New regulations have made flying more complicated. Brushing up on the current regulations and recommendations can make your travel experience much easier. Always be sure to check with the State Department for any new notices or updates to traveling overseas.
Baggage:
Airlines have become much more strict about enforcing baggage size requirements. The maximum size carry-on bag for most airlines is 45 linear inches - in other words the sum of the height, width and depth of the bag. Anything larger should be checked. For questions about individual airline practices regarding the number of carry-on items allowed, the FFA recommends that you contact the airline directly. Visit CitiDex.com Guide to Airlines for a complete listing of airlines that fly into Kennedy, La Guardia and Newark airports.
The Transportation Security Administration has provided a list of items that are permitted and prohibited on flights in the United States. Before packing, travelers should browse through this list to ensure that there are no difficulities at the gate.
Arriving at the Airport:
The days of running up to the gate and getting on the flight before it takes off are gone. Airlines recommend that domestic travelers arrive at least 1 hour (no baggage to check) to 1 1/2 hours (checking baggage) in advance of their flight. International travelers should arrive at least 2 to 3 hours ahead of time. Children traveling as Unaccompanied Minors must arrive earlier to complete paperwork, etc. Please contact your airline service representative for specifics
The Screening Process:
The TSA has provided information on the new screening processes.
- Security Checkpoint Wait Times
- Traveling with Children - Screening process for kids
- The screening process for persons with disabilities and medical conditions
- Know Before You Go - Regulations for U.S. Residents: Contains everything U.S. residents should know before they go abroad.
- When You Return to the United States
- Documentary Requirements for Entry To The United States
- Additional US Customs information
Before traveling with pets, you must check with the airline to see if pets are allowed. Pet Travel maintains a list of current airline policies for traveling with pets. Visit the TSA webpage for travelers with pets. You can also visit www.thepetprofessor.com for more information and guidelines for traveling with pets.
