Packing

TSA 311 RULE FOR CARRYONS
With just a few exceptions, these Transportation Security Administration rules apply to liquids, gels, and aerosols carried on board in hand luggage.

3---All liquids, gels, and aerosols must be in three-ounce or smaller containers. Larger containers that are only half-full or toothpaste tubes rolled up are not allowed. Each container must be three ounces or smaller.

1---All liquids, gels, and aerosols must be placed in a single, quart-size, zip-top, clear plastic bag. Gallon size bags or bags that are not zip-top, such as fold-over sandwich bags are not allowed. Each traveler can use only one, quart-size, zip-top clear plastic bag.

1—Each traveler must remove their quart-sized plastic, zip-top bag from their carry-on and place it in a bin or on the conveyor belt for X-ray screening. X-raying separately will allow TSA security officers to more easily examine the declared items.

PUT HEAVY ITEMS IN THEIR PLACE
Pack heavy items like shoes, toiletry kits, etc at the bottom of your bag (closest to the wheels). That way the heavyweights won’t smash down the lighter items in your bag. Helps reduce wrinkles!

SPARE EYEGLASSES
If you wear prescription eyeglasses or contact lenses, always pack an extra set. Make sure they’re in a hard case to protect them from bumps along the way.

PACK A FEW ZIP-LOCK BAGS
Just like at home, zip-lock bags are really handy. They can keep wet things from touching dry things, hold a picnic lunch, carry a few toys on a day-trip. Tuck a few at the bottom of your bag…they take up almost no room!

CHOOSING COLORS
Choose one base “neutral” color for your travel wardrobe…..like black, navy, or khaki. That will allow to you minimize the number of shoes and accessories you’ll need to pack. You can then add lots of accent colors with shirts, tops, sweaters, scarves etc.

BE READY FOR SPILLS
Because you have a limited number of wardrobe items on any trip, it’s important to be prepared for the spills and splashes that are sure to occur. Kiss-Off is a powerful, travel-size stain remover that works on virtually any stain.

PACK A BACK-UP BAG
Pack a collapsible suitcase or bag in your checked luggage and use it for souvenirs or even dirty laundry on the trip home. It doesn’t take up much room and gives you a whole extra bag for the return trip.

HAVE BACK-UPS OF TRAVEL DOCUMENTS
Scan your documents—tickets, passport, credit card, drivers license etc. and send them in an email to yourself and a friend or family member. That way if something does get lost, you’ll be able to access the information by email around the world.

LUGGAGE PHOTO
Take a photo of your luggage before you leave home. That way, if it joins the ranks of the missing and doesn’t arrive at your destination, you’ll have an excellent description of it to show airline personnel.

KNOW WHAT YOUR LUGGAGE WEIGHS
Find out what your airline’s luggage weight limits are, and then weigh your bags at home, before you go to the airport. That can save you both time and a nasty overweight charge at the check-in counter.

TSA APPROVED LUGGAGE LOCKS
The Transportation Safety Administration has worked with several companies, to develop luggage locks which can be opened by security officers with special master keys. If you wish to lock you luggage, be sure to use these special TSA approved locks
----otherwise your luggage may be delayed, and your locks destroyed

JINGLE BELL ALARM
Put a few jingle bells on the handle of your carryon bag, and you’ll know right away if somebody tries to pick up or mess with you bag.

LABEL AND DOUBLE LABEL
Besides making sure your luggage tags are up to date, tape another label inside each bag with contact information, in case you bag is lost and the outside luggage tag has come loose or is damaged and can’t be read.

DON’T CONFUSE THE BAGGAGE HANDLERS
Before leaving for the airport, do a quick review of your luggage. Make sure all the old bar-coded claim tags have been removed, so baggage handlers don’t have to guess which one is right. Be sure your identification tags have current address information. Remove all shoulder straps, hanging hooks, and extra attachments, so they don’t cause problems during check-in or stowage.