Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Don't Stow It—Ship It
If ease of travel is your main concern and money is no object, you can ship
your luggage with one of the growing number of luggage-service com-
panies that pick up, track, and deliver your luggage (often through couri-
ers such as Federal Express) with minimum hassle for you. Traveling
luggage-free may be ultraconvenient, but it's not cheap: One-way
overnight shipping can cost from $100 to $200, depending on what you're
sending. Still, for some people, especially the elderly or the infirm, it's a
sensible solution to lugging heavy baggage. Specialists in door-to-door
luggage delivery are Virtual Bellhop (www.virtualbellhop.com), SkyCap
International (wwww.skycapinternational.com), and Luggage Express
(www.usxpluggageexpress.com).
Tips
checkpoint, and your ID at the ticket
counter or the gate. (Children under
18 do not need photo IDs for domes-
tic flights, but the adults checking in
with them need them.)
Security lines are getting shorter
than they were during 2001 and 2002,
but some doozies remain. If you have
trouble standing for long periods of
time, tell an airline employee; the air-
line will provide a wheelchair. Speed
up security by
not wearing metal
objects
such as big belt buckles or
clanky earrings. If you've got metallic
body parts, a note from your doctor
can prevent a long chat with the secu-
rity screeners. Keep in mind that only
ticketed passengers
are allowed past
security, except for folks escorting pas-
sengers with disabilities or children.
Federalization has stabilized
what
you can carry on
and
what you can't.
The general rule is that sharp things
are out, nail clippers are okay, and food
and beverages must be passed through
the X-ray machine—but that security
screeners can't make you drink from
your coffee cup. Bring food in your
carry-on rather than checking it, as
explosive-detection machines used on
checked luggage have been known to
mistake food (especially chocolate, for
some reason) for bombs. Travelers in
the U.S. are allowed one carry-on bag,
plus a “personal item” such as a purse,
briefcase, or laptop bag. Carry-on
hoarders can stuff all sorts of things
into a laptop bag; as long as it has a
laptop in it, it's still considered a per-
sonal item. The Transportation Secu-
rity Administration (TSA) has issued a
list of restricted items; check its web-
site (http://www.tsa.gov/public/index.
jsp) for details.
In 2003, the TSA started phasing
out
gate check-in
at all U.S. airports.
Passengers with E-tickets and without
checked bags can still beat the ticket-
counter lines by using
electronic
kiosks
or even
online check-in.
Ask
your airline which alternatives are
available, and if you're using a kiosk,
bring the credit card you used to book
the ticket. If you're checking bags,
you will still be able to use most air-
lines' kiosks; again call your airline for
up-to-date information.
Curbside
check-in
is also a good way to avoid
lines, although a few airlines still ban
curbside check-in entirely; call before
you go.
At press time, the TSA is also rec-
ommending that you
not lock your
checked luggage
so screeners can
search it by hand if necessary. The
agency says to use plastic “zip ties”
instead, which can be bought at hard-
ware stores and can be easily cut off.
