When you’ve finally got to the point of packing your bags and choosing what clothes to take and what to wear, then that is the right time to think about airport security and not just think about the weather at your destination.
The questions you will have to ponder include whether to carry everything with you or if you will be packing much of it as luggage. This decision makes a considerable difference as to the way that you pack your bags. How you do so can make quite a difference when you are trying to get through the long security lines at an airport.
If you will be travelling only with carry on luggage then you will need to arrange for a one quart or one litre sized, clear plastic bag with a zip top. Make sure that you have it ready ahead of time as you really do not want to be pouring out liquids at the security checkpoint or trying to jam some cumbersome bottles into a small plastic bag at the last moment. Each of your carry on liquids, your gels and any creams must all go together into one bag and they must all be less than three ounces (100ml).
If you are taking luggage then you can put liquids into those bags. In this case, you are not limited to the 100ml limit and you are able to take as much as you want.
Try to put everything into your carry on bag in an orderly fashion. Sure, just throwing everything in together into a backpack can be much easier but an assortment of things thrown in together makes it difficult for the x-ray machines to understand and that may end up causing delays at the screening point or even you being taken aside for a more detailed bag search.
If you are planning to take your laptop computer with you or some other large electronic item, remember that it is safer to pack them with you in your carry on bag. You will have to take any large electronic items out of your bag for screening with the exception being if you have one of the recently approved laptop carry bags that allows your computer to be screened without having to remove it. Check with the airline or relevant government website for more information before you get to the airport.
Small electronic items such as iPods, cameras, curling wands and shavers may remain in your carry on bag during the screening process. If you are carrying film for your camera, it will need to go through screening and will be fine unless it is 800-speed or above. In that case, you will need to ask for an officer to hand inspect fast film to the harmful avoid x-rays.
If you’re carrying gifts, don’t wrap them until you get to where you are going just in case they are required to go through extra screening. You don’t want to have to wrap them twice.
You need to think about what you’re wearing as well. Anything that you have on that is metal is quite likely to set off alarms. Leave any heavy jewellery at home or put it in your carry on bag. Also, do you have any body piercing? If so, you may like to remove those before your flight. Sometimes, even hair clips and clothes with large metal buttons are able to set off some of the more sensitive metal detectors. You will get through security with any of these items without problems eventually however you will definitely get through quicker if you’re not wearing them.
Make sure that you have you boarding pass and relevant up-to-date identification available for the security personnel to inspect. Get to the airport early enough so that you do not have to rush. Find out what your airline cut off times are for check in well in advance of getting there. Generally, you will be required to check in earlier for an international flight than for a domestic flight. No matter what you do or how you prepare for your flight, remember that it can take quite a while for you to get through security checkpoints even if you’ve packed the way you should and are have dressed appropriately. Be early and be ready.
Last time we looked, the NSW Central Coast in Australia still did not have an international airport nor is one expected within the next millennium so following all the processes above are not really relevant if you are simply looking at finding some Central Coast accommodation along some of the worlds most beautiful beaches. It really is worth a visit.
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