yes! they really are!) and placed them there for use though the conveyor. Have your personal items on one tray(wallet, keys, etc...you might be able to pass them around the metal detector), your laptop in its own tray, your carryons, and your jacket/coat.

- This has already been said many times, but if you're chosen to be searched, don't complain and do exactly as they say. Laptops' ports and keyboards are usually swabbed and scanned, and for bag checks point out all pockets. Searches are mostly conducted at security and boarding, so keep this in mind.

And thus ends my long and extremely thorough tips for saving time at the airport. Although you can probably tell that I must have been extremely bored to type all this... oh well

See you all in Florida, and have a safe flight!