anyone been flying by plane lately?

[New Earth]

what's security like now? i know a few weeks or months ago passengers couldn't even take lipstick on board with them. what has it been like the past few weeks or days for anyone here? just curious. i will most likely be flying in October and want to be prepared :scared:

[huskerlaw]

1. I flew over Labor Day weekend

It's really not that bad. You still can't carry-on anything liquid or gel-like. I'm not sure about lipstick...you'll probably want to call your airline and ask about that. You can't take any drinks through security and though you can buy something after security and drink it at the gate, you have to throw it away before you get on the plane.

As for security, in one of the airports I didn't notice ANYTHING different (other than the lack of liquid). The checks were the same. At the other airport, there were national guard guys conducting random carry-on checks at the gate. Again, not a big deal...they were just making sure that everyone tossed the drink they bought from the coffee shop next to the gate, basically.

On the other hand, it seemed like the airline was better about providing drinks extremely quickly after take-off, and instead of just giving you a cup full of Pepsi, they'd give out the whole can. This is typical on a longer flight, but United was doing that on an hour flight as well.

That said, I completely forgot that I had lens cleaner (liquid in a small plastic bottle) in my purse (it's one of those things that's always in there) and I managed to fly halfway across the country with it in my carry on. Safety first!

[_testify_]

2. Hey you!

How have you been?

I am flying Thanksgiving weekend. I just hope they let me bring my dvd player onboard. They can keep my lipstick.

[huskerlaw]

5. DVD players are fine

I took my laptop and watched movies the whole time. It really is only the liquids...unless you're flying to London, then I'm not sure... ;)

[cobalt1999]

3. I fly about every other day.

Although the rules are still in place for carry on's, you can just check your bag with all your gels, etc.

The good thing is that without all the people carrying on tons of luggage, the security lines are running faster and boarding is going faster and there is more room in the overheads.

[In_The_Wind]

4. I flew home from Florida about a month ago. It wasn't fun.

If you want to make your life easier ... pack everything into your checked luggage. Drink plenty of water before heading to the airport because it seems like forever between takeoff and the drink service starts. x( You can purchase a drink between the check in security point but it must be finished or discarded before boarding the plane.



:hi:

[New Earth]

6. thanks everyone

does this mean i can't take my clear gel deororant on the plane with me? :eyes:

the thing that sucks for me is that i never have huge luggage. i have a medium sized duffle bag i take with me on trips and always got away with taking it on board. not so sure that's gonna happen anymore from the sounds of it :(

[Radio_Lady]

8. No clear gel deodorant. Buy the deodorant wipes in single packages.

That will get you through.

[greatauntoftriplets]

7. I flew yesterday from Grand Rapids to Chicago.

You can have a lipstick or lip balm, but the ban on liquid makeup, toothpaste, etc. still holds true. You must have your shoes X-rayed (even out of a smallish airport like Grand Rapids)and the TSA does random bag checks at the gate. One woman carrying on nothing but a purse had hers checked.

Since it was a short flight, we were not given anything to drink.

Things might change in October. My advice is to checked your airline's website for an update.

[Radio_Lady]

10. Hope things do change in October. We're flying from Portland, OR and

then over to Orlando, Florida.

I take diuretics and am thirsty all the time.

Without water, I'm a dead duck. Hope there are flight attendants who will respond to my cries for, "Water... cool water." I can handle everything else.

[huskerlaw]

13. The flight attendants

on all 4 of my flights were VERY good about coming by once or twice AFTER they did the beverage service to ask if anyone needed anything else to drink. My longest flight was just over 2 hours and, in addition to an entire can of Pepsi, I was asked twice if I needed anything else. Some people did request more water and were quickly given more.

That's better than some wait staff at restaurants!

This was on United, Labor Day weekend.

[fudge stripe cookays]

23. Here's a suggestion--

Depending on how picky you are about your water quality...

A girl on my flight to San Jose from Dallas a couple weeks ago brought on a travel mug, and the flight attendant let her fill it in the galley sink before we left so she could have a constant water supply.

Because the attendant was able to monitor her fill it, she seemed to be OK with that. This was on American. Don't know if everybody is allowing folks to do it, but it's worth a shot. Just throw one in a carry-on.

[Radio_Lady]

27. I was under the impression that stored water on a plane is NOT the

best -- although that might be just in the lavatory, not the galley.

I never drink the water on planes, and have been bringing my own since forever!

Perhaps some airline will start putting small SEALED bottles of water in the seat pocket before each flight.

[Oeditpus Rex]

9. I usually fly by goat

No problems with boarding or anything.

Just don't sit up front. Ow. :scared:

[Radio_Lady]

11. Did I miss the punch line? Your graphic is X'd out....

[reyd reid reed]

20. That's all I'm getting, too...

And I wanna See.

Hmmmph.

[JitterbugPerfume]

12. I am flying to Florida soon

and I will not be taking a carry on bag ,not even my purse <dammit> (short flight from Indianapolis)

[huskerlaw]

14. Why not?

Taking your purse isn't a problem. I took a big backpack full of books, magazines, a laptap, DVDs, and an iPod. Not a problem...just don't bring the liquids.

[JitterbugPerfume]

15. ok

thanks

I guess I just don't want to be hassled in an airport

[huskerlaw]

18. It's really not that bad!

The lines at security were actually shorter because not as many people were taking huge bags. The only additional security I saw was a random bag search at the gates, and all they did was unzip the bag (or purse) and poke around a bit, basically looking for large containers of liquid like a bottle of soda. Took less than 5 minutes for them to search a large bag.

No need to inconvenience yourself in order to avoid a hassle that really isn't there. :)

[Parche]

16. flying

Yes, I had to leave my KY with the TSA agent.....peaved me off....................

[borlis]

17. mr borlis travels a lot and not much is different

as long as you play by their new rules. He was never one to check his bag, but now has to because of toothpaste, shave cream, etc. So last week, he came in on Friday without his checked bag which was lost somewhere. They told him they would deliver it to our house. Well, I am glad they found it but they rang our doorbell at 12:55 am! (his flight got in at 4pm)

[Taverner]

19. I flew at the end of August

Internationally, no less (to Canada)

Security is worse, no bottles, no gels, no lipstick...

Also the line is much longer to go through security.

Time to ban clothing and give each passenger a roofie before they board

[Left Is Write]

21. You can bring lipstick.

From the TSA website: "You are permitted to bring solid cosmetics and personal hygiene items as such lipstick, lip balm and similar solids."

[Left Is Write]

22. Your best bet for being prepared is to bookmark the TSA website.

Here's the link to the permitted/prohibited items:

http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/prohibited/permitted-prohibited-items.shtm

[Radio_Lady]

25. Very informative and the rules have changed a bit... thanks for

this bookmark, Left Is Write.

[Left Is Write]

30. You are very welcome.

[GOPisEvil]

24. In reality it wasn't much worse than before.

Just go to the TSA website and check the stuff they won't let you take on the plane.

[Radio_Lady]

26. I just hope they loosen the WATER restrictions. That's all.

I try not to drink any kind of soda, just water. I appreciate all your comments and details -- thanks again, everyone!

[ComerPerro]

28. I usually fly on the back of a large bird, often an eagle

[Initech]

29. I flew yesterday from DTW - STL - PHX - SNA.

Yeah, it was Southwest which is why I made all those stops, but security was not bad at all. I didnt even have to wait in line more than ten minutes. You can take laptops, DVD players, etc on board but they still dont allow you to take things like bottled water (even if you bought it in post-security, which they referred to in St Louis yesterday as the "sterile area"), which is pure bullshit.