Summer Vacation Time is Here: Follow these Tips for Easier Air Travel

It’s May, which means the kids will soon be out of school, family vacation plans are being confirmed, and you may even be pulling out the suitcases and getting organized. But if you’re like many families, travelling with children and infants can be a difficult task. And if you’re a senior with medical issues, you also know that travelling can be full of complications.

These tips from the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA) will make sure your travel plans go off without a hitch.

General tips for everyone
When packing

• Bringing gifts is fine, but don’t wrap them! They’ll have to be opened at the airport.
• Less than 100 mL or 3.4 ounces is the size limit for most personal care and beauty products that are allowed in carry-on baggage. Buy travel size for your carry-on or stash larger sizes in your checked luggage.
• Electric blow-dryers, curling irons, and flat irons can go in your carry-on, but butane curling irons should go in your checked bag.
• Batteries are allowed in carry-on baggage, but restrictions apply. Check out CATSA’s website for details.
• Choose a travel outfit that won’t slow you down! Comfortable clothes are best, such as leggings or sweatpants with no metal or belts. Shoes and hats should also be metal-free. CATSA recommends ballerina flats, leggings, and a flowy top for women.

When you’re at the airport

• Be prepared! Have your boarding pass and ID in hand and ready to show to the screening officer.
• Coats, jackets, and blazers need to be removed and placed in the bins provided.
• Phones, iPods, and GPS equipment can stay in your carry-on baggage but laptops need to be placed in the bins provided.
• Pocket contents also need to be placed in the bins before you walk through the metal detector.

Tips for families travelling with small children
When packing

• The 100 mL or 3.4 ounces liquid size limit doesn’t pertain to baby food, formula, medications, milk, water, and juice for carry-on luggage, as long as the amounts you pack make sense for your length of vacation and that you are travelling with a baby less than two years old.
• Toys can go in your child’s carry-on luggage, but check for battery restrictions.

When you’re at the airport

• Any baby food, formula, medications, milk, water, and juice in your carry-on luggage must be presented to the screening officer.
• Infants should be carried through the metal detector (rather than in a stroller or carrier). Children should walk through the metal detector if possible.
• To make things even easier, arrive early and choose the designated Family/Special Needs security line.

Tips for seniors with medical issues
When packing

• The 100 mL or 3.4 ounces liquid size limit doesn’t pertain to prescription medications or essential non-prescription medications (such as cough syrup, eye drops, contact lens solutions, rash crèmes, and gel pills). Pack them in your carry-on with clearly identified labels bearing the passenger’s name.
• Medical defibrillators and small oxygen or air cylinders for medical use may be packed in carry-on or checked baggage with the air carrier’s approval.
• Before flying, chat with your doctor to see if it is safe for you to go through the metal detector or be hand-wanded. You may request a physical search. Also keep in mind that you will require documentation of your medical condition.

When you’re at the airport

• Medication must be presented to the screening officer separately from your carry-on baggage.
• Wheelchairs, scooters, crutches, canes, walkers, prosthetic devices, hearing aids, medications, and other medical equipment and supplies are permitted through the security checkpoint.
• Don’t hesitate to let screening officer know your level of ability and ask for assistance with mobility aids and carry-on items through the security checkpoint. To make things even easier, arrive early and choose the designated Family/Special Needs security line.

For more tips, check out the “Pack Smart” section of the CATSA website.

Photo courtesy of Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA).