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.

Dos

• Speed up screening.
• Have your boarding pass and photo identification ready to present.
• Remove all outer and 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 your coats or carry-on baggage before passing through the walkthrough metal detector.
• Keep all GPS equipment, iPods, tablets, cell 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 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 liquid and gel-based medication is properly labelled and stored in your carry-on baggage to facilitate screening.
• Manage your bins accordingly.

Don’ts

• 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 

Dos 

• Pack toys in your child’s carry-on baggage
• Ask the Screening officers for advice on what is the best approach for your child and his/her carrier. Screening officers will need to inspect strollers, infant carriers and car seats. These inspections can be conducted while the infant/child is in the carrying device at parent’s request. All other child-related equipment, including diaper bags, are to be placed 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, milk, formula, water, juice and other baby items. These are allowed in your carry-on baggage or personal items. You can take these through the security checkpoints and aboard your plane. However, you must be travelling with an infant under two years of age (0-24 months). All items, including formula, must be presented to the Screening Officer and will be inspected.
• Passengers flying with or without their child will be permitted to bring breast milk in quantities greater than 100 ml provided it is presented to the Screening Officer for inspection prior to screening.
• Gel and ice packs are exempt from the restrictions on liquids when required to treat an injury or when used to used to refrigerate baby food, milk, breast milk, formula, water and juice for infants under 2 years of age (0-24 months), medically necessary items and medication.

Don’ts

• Bring toys in your child’s carry-on that look like real weapons (e.g. water guns, squirt guns, toy grenades, etc.).
• Hand your child to a Screening Officer to hold while you go through security. 

Travelling With Pets

Dos

• 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’ts

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

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.