Air travel can be just as much fun as it can be hectic. We know you want to get to your destination with as few airport interruptions as possible. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of Do’s and Don’ts for packing and airport security screening that will give you and your family the information you need before you fly.

DO 

• Speed up screening.
• Have your boarding pass ready to present.
• Remove sport coats, suit jackets, and blazers and place them in the bins provided.
• Take the opportunity to empty all contents of your shirt and pant pockets and place these items in the bins before passing through the walkthrough metal detector.
• Keep all GPS equipment, iPods, PDA’s, mobile phones, and smartphones (i.e. BlackBerry, iPhone) in your carry-on baggage. They do not need to be screened separately.
• Remove laptop computers, video cameras with cassettes, and film cameras from their carry-cases and place them in the bins provided.
• Pack knitting needles, crotchet hooks and sewing kits in your carry-on baggage.
• Pack all camera film in your carry-on baggage. Camera film under 800 ASA/ISO will not be damaged by equipment at the pre-board screening checkpoint.
• Avoid wearing shoes with metal arches, buckles, steel-toes or shanks.
• Avoid wearing belts with metal buckles.
• Place your transparent, closed and resealable plastic bag containing your liquids, aerosols and gels into a separate bin. If you are also travelling with exempted liquids, please remove them at this time and place them into the bin.
• Ensure all medication is properly labeled and stored in your carry-on baggage. The name on the prescription must be the same as the one on your ticket/boarding pass.
• Wear head coverings (hat or cap) during the screening process. If the metal detector sounds, you will be asked to remove any item that may have caused the alarm.
• Manage your bins accordingly.

DON’T 

• Bring gel or ice packs in your carry-on baggage as they are subject to the liquid restrictions. Carry a bag of frozen solid vegetables (such as peas) instead to keep foodstuffs cold.
• Pack gifts and souvenirs containing liquids, aerosols and gels in your carry-on. These include: liquor, wine, beer, snowglobes, cans of condensed soup, maple syrup, perfume, and lotion. Put them in checked baggage or ship them separately.
• Wrap gifts as they may have to be opened for screening. Wait until you arrive at your destination or ship them ahead of time. 

Travelling with Small Children 

DO 

• Pack toys in your child’s carry-on baggage
• Remove infants from their strollers/carriers. Hold them in your arms and proceed through the metal detector.
• Place strollers, infant carriers and other child-related equipment including diaper bags, on the conveyor belt for security screening.
• Let your child walk through the metal detector if they are able to do so on their own.
• Walk through the metal detector if you are pregnant – it won’t harm your unborn child. If you are concerned, you may request a physical search.
• Bring baby food, formula, medications, milk, water and juice, in reasonable amounts, for your itinerary. These are exempted from the liquids, aerosols and gels restrictions only if you are travelling with a baby under two years of age (0-24 months), however they must be presented to a Screening Officer for separate inspection.  

DON’T 

• Bring toys in your child’s carry-on shaped like firearms or toy weapons (e.g. water guns, squirt guns, transformer robots shaped as guns, and toy grenades).
• Pack gel or ice packs in your carry-on as they are subject to the liquid restrictions.
• Hand your child to a Screening Officer to hold while you go through security. 

Travelling With Pets

DO 

• Remove your pet from its carrying case and send the carrying case through the screening equipment.
• Hold your pet in your arms and proceed through the metal detector.
• Take your pet out of its cage or carrier if it is being transported in the belly hold of the aircraft. A Screening Officer will screen the cage or carrier separately.
• Be responsible for your pet and its behaviour throughout the screening process.
• Contact your air carrier or travel agent in advance to determine the airline’s policy on passengers Travelling with pets.

DON’T 

• Hand your pet to a Screening Officer to hold while you go through security.
• Put your pet on the conveyor belt.

Consult our Personal Traveller's profile page to see the aviation security regulations that may apply to you.

For information on pre-board screening procedures or air travel within the US, please consult the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) website, or your travel agent.