Travelling Scholars

First of all, you MUST read this link for the latest on travel alerts..

www.smartpacking.com

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security on Thursday banned from carry-on luggage 
all "beverages, shampoo, sun tan lotion, creams, toothpaste, hair gel, and other 
items of similar consistency." The new rules resulted in long lines at airports 
and garbage bins full of discarded cosmetics.

Here are some suggestions;
1. CHECK-IN. Due to the long lines of security screening and additional screening
 at the borading gates, it is recommended for you to be at the airport at least 3 
to 4 hours early.  Bring only wallet and tickets to the gate. Prepare for 
'No-hand-luggage' rule. 

2. PACKING. In case your checked luggage is lost in the confusion, label your 
bags well, with name, business address and phone on the outside, and an itinerary 
and contact information packed inside, on top.

Rather than throwing away banned items, bring a checkable bag big enough to 
accommodate items you can't take on board.

Business travelers "must carry essential tools with them," Foster said, but be 
prepared in case a ban on all carry-on luggage is suddenly imposed domestically, 
the way it was in England. Leave room in your checkable luggage for that stack 
of inportant documents.

2. PERSONAL CARE. "
Pack shampoos and other lotions so they don't spill. Take the cap 
off the bottle, squeeze the product so it reaches the lip of the open top, 
then screw the top on again tightly, forming a vacuumlike seal. There will 
still be an indentation in the bottle.

You may want to put them in a sealed plastic bag as well.

~ part of contents extracted from smartpacking.com

Posted on 11 August 2006