The Transportation Security Administration is expanding the list of items you can carry on a plane, after a fast crackdown last week following a terrorist scare in London.
Nearly all liquids were banned from airline flights last week, but this (Monday) morning the T-S-A announced screeners will allow small amounts of liquid non-prescription medications, in addition to any your doctor has prescribed. Travelers can also bring baby food, lipstick, and prescription medications including “glucose gel” for diabetics.
Jay Brainard, Federal Security Director for Iowa’s commercial airports, says travelers are seeing few delays in Iowa, and you may not realize how much security work is going on. He says aviation security is “layered,” so beyond the checkpoint for international flights, there’s gate-screening for passengers right before they get on the plane. He says at some Iowa airports, T-S-A’s doing random gate screenings, similar to that for international travelers.
Brainard says that random gate screening is going on at many airports across the nation. Travelers may not realize that you can board an international flight from airports in Omaha, the Quad Cities, and Des Moines.
The airports had a big year, Brainard says, noting that the Des Moines International Airport has undergone construction that expanded the checkpoints, cutting wait-time for travelers. Brainard says screeners are asking travelers to be aware of the list of what you can and cannot take on a flight, and while they’re recommending travelers get to airports at least two hours before the flight leaves, he admits “wait time” has not been an issue in Iowa.
For an updated list of banned and permitted items for air travelers, surf to T-S-A-dot-GOV.
Related web sites:
New TSA carry-on guidelines