Travelore Tips: The TSA Has New Rules For Fliers.

As summer travel begins this Memorial Day weekend and continues through Labor Day, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is preparing airport security checkpoints nationwide to screen high volumes of passengers.

About 2.6 million passengers are expected to be screened on Friday, May 26, the busiest day of the long weekend.

Many of those passengers may not have flown in a while and the TSA suggests they get caught up on all the changes. Even those who have flown in the last few months may be in for a couple of nuances as well.

Update on TSA PreCheck

Any parent or guardian already enrolled in TSAPrecheck can now accompany teens aged 13-17 to a TSA PreCheck screening when the TSA PreCheck indicator appears on the teen's boarding pass. Children 12 and under may accompany an enrolled parent or guardian without restriction at any time.

“Passengers can help as well by being prepared, by having their identification ready when they begin screening and checking to make sure they aren’t bringing firearms, oversized liquids or any other prohibited item into the checkpoint,” said TSA Administrator David Pekoske. “One person’s actions can delay screening for everyone else.”

Are you who you say you are?

TSA is deploying new technology solutions nationwide to modernize airport checkpoints, enhance security effectiveness, and improve the passenger experience. Credential Authentication Technology (CAT) units now verify a passenger's identification credentials, flight details, and pre-screening status, such as TSA PreCheck, without a boarding pass. With CAT, passengers only need to provide their acceptable photo identification to the officer.

But, heads up – TSA officers may perform additional passenger verification if they think it’s needed.

If anyone is worried about their images being scanned, the agency said that those travelers may opt out in favor of an alternative identity verification process without losing their place in line.

More scrutiny of carry-ons

TSA recently installed new state-of-the-art Computed Tomography (CT) units nationwide, which the agency says greatly improves scanning and threat detection capabilities for carry-on bags.

The upside is that the new CT units give TSA officers the ability to review a 3-D image of passengers’ bags while reducing the need to physically search the contents of those bags. That means that travelers screened in security lanes with CT units no longer have to remove their 3-1-1 liquids or laptops, but they must place every carry-on item, including bags, into a bin for screening.

Pack an empty bag

The TSA says that it’s been monitoring what trends are happening at U.S. airports and recommends that travelers start with a completely empty bag and take a minute to know what items can be carried on before they go.

“When airline passengers begin packing for travel with an empty bag, they are less likely to be stopped at the security checkpoint for having prohibited items. Prior to packing that empty bag, check TSA’s What Can I Bring? tool to know what is prohibited,” the agency noted.

Check And Declare Firearms

One huge concern is the number of firearms that passengers have tried to get through security checkpoints in the last few months. TSA officers intercepted 1,508 firearms at airport security checkpoints during the first quarter of 2023 – more than 93% of them loaded.

If you try to get a firearm through security, you will get stopped, maybe fined, and the government will confiscate your gun and you won't get it back.

And that fine isn’t cheap, either. Trying to bring a loaded firearm or unloaded firearm with accessible ammunition in a carry-on could cost you $3,000 - $10,700, plus a criminal referral. Unloaded firearms carry a potential fine of $1,500 - $5,370 + criminal referral for anyone who tries to bring one through a TSA checkpoint.

For anyone who wants to travel with a firearm, the rule is simple: “You may still travel with a firearm – it just must be properly packed in your checked baggage and you must declare it to the airline,” Pekoske said.

Source: https://www.consumeraffairs.com/, Gary Guthrie

Summer Travel Tips For People With Asthma And Allergies

Whether it's an overseas vacation, a trip to the beach or a getaway in the country, safe travel for people with asthma and allergies starts with sound planning.

Prior to your trip, schedule a checkup with your primary care physician or board-certified allergist and discuss your travel plans. Ask if there are steps you can take to prevent symptoms, review your Asthma or Anaphylaxis Action Plan, and request prescription refills.

"Asthma flares and allergic reactions can occur without warning, and managing these conditions during travel can add stress to a time meant for relaxation," says Tonya Winders, President and CEO of Allergy & Asthma Network. "If your asthma and allergies are managed well at home, apply the same approach on vacation. Realistic and practical planning, such as packing extra medication or calling restaurants to find out if they accommodate food allergies, can help prepare you for potential medical emergencies and ease anxiety."

Pack medical equipment, such as a nebulizer and peak flow meter, along with medication. Bring important healthcare documents, including your action plan, health insurance information, and your doctor's telephone number. Also, research where hospitals and pharmacies are located at your travel destination.

"If you or your child have food allergies, plan your travel meals and snacks, and pack extra food in case of delays," says Amanda Painter, a volunteer with The Network's Anaphylaxis Community Experts (ACE) program in Maryville, Tennessee and South Chapter Coordinator for the Food Allergy Community of East Tennessee. "On car trips, packing a picnic lunch provides the added benefit of giving kids a chance to run around and release energy. We also try to stay at hotels with a kitchen and a refrigerator to store safe snacks and meals."
More travel tips from The Network:

Planes and Trains

• Request special accommodations for food allergies when making your reservation and again when you board. Request an allergen-free meal or bring one with you. When you arrive at your seat, clean the tray table and arm rests with a sanitary wipe.

• Pack emergency medications such as bronchodilator inhalers and epinephrine auto-injectors in carry-on luggage and keep it with you instead of storing it in overhead bins.

• Drink plenty of water during air travel, as dry air on planes can aggravate asthma and allergy symptoms.

• Ask to sit as far away as possible from passengers traveling with their pets.

Automobiles

• Give the inside of your vehicle a thorough cleaning prior to your trip.

• Travel during early morning or late evening hours when air quality is better and traffic is lighter.

• Use air conditioning and keep it on recycle so that outside air doesn't come in.

Lodging

When choosing a hotel, ask about allergy-friendly rooms. Many now offer state-of-the-art air purifiers, mattress and pillow encasings, and cleaning products to remove harmful allergens and irritants such as bacteria, dust mites and airborne mold, according to PURE Solutions, a Buffalo, New York-based company that develops PURE Rooms around the world.

More tips:

• Choose a hotel that is smoke-free and pet-free, and if a PURE Room is not available, request a nonsmoking or no-pet room.

• Avoid first-floor rooms where you might be exposed to car fumes from the parking lot, and request a room away from the hotel pool to avoid harsh chemicals used in pool cleaning.

• Don't hesitate to ask to be m