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Every person and item that enters the secure boarding area of an airport must be screened by the TSA (Transportation Security Administration). In order to ensure that properly screening those traveling with a disability or illness is balanced with treating them with respect, the TSA has developed a program for screening the disabled and their associated equipment and belongings. This program was developed with help from over 70 disability-related groups. All manner of disability, including mobility, hearing, visual, and those with hidden disabilities, are covered.
All disability-related equipment is allowed through security checkpoints, once it’s cleared screening. A listing of permitted disability-related equipment can be found on their site.
Additionally, any liquid prescription medication or other liquids needed by those with disabilities or medical conditions are also permitted. If they’re larger that 3 ounces each, however, they’re not to be placed in your 1-quart ziplock bag, and must be declared to the Security Officer. It’s recommended, but not required, that you provide any supporting documentation about your medication, and it’s also recommended that only the amount needed for the flight itself be carried in your carry-on bag, with the rest packed in your checked bag.
You won’t be required to remove your shoes, but you will be subject to additional visual and physical screening that includes explosive trace detection sampling of your shoes while they remain on your feet.
The TSA has much more information about their program on their site, including information on the screening of casts, prosthetic devices, braces, implanted medical devices, respiratory-related equipment, mobility aids, dressings and more. Also included are sections relating to traveling with children with special needs, traveling with service animals, and tips on preparing for your trip before you reach the airport. It’s definitely a good idea to know what to expect at the airport before you get there, so that you’re able to prepare for things to go as smoothly as possible. Travel can be difficult enough, especially for those with special needs.
The TSA (Transportation Security Administration) has a helpful explanation of their guidelines for traveling with kids on their site, including videos on traveling with kids, traveling with babies, infant traveling tips, and a great video for kids themselves to watch which features other kids explaining the process to them.
Everyone who travels must be screened, regardless of age, but their guidelines seem to make an effort to keep the process from being scary for kids. They note that you will never be separated from your child, and that kids will be treated as gently as possible. If they become upset during the process, their parent will be asked how to best comfort them.
At the x-ray machine, all of the child’s items must go through. Any equipment used for the child, such as strollers, carriers or backpacks, must also go through. If any equipment doesn’t fit through the machine, officers will physically inspect it. It’s also suggested that you can ask an officer for help in getting all of your things back together on the other side, which is nice to know. A warning is also given to not leave babies in carriers when they go through the x-ray machine (who does this?).
Walking through the metal detector, it’s recommended that kids walk through themselves if they’re able to.
You’re allowed to bring medicine for children, formula and baby food, juice and breast milk in “reasonable” quantities larger than 3 ounces, and they don’t have to be in a quart zip-lock bag. However, you do need to declare them for inspection. It’s asked that only those liquids needed by a child on the flight be packed in a carry-on, and that the rest be packed in checked bags.
There’s also a section explaining how to best travel with a child with a disability or medical condition.
Traveling with kids can be so stressful and difficult. It can take half an hour just to get everyone into the car for a trip to the grocery store, much less through the airport for a lengthy trip on a plane. It’s a good idea to know what to expect at the airport, so that you can prepare as much as possible.
The TSA (Transportation Security Administration) has a handy page on its site that looks at all of the items that it prohibits in some way, and details whether they can be packed in your carry-on or checked luggage. Its explanation includes sharp items, sporting goods, guns, tools, flammable materials, and many other types of items.
It’s definitely a good idea to make sure that you have any questionable items where they’re supposed to be before you try to go through security. Who wants to deal with getting in trouble because of something in their carry-on, when you could have just packed it in your checked bag, had you known? A mistake in what you pack where could lead to embarrassment and a missed flight, or real trouble in the worst case. Better to be informed.
According to TSA (Transportation Security Administration) guidelines, liquids in travelers’ carry-on bags must:
3 – be in a bottle that is 3 oz or less
1 – the bottles must fit in a 1 quart-sized zip-lock bag
1 – 1 zip-lock bag per traveler
These zip-lock bags must be put on the conveyor belt to be screened by x-ray.
Liquids in larger bottles may be packed in checked bags. Certain liquids, such as medications, baby formula or food and breast milk, are allowed to be carried in a traveler’s carry-on in larger “reasonable” quantities, and do not have to be carried in quart zip-lock bags. These exceptions must be declared at the security checkpoint, however.
For more information, review the rules on the TSA’s site.
Here are some packing tips, right from the horse’s mouth, so to speak:
Organize the items in your carry-on into layers, and wrap all cords. This will keep innocent items from appearing threatening, and aid in any search necessary.
Do not pack large electronics in your checked bags. Pack them in your carry-on and be prepared to submit them for separate x-ray screening. Small electronics can stay in your carry-on.
Have your one-quart zip-lock back of liquid containers ready before you get to the airport. I guess some people try to fill all of their little bottles at the security check point?!
Pack all of your coats in your checked bag. They will need to go through the x-ray machine if you are carrying or wearing them.
Undeveloped film should be packed in your carry-on. You can ask to have film faster than 800-speed physically inspected rather than being x-rayed.
Do not wrap any gifts. They will be unwrapped if they need to be inspected. Just pack the folded wrapping paper and wrap them when you arrive.
Loose lithium batteries are not allowed in checked baggage. They may be packed in your carry-on, however.
For more information, visit the TSA’s helpful site.
Packing as few things as possible, and packing them as efficiently as possible, is vital to a good travel experience. Who wants to be lugging around an enormous bag all over somewhere you’ve never been before, when you could be enjoying your trip instead? And with the long lines at airport security these days, you’re going to be carrying that bag a lot. Ease of mobility can be crucial, even on a short trip. Also, if you can manage to limit yourself to just a carry-on, think of all of the time you would save bypassing the baggage claim, and not needing to wait for porters to help you, not to mention the added peace of mind that comes with having your bag with you at all times.
It’s important to remember that you can often buy many of the things you might pack, such as clothes, underclothes or toiletries, at your travel destination. Why not welcome the chance to check out a local market in search of an extra item of clothing, or even a local (but exotic to a traveler from elsewhere) store for toiletries or common items like underclothes? What are the options for lotion in Paris? At the end of your trip you’ll be left with an additional souvenir, and the memory of an unexpected adventure. In addition, hotels often provide commonly-needed items such as toiletries, hairdryers, bathrobes and more. A quick call to them may eliminate several things from your suitcase.
When choosing what to pack, it’s wise to bring items that can serve more than one purpose whenever possible. Bring the swim trunks that can double as shorts, or the shawl for cool nights that can also be used as a beach cover-up, for example. Also try to bring clothing all within the same color scheme, as this will allow greater mixing-and-matching, expanding your wardrobe without expanding your luggage.
Many travelers find it helpful to make a list ahead of time of of everything that they might need to pack. This way they can more-easily think and rethink what they’ll end up packing, rather than just spreading everything out on the bed.
Try to plan on doing some laundry while on the road. This can greatly decrease the number of clothes needed on any trip. And pack clothes made of fabrics that can even be hand-washed well.
Many travelers even send home purchases or soiled clothes to avoid carrying them around for the rest of their trip. Often, the postal charge is less than any excess baggage fee might be.
You’ll bitterly regret not having wheeled luggage, preferably with a telescoping handle, or at least a lightweight wheeled trolley to carry your older suitcase on. Take it from someone who had to (literally) drag a bag through Logan Airport in Boston once, until they thought of getting a trolley, and vowed to never let it happen again.
Be sure to learn your particular airline’s baggage allowance rules in advance. No one wants to be that guy arguing with the baggage check person.
Travel with good-quality, sturdy luggage that’s easy to pack and transport. It’s definitely a wise investment.
For more information about traveling light, check out One Bag – The Art and Science of Traveling Light. It’s an amazingly thorough, well-respected resource that’s useful to any traveler, whether their trip is short or long.
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