So you got that trip coming up soon and you’re in the packing process, and here is where it can get a little tricky, especially if you’re planning to travel with certain unorthodox items. Unfortunately, Air travel can be difficult when it comes to your luggage and carry-on bags. We aren’t living in the good old days with less rules and flexibility. These days, there are so many complex rules and restrictions that every traveler should be fully aware of in order to avoid any complications at the airport. Have a look below and see some of the important things you need to know about traveling with not your everyday items for a smoother travel experience.
Who are the TSA?
Short for Transportation Security Administration, the TSA was born after the tragic events of the 9/11 attack. Don’t let their humble employee behavior fool you, they are well trained and highly capable of ensuring the safest movements for air travel. There are many restrictions that the TSA have. Whether it’s your luggage weight, the amount of liquid you carry, pets or service animals and many other things. To avoid any problems at the security screenings you really need to watch out for all the possible outcomes if you ever travel carrying these type of items.
Man’s best friend
Pet travel restrictions differ from one airline to another, so you have to double check with your air carrier before going to the airport. You also have to let the TSA officer know that you have an animal with you when you arrive there, whether it’s a normal pet or a service animal. You could provide them with medical documentation or the TSA notification card that you can get from their website describing your condition, but it doesn’t necessarily exempt you from their security screenings. Every animal has accessories like leashes, harnesses, dog collars, animal vests, pet toys and many other items that will be subject to the security screening. Some of these items don’t need to be removed in the screening process. If a pet is traveling in the cabin of an airplane with its owner, you and your pet will be will be screened by a walk-through metal detector. You should also expect your pet to undergo a pat-down. The TSA can’t be too careful.
Remains and Urns
There is nothing more difficult and heartbreaking than losing a loved one, traveling with your loved one’s remains can be very tricky. It’s crucial to learn more about TSA Security and cremation urns in order to be ready and have all your bases covered beforehand. The TSA understands how painful this can be and will always treat the remains and Urns with respect, they would never even open any container or urn even if you gave them permission. That’s why it’s very important to have the remains in a container that can pass through the X-ray machine. It would be better also to have a container made out of wood or plastic to make the screening process much easier. But if the container is made of a material that generates a solid or dense image, it would be difficult for the TSA officers to clearly determine what is inside the container. It’s also better to keep it in your carry-on bag because having your luggage lost or damaged is a possibility. Better to be safe than sorry.
Got to get to that Gig
If you’re a musician and you’re about to travel, you need to be familiar with the rules and restrictions about your gear and instruments. It’s allowed to have a small instrument such as a violin or guitar to be taken on board as carry-on baggage, if there’s room for that instrument of course in the overhead storage above your head or under your seat. It’s a little different if you have instruments that are too large to be carried on board as standard carry-on baggage, if you’re a double bass player you may be able to store your instrument in a separately purchased seat for its own so it will cost you. You need to make sure your instruments are in a hard case and not a Polyfoam case, you never know how bumpy the ride could be. If there’s any wiggle room in the case, stuff the case with any cloth or a T-shirt to prevent it from bumping back and forth in there and avoid any damages.
Follow the 3-1-1 rule
When it comes to liquids, the rules can be very strict. You cannot have more than 3.4 ounces with you on the plane. From Deodorants or other hygienic/cosmetic product to any liquid consumables, you need them all in one clear zip top plastic bag and only one bag per traveler is allowed. It’s crucial to be sure that your personal care items and consumables comply with the TSA Rules. They don’t mess around!
Knowledge is power
Traveling can be such a hassle and not just from the packing and unpacking phase. To have a smooth process from the start, it’s great to be prepared and ready for anything the mighty TSA can throw at you. Do your research for a stress-free travel experience.
To read more on topics like this, check out the travel category.