| Here are 17 ways to keep safe and secure when | | | | Home. |
| flying domestic or abroad. Air travelers need to keep | | | | Many hazardous products are not allowed on aircraft. |
| a sharp eye and an ever present focus on what's | | | | Don't pack or carry firearms, fireworks, flammable |
| going on around them. Even though it has been a | | | | materials, household cleaners, or pressurized |
| few years since the September 11th 2001 hijackings, | | | | containers. Violations of hazardous materials |
| the threat of terrorist actions against air travelers is | | | | regulations can have harsh civil penalties, as well as |
| still ever present. Not to mention with the hustle and | | | | possible national legal action taken against you. |
| bustle of a busy airport. This is a prime place to be | | | | 9. Be Aware of Your Surroundings. |
| potentially burglarized by a professional thief or | | | | When you are in an airport terminal or on an aircraft, |
| criminal. | | | | take notice of your surroundings, and those around |
| 1. Keep Your Photo Identification Handy. | | | | you. Especially, if activities or situations don't appear |
| If you do not have photo identification, make sure | | | | to be of the norm. |
| you have two pieces of some other form of | | | | 10. Report Strange or Odd Activity. |
| identification, one of which must be issued by a | | | | If you see anything in the airport or on an aircraft |
| government authority. Minors are not obligated to | | | | that looks out of place, unfitting and unusual behavior |
| have identification. Failure to have proper identification | | | | or potential security violations, inform either a law |
| may result in additional security inspection and search. | | | | enforcement representative or security personnel. |
| Some airlines may also prohibit you from boarding | | | | 11. Have No Bias About the Who May Pose a Threat. |
| without proper ID. For international flights, airlines are | | | | If someone is intent on perpetrating violent acts |
| required to collect your full name and ask you for a | | | | against the air transport system, that person can be |
| contact name and phone number. | | | | of any gender, age, or nationality. You should not |
| 2. Give Yourself Some Extra Time During busy hours, | | | | presume any specific type of person is likely to do |
| or when traveling. | | | | damage based on outward appearances. |
| With elderly or disabled passengers, young children or | | | | 12. Keep Away from Suspicious Circumstances. |
| infants, give yourself more than enough time to | | | | If you are exposed to a potential risk in the airport, |
| maneuver through a busy airport or to make | | | | move away from the situation before contacting |
| necessary arrangements with airport personnel. | | | | someone in authority. If necessary, inform others in |
| 3. Do Not Park Your Vehicle and Left Unattended in | | | | the vicinity. Examples of these are; unaccompanied |
| Front of the Terminal. | | | | packages, suspicious behavior, or an unusual |
| The airport parking rules are being strictly enforced | | | | disturbance. |
| and your vehicle may be very swiftly ticketed and | | | | 13. Leave Your Seat Belt Fastened While in Flight. |
| towed. So make sure to park in well-lit, designated | | | | When you are seated, keep your safety belt |
| areas. Find a parking garage or lot you are | | | | securely fastened through your flight will provide |
| comfortable with and is well populated. | | | | extra protection if the plane is in unexpected |
| 4. Know What You Have with You. | | | | turbulence. |
| Watch your bags all throughout the airport terminal, | | | | 14. Focus on What the Flight Attendants Are Saying. |
| shops, and lavatories. Don't accept packages from | | | | The number one reason flight attendants are on an |
| strangers or persons who you might have a casual | | | | aircraft is for safety, so if there is any kind of |
| conversation with. Be prepared to answer questions | | | | emergency or potential crisis situation, look to the |
| about who packed your bags and whether you might | | | | flight attendants for help and assistance. |
| have left them unattended at any time. Focus | | | | 15. Remember the Basic Rules for Wireless Devices. |
| carefully and answer honestly--previous history has | | | | In the U.S., cell phones, pagers, and other wireless |
| shown terrorists and criminals use unaware | | | | communications devices may be used until the |
| passengers to carry bombs or other dangerous | | | | passenger entry doors are closed prior to takeoff. |
| devices on board an aircraft, either by deceiving | | | | Do not use these devices for routine communications |
| passengers into carrying packages or by slipping | | | | until the passenger doors are opened at the end of |
| items intounprotected bags. If you're unsure, make it | | | | the flight. Rules vary around the world, so check with |
| known to airport security personnel. | | | | your airline. |
| 5. Beware of Unattended Packages. | | | | 16. Emergency Use of a Wireless Device. |
| If you see an unattended package, bag or piece of | | | | In the event of an in-flight emergency, you should |
| luggage in the terminal, report it to the airport | | | | take stock of the situation before using any |
| security staff or other airport personnel immediately. | | | | communications device, including the aircraft's |
| 6. Don't Fool Around. | | | | seatback telephones. If a situation calls for it, use |
| Don't joke about having a bomb, firearm or weapon | | | | your cell phone or other personal to contact help. In |
| with you. Security personnel are trained to react | | | | the U.S., a helpful number to call is the FBI at |
| when they hear these words. Punishment can be | | | | 1-866-483-5137. If you are a flight attendant or other |
| harsh and can include the possibility of time in prison | | | | airline employee, contact an appropriate office or |
| and/or large penalties and fines. | | | | department of the airline. |
| 7. Anticipate Having Your Bag and Luggage Searched. | | | | 17. Work Together. |
| Both carry-on and checked bags are subject to being | | | | If circumstances on an aircraft have the potential for |
| hand-searched, especially when airline security | | | | danger, it is usually better to share information and |
| personnel cannot determine by X-ray machines the | | | | work together with crew members and other |
| contents of one. Keep gifts unwrapped until after | | | | passengers. |
| you arrive at your destination. | | | | By taking the necessary precautions when you fly, |
| Airline security personnel will open it if X-ray machines | | | | you can travel with a piece-of-mind and have your |
| are unable to identify the contents. | | | | security on 'high alert' and ready for anything. |
| 8. Leave Behind Firearms and Hazardous Products at | | | | |