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