This article from NYTimes.com has been sent to you by psa188@juno.com. As Screening Increases, Travel Light to Travel Best December 15, 2002 By JANE L. LEVERE THE new baggage screening rules being phased in at the nation's 429 commercial airports are creating a host of concerns for holiday travelers, with many wondering about delays, thefts and even whether they should carry wrapped gifts. Congress set a Dec. 31 deadline for the federal Transportation Security Administration to screen all checked baggage for explosives. Though the agency is expected to meet the deadline at the majority of airports, it will receive extensions of up to a year at 15 to 30 of the largest airports to fully comply, according to Stephen Van Beek, senior vice president of policy for Airports Council International North America, a trade association. Five methods will be used to screen luggage: explosive detection systems, or E.D.S., which are machines the size of minivans that use technology similar to that for CAT scans in hospitals; explosive trace-detection machines, whose operators rub a gauze pad over a piece of luggage, then feed the pad into the machine for analysis; explosive sniffing dogs; bag-matching systems; and old-fashioned searches by hand. The security agency has said that it will determine which methods will be used at each airport after consulting with airport managers. Last week, the administration eased some security measures, which could help speed the travel process. Cars will be allowed to park closer to airports, in spaces that had been off-limits for security reasons after the Sept. 11 attacks. Federal authorities also said some passengers, after passing through initial security checkpoints, would be screened only at randomly selected gates. Still, some experts warn that the new baggage security procedures, in combination with everything else, may result in significant delays and cause some people to miss flights. "Travelers are going to have to brace themselves," said Kenneth P. Quinn, a former chief counsel for the Federal Aviation Administration who now represents airports and security companies. "The ability to process 1.5 billion bags plus through E.D.S. in an accurate and expeditious manner is highly suspect." There is also the potential for theft or damage if bags are opened for searches in areas where their owners are not present. "I know a lot of travelers lock their bags, and I expect some locks will be broken," said Bruce Baumgartner, manager of aviation at Denver International Airport. It is unclear who will be liable if theft or damage occurs. Robert Johnson, a spokesman for the Transportation Security Administration, said it is studying policies about theft as well as the installation of video camera equipment that would monitor employees who are required to open bags for a search. Many other issues also need to be ironed out. For now, though, here are some suggestions for coping with the uncertainties: • Check the Transportation Security Administration's Web site (www.tsa.gov) for tips on how and what to pack. It recommends that travelers do not wrap gifts, because they may be opened for inspection, or pack undeveloped film, which could be damaged in screening. • Visit airport Web sites for information about delays and how much extra time to allow for checking luggage. Robert W. Poole Jr., the director of transportation studies for the Reason Foundation in Los Angeles, recommends an extra hour. "The ability to run up to the ticket counter at the last minute and hope your bag gets checked within 20 minutes of departure will be a thing of the past," Mr. Quinn added. • Unlock luggage, because of the chance it will be opened for inspection when you are not present. To determine if your bag has been manually inspected, David S. Stempler, the president of the Air Travelers Association, recommends using cable ties, which must be cut if a bag is opened. "If you're concerned that your packing job will be disturbed, put your items in clear plastic bags, and don't pack your suitcase so tightly that they can't go through it," he added. • Consider travel insurance. Many policies provide reimbursements if something is stolen from a suitcase or if a bag is damaged. But these policies generally don't cover theft or damage claims for more than $1,000 a person. Homeowners insurance usually covers such claims, unless a theft involves jewelry or furs, which require additional coverage. • Travel lightly. That includes carry-on and checked luggage. "If you check more items, there might not be adequate time to search your bag," Mr. Quinn said. http://www.nytimes.com/2002/12/15/business/yourmoney/15TRAV.html?ex=1040978420&ei=1&en=90f92c332bfc8e7d HOW TO ADVERTISE --------------------------------- For information on advertising in e-mail newsletters or other creative advertising opportunities with The New York Times on the Web, please contact onlinesales@nytimes.com or visit our online media kit at http://www.nytimes.com/adinfo For general information about NYTimes.com, write to help@nytimes.com. Copyright 2002 The New York Times Company