Pack Smart

Carry-on baggage is a small piece of luggage you take onboard the airplane with you. You are allowed one carry-on in addition to one personal item such as a laptop computer, purse, small backpack, briefcase, or camera case.

• TSA will screen any "Carry-on" baggage that will fit through the x-ray machine, however, it is up to each individual air carrier as to whether the baggage fits the size restrictions for your flight.  Please check with the air carrier prior to proceeding through the security checkpoints.
• LABEL your laptop computer.  Tape a business card or other identifying information beneath your laptop to avoid loss or the accidental "exchange" by travelers.

Checked Baggage is luggage you check in at the ticket counter or at curbside.  It will not be accessible during your flight.  Please refrain from locking your checked baggage or use a TSA "Accepted and Recognized" lock.  If your baggage alarms and TSA cannot gain access to your checked bag, unrecognized lock may be broken.

Below are a number of tips for packing your checked baggage that will help to speed your trip and ensure that your checked bag makes the flight with you:

• Don't put film in your checked baggage, as the screening equipment will damage it.
• Pack shoes, boots, sneakers, and other footwear on top of other contents in your luggage.
• Avoid over-packing your bag so that the screener will be able to easily reseal your bag if it is opened for inspection.  If possible, spread your contents over several bags.  Check with your airline or travel agent for maximum weight limitations.
• Avoid packing food and drink items in checked baggage.
• Don't stack piles of books or documents on top of each other; spread them out within your baggage.

The following general packing tips apply to both carry-on and checked baggage and will help you to move through the screening process more quickly:

• Do NOT pack or bring prohibited items to the airport. See permitted and prohibited items.
• Put all undeveloped film and cameras with film in your carry-on baggage. If your bag will pass through the X-ray machine more than 5 times ask for a hand inspection to prevent damage.
• Check ahead of time with your airline or travel agent to determine the airline's baggage policy, including number of pieces you can bring and size and weight limitations.
• Carry-on baggage is limited to one carry-on bag plus one personal item. Personal items include laptops, purses, small backpacks, briefcases, or camera cases. Remember, 1+1.
• Don't forget to place identification tags with your name, address and phone number on all of your baggage, including your laptop computer. It is a good idea to place an identification tag inside your baggage as well.
• Avoid overpacking so that your articles don't spill out if your bag is opened for inspection.
• Think carefully about the personal items you place in your carry-on baggage. The screeners may have to open your bag and examine its contents.
• Consider putting personal belongings in clear plastic bags to reduce the chance that a TSA screener will have to handle them.
• Wait to wrap your gifts. Be aware that wrapped gifts may need to be opened for inspection. This applies to both  carry-on and checked baggage.

Special Needs - Religious and Cultural

General Screening Considerations for Religious or Cultural Needs

• If you do not want to go through the metal detector you may request a personal search (pat-down inspection) as an alternative.
• You may also ask the screener for a private area for this personal search. You will be provided a screener of the same gender except in extraordinary situations. In the unlikely situation where a screener of the same gender is not available you will be provided with alternatives which may include waiting for a same-gender screener to arrive or consenting to a search by a screener of the opposite gender.
• If you refuse appropriate screening you will not be allowed to pass the security checkpoint and you will be unable to board your plane.

Head Coverings

• Passengers are permitted to wear their head covering including those who wish to keep their faces covered during the screening process.
• Passenger usually goes through a walk-through metal detector at the screening checkpoint.  If the passenger is directed by the screener to proceed to secondary screening, then the passenger will be re-screened using hand-wands.  Should the hand wand alarm around the head area, then the screener must resolve the alarm by touching the area.
• The only exception to this policy is if the alarm is still unresolved, then the individual will be offered the opportunity to remove the head covering in a private screening area.  
• It is TSA's policy that passengers should be screened by the same gender.

Religious, Cultural, or Ceremonial Items

• There are items in this category that are not permitted through the security checkpoint (e.g. religious knives, swords, etc.).  Therefore it is advised that you place such items in your checked baggage. Check the permitted/prohibited list for more information.
• If the screener asks you to provide a religious cultural or ceremonial item for screening you may request a hand-inspection.  If the item is prohibited from the cabin of the aircraft you will be asked to place the item in your checked baggage or speak to your airline about checking the item.  If the item is delicate or fragile or special handling is otherwise required please let the screener know so that he or she can handle the item accordingly.

If the screener requests that you put a delicate or fragile item through the X-ray machine you may want to ask the screener to ensure that there is no baggage immediately before or after the item so that it will not be damaged. Bins are available at the X-ray machine.