Tips to be mindful of while packing for airport security
These days, traveling is not such a laid-back and comfortable experience as it used to be. With the world more complicated than it’s ever been, the knock-on effect at the airport is quite considerable.
A few of us here in the Outdoor Revival office regularly travel abroad, so we thought it would be good to highlight and help out with some of the changes that have taken places over the past few years. Learn about what we all need to do when it comes to packing our stuff and what we can carry while navigating through the plethora of rules and regulations.
European airports are among the strictest in the world and can make your travel a rather challenging endeavor.
When it comes to traveling, things can be different in other countries, and it’s worth checking the current regulations and guidelines in the place you’ll be traveling to and from where you’re flying.
A bit of knowledge about the regulations and a small amount of time invested to make sure you’re aware of the essentials can save you a lot of time and hassle.
Airport Security Rules
Airport security rules were originally tightened by the United States and the United Kingdom and subsequently adopted by other EU members and other countries around the world in 2006.
The strict security regulations around certain items were introduced after a terror plot was foiled in the United Kingdom and was widely publicized, citing that terrorists can potentially carry explosive material in drink bottles and then use it to cause havoc mid-air.
The incident brought to light the need to banning liquids on board, and ever since, passengers have not been permitted to carry any liquid product that is more than 100 ml in volume. If you need to carry liquids, you have to do so in your checked-in luggage and not in any carry-on bags.
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Seemingly harmless objects such as laptops and other electronics also face strict scrutiny, and you are required by the security personnel to take them out of their bags and place them in a separate container to be scanned individually and in great detail. This is to make sure no one carries potentially harmful items on board.
Some airports in the world also require passengers to remove their footwear so they can scan them individually, along with any metallic objects such as belts and jewelry.
Items you can/need to carry on board
Most frequent travelers tend to make sure they carry all their important stuff with them on the plane. Losing your luggage, though it might have never happened to you, does happen quite often and it can take a couple of days to have them returned to you. However, on rare occasions, it’s never to be seen again. In light of this unpleasant possibility, we always recommended that you carry your truly personal items such as SD cards, cameras, and laptops with you in your carry-on luggage.
Though most of the airlines have special measures in place to ensure every passenger gets their luggage back, the possibility of losing luggage is there. We should all make sure we distinctly mark our bags to avoid them getting confused with others.
Passports and currency must be kept in the carry-on bags along with debit and credit cards that you cannot afford to lose.
If you are on medication, keep your medicine on you while on the plane as you may need them.
Think before you pack
There is a possibility that airport security, at any of the airports you are using, may ask you to open your luggage for a random check. This could happen if they spot an item in your luggage that can’t be identified or seems suspicious in the scanner. Because of this, you may have to open your luggage for the security personnel to manually go through your luggage. It’s best to just get on with it because then you can be on your way quicker.
Make sure you haven’t just stuffed your belongings inside a bag. iI’s amazing how intelligently and neatly packed luggage makes a good impression and is easy to go through, thereby saving you and the airport security a lot of time.
Only pack what is essential, and always try to refrain from overpacking. And remember, you can always buy stuff from where you are traveling to, so take out items that you can buy later and carry only your important clothes and belongings.
And lastly, be mindful of the fact that airport security measures are in place for your safety and security in mind.
Don’t panic if security personnel are taking longer to clear people or are asking you to declare your items. At the end of the day, these security regulations and efforts are going to make your travel safe. So always cooperate, and you will have a safe and comfortable journey with peace of mind.
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We live in a beautiful world, get out there and enjoy it.
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