RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — Tis the season — for millions of people to take to the friendly skies for the holidays, like passenger Lynne Andrako, who’s traveling to New York.
“We’re going up to see our grandson who lives there in Brooklyn, so we’re going up to see him,” she said.
To get you to your gate on time, TSA is offering these simple tips:
Remember the 311 rule for toiletries, which means nothing over three ounces, one-quart size bag, and one bag per person.
Check your pockets and carry-ons for anything sharp that may slow you down. Check any canned or bottled food items in your luggage. And, don’t carry-on wrapped presents.
“That’s because if we are unable to tell what the item is when it goes through the x-ray, then it’s going to have to be opened.”, explains TSA Public Affairs Manager Lisa Farbstein.
And of course, get to the airport early.
That’s something Private Timothy Warner says he’s used to.
“My flight actually boards at 9:15 p.m. I’ll be here for a while, but they always tells us to be early in the Army,” he explained.
To beat the checkpoint lines, you can sign up for TSA Pre-Check. For just $85.00, you’re covered for five years.
“If you’re in TSA Pre-Check, you’re likely to get the expedited screening treatment, which means you can leave on your shoes, your light outter wear jacket, you can leave on your belt, you can leave your 311 bag in its carry-on case and you can leave your laptop in its carrying case,” Farbstein said.
Because hundreds of thousands of people are expected to come through Richmond International Airport through the holiday season, Farbstein says that signing up for the TSA pre-screening could really help to save you some time, especially if you’re traveling back home from one of the bigger airports.
