Don't be insecure about airport security rules

When reader Marlys Powers prepared for a flight to visit her daughter in Phoenix, Ariz., she purchased a vinyl see-through bag to hold all her toiletries. She packed the bag with 3-ounce bottles of shampoo, lotions and toothpaste, as well as her toothbrush and hairbrush.

Marlys thought it would make it easier for security to see what was in her carry-on bag. Security didn't see it that way. Because it wasn't a quart-size bag, they took the lady aside and placed her in a private room for a thorough pat down.

After confirming she wasn't carrying any concealed weapons, they told her they would have to confiscate all her 3-ounce bottles because they weren't in an acceptable-size plastic bag. Then one agent discovered something else: two sandwich bags filled with cookies and banana bread Marlys was taking to her grandchildren.

The agent told her if she could combine her treats into one of the bags, she could use the other to stow her plastic bottles -- which she did. The agent placed that plastic bag back inside her original plastic container and told her to have a good flight -- which she didn't.

Marlys had already missed her flight. And because all carriers were overbooked, she spent several hours standing by for a flight with an empty seat.

While packing all your personal items in a single plastic bag might sound like a sensible thing to do, remember that common sense is not a prerequisite for security rules. And if it doesn't adhere strictly to the rules, it won't fly -- and neither will you.

Here are some tips to consider before your next flight:

• Pack bulky clothing.

Security requires you to remove all shoes, overcoats and jackets. To make it easy, pack heavy coats and jackets in your luggage.

When Cinda Smith travels, she wears pull-on pants, a pullover sweater and slip-on shoes.

"I make it as easy as possible," said Cinda, who travels to the West Coast regularly for business. "I don't even wear a suit jacket; I pack it in my carry-on and pull it out on the aircraft. I only have a carry-on bag and a pair of shoes to keep track of when I go through security."

• Remove any metal.

Last month, while going through security in Boston, I watched a security agent pull a young man aside for a complete body search. The lad was obviously into heavy metal. He had an eyebrow pierce, as well as several ear pierces, and from the sounds beeping from the security wand, there were also other pierces nobody wanted to see.

But it's not just body ornaments that cause alarm. Earrings, metal buttons and even underwire bras can also trigger a second round of security.

Jeff Kinney does his own body check before he gets to the gate. He takes his cell phone and change out of his pocket and his watch off his wrist and places them in a Ziploc bag. He removes his belt and puts it in his carry-on bag.

"It makes getting to your gate much less stressful when you plan ahead," said Jeff, who has never been pulled aside for a secondary security check.

• Hang on to your boarding pass and identification card.

Many airports require you to keep your boarding pass and ID card with you as you pass through security. Don't put it in a security bin. Many frequent fliers keep their cards in a packet around their neck so they can keep their hands free for other problems.

• Finally, check the Transportation Security Administration Web site, www.tsa.gov, frequently for new air travel regulations.

Going through security can leave you extremely insecure if you're not prepared for it.

Gail Todd, a free-lancewriter,worked as a flightattendant for more than 30years. She can be reached viae-mail at gailtodd@aol.com.