Tips for Smooth Holiday Travel 2016, from the TSA

Traveling for the holidays? If you're getting on a plane, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has some tips to help you enjoy a smooth trip. Got some tips of your own to share with readers? Just leave a comment below the story. Read the following tips from the TSA's Bob Burns. First on the list, some holiday items:

Wrapped gifts

Wrapped gifts are allowed, but not encouraged: the TSA might have to unwrap gifts. If there’s something in the gift that needs to be inspected, the TSA may have to open it. TSA officers try their best not to mangle the gift wrap, but it’s not a guarantee and it also slows down the line for everybody else.

Snow globes

Snow globes: TSA now allows small snow globes in carry-on luggage when packed in a passenger's plastic 3.4 oz bag. Snow globes that appear to contain less than 3.4 ounces (approximately tennis-ball size) will be permitted if the entire snow globe, including the base, is able to fit in the same one clear, plastic, quart-sized, re-sealable bag as a passenger’s other liquids.

Christmas crackers

Christmas Crackers: Not the kind you eat with a delicious cheeseball, but the kind that “cracks” when you pull it apart. They’re a part of a lot of people’s Christmas traditions, but they’re prohibited on aircraft.

Arrive Prepared: Just as you would take the time to prepare a delicious holiday meal, you should take the time to arrive early to the airport to allow enough time to park, get your boarding pass, check your baggage and go through the security checkpoint. The TSA recommends arriving at the airport up to two hours before your domestic flight if you are not yet enrolled in TSA Pre✓®. Also, we recommend noting when your airline gate closes by referring to your boarding pass.

TSA Pre✓® Not Reflected on Boarding Pass: If you’re looking at your boarding pass and you don’t see the TSA Pre✓® indicator even though you’re an approved trusted traveler, get live assistance by tweeting @AskTSA or via Facebook Messenger. Our AskTSA team can help resolve any issues. If you prefer to call, you can reach out to the TSA contact center.

Identification: TSA will continue to accept driver’s licenses issued by all states through January 2018 and, then, will continue to accept licenses from all compliant states or noncompliant states with an extension.

Prohibited Items

Some travelers pack the craziest items. Make sure your items are allowed by using the “Can I Bring My…” tool to enter the item you want to pack. It will tell you whether you can pack it in your carry-on or checked bag. You may also refer to the TSA prohibited items list. If you still can’t find the answer, reach out to the @AskTSA team via Twitter or Facebook Messenger and they’ll get back to you right away with an answer. You can even send them a photograph of the item in question. If you’re grabbing a bag, suitcase, briefcase, jacket or other item you haven’t used in a while, be sure to give it the onceover so you don’t accidentally take something prohibited to the checkpoint. Many people who have brought guns, ammunition, knives and other prohibited item say that they did so unknowingly. So far this year, over 2,00o firearms have been discovered in carry-on bags.

• E-Cigarettes: E-cigarettes and vape pens are only allowed in carry-on bags. They’re prohibited in checked bags due to their lithium battery’s propensity to catch fire. Read more information in our blog post on the subject.
• Samsung Galaxy Note 7: The FAA has declared Samsung Note 7 devices as forbidden hazardous materials and has banned them altogether from flight. You can read more at the FAA webpage.
• Liquids, Gels & Aerosols: If you’re checking a bag, make your life simple by packing liquids in your checked baggage. That way, you don’t have to worry about the liquids rules. You’re allowed to take as many 3.4 ounce or smaller sized containers that will fit in one sealed, clear, quart-sized zip-top bag – and one bag per person. Make sure you take the zip-top bag out of your carry-on prior to sending it through the X-ray.
• Deodorant: Flying with deodorant isn’t a sticky situation. Stick deodorant is not limited to 3.4 oz or less, but gel or spray deodorant is. Read more about deodorant at our blog.

• Makeup: Any liquid makeup cosmetics such as eyeliner, nail polish, liquid foundation, etc., should be placed in the baggie. That goes for perfume as well. Powder makeup is fine. Read our blog post on traveling with beauty products.
• Beverages: Wine, liquor, beer and all of your favorite beverages are permitted in your checked baggage. You can also bring beverages packaged in 3.4 oz or less bottles in your carry-on in the liquids bag. Just because you can pack alcohol doesn’t mean that you can drink them on the flight. FAA regulations state that “No person may drink any alcoholic beverage aboard an aircraft unless the certificate holder operating the aircraft has served that beverage.”
• Foods: Cakes, pies, bread, donuts, fruits, vegetables, turkeys, etc., are all allowed.
• Dry Ice: Find out how to travel with dry ice to keep your favorite vittles preserved while traveling.
• Shaving Razors: Certain razors are permitted. Learn which razors you can fly with.
• Blades: Anything with blades, points or spikes should be placed in your checked baggage. This includes knives of all sizes, as well as blender and food processor blades. Nail clippers and corkscrews are permitted, but models with blades attached are prohibited.
• Forgotten or Lost IDs: If you have lost or forgotten your ID, you will still be allowed to fly as long as you help us verify you are who you say you are by answering a few questions.
• Batteries: You can’t go anywhere without some kind of battery these days. Learn about what types of batteries you can travel with.
• Medication: One of the more popular questions we get from travelers is: “Can I travel with my medication?” The answer is yes, with some qualifiers.
• Traveling With Children: Did you know that children 12 and under can keep their shoes on? Read about the screening process and how to best pack for your child.
• Traveling With a Pet: Contact your airline first to ask about requirements, fees or restrictions they might have. Read about going through security screening with your pet.
• Jewelry: Read about the best practices when going through security with your jewelry. There are a few different choices that you can make based on what kind of jewelry it is.
• Baggage Locks: Want to lock your checked baggage? Be sure to read about TSA recognized locks.

TSA Cares Helpline: Call TSA Cares toll free at 855-787-2227 if you or a family member with a disability or medical condition have questions about screening policies, procedures and what to expect at the security checkpoint 72 hours prior to traveling.

Military Travel: TSA offers screening benefits for members of the U.S. Armed Forces. Active duty service members and Cadets and midshipmen of the U.S. Military Academy, Naval Academy, Coast Guard Academy and Air Force Academy are also eligible to receive TSA Pre✓® screening benefits. Supply your DoD ID number as your Known Traveler Number on each reservation. Learn about TSA Pre✓®.

Lose Something? Contact the airport lost and found. It’s a good idea to tape your business card or contact info to your valuable electronics or other items. You can also contact the AskTSA team via Twitter at @AskTSA or via Facebook Messenger.

AskTSA: Still have questions? Reach out to the AskTSA team via Twitter at @AskTSA or via Facebook Messenger. The TSA has a team standing by from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. ET on weekdays and 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekends and holidays. If you prefer to call or submit an online form, you can reach out to the TSA contact center weekdays from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. ET and weekends/holidays from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET.

PHOTO of Washington Dulles International Airport/Patch archive