Travel Q&A: Air security

The arrests and a terrorist bombing-plot in England are reverberating across the United States. What are your concerns about air travel today? Seattle Times travel writer Carol Pucci is taking questions now.

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I will be traveling next week to Northern Europe with a prescription medicine in an injection pen. I have a letter from the doctor stating who it is for and why it is necessary to travel with this and the needles needed to deliver it, but should I be concerned? The medicine has to be refrigerated so I cannot leave it in my checked luggage.
— Mary, Seattle, WA

C.P.: No, You should be fine. TSA's new rules state that it will allow prescription medicine that matches the passenger's name. Make sure you have the medicine labeled by your doctor or pharmacy in the name that matches the one on your ticket.

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Any thoughts on jarred baby foods - we are flying on Saturday on a long flight with one short layover. My 7 month old will need at least one meal in there of solids or else she will be very cranky!
— Lisa, Phoenix, AZ

C.P.: So far, the TSA has banned liquids and gels in carry-on luggage, not food, so you'll likely be OK. It's hard give a definite answer because TSA inspectors are still trying to sort this all out themselves, but they are allowing baby formula so it would make sense that they would also allow baby food. It might be smart to pack some other sort of snack or food or an extra bottle, just in case. At the very least, minimize whatever jars of food you take, in case it might have to be thrown out.

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Will airlines allow a third checked bag for free now that we can't really bring anything on board?
— Moderator

C.P.: Some airlines today said they would allow a third checked bag. Whether or not that policy will hold in the coming weeks isn't known, but given the way fuel costs are rising, it's doubtful airlines in the long term will allow much more added weight.

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I have to take Sudafed for my ears when I fly, taking it about an hour before touchdown. Will airlines provide water, drinks on the plane still? What could this mean for the trend of airlines only having food available to purchase during flight, and encouraging travelers to buy food and water at the airport?
— Moderator

C.P.: Sure, There should be no problem with this. As of today, there was no talk of eliminating water and other drinks served on planes, or on not allowing passengers to bring food onboard.

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Like many security measures after 9-11, are the restrictions at seatac another case of closing the barn door after the horse is out?
— Dale Saviers, Redmond, WA

C.P.: That's an interesting question and one I asked today while I was doing interviews for the stories posted on our Web site. Here's the response I got from Joe Brancatelli, the publisher of an online newsletter for business travelers called joesentme.com.

Here's what he said:

"If people can't bring on planes the water they have purchased inside the security perimeter, what does this say about the work we've done in the last five years?"

"If a can of unopened Coke that you bought at the Chili's next to the gate is not safe, we've wasted five years."

Make sense, I guess. I personally think today's response was an overreaction, based on a lot of unknowns, and once thing settle out a bit, TSA will put some thought into what makes the most sense. The agency backpedaled a while ago on previously restricted carry-on items such as small scissors and nail files.

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I just read a quote from a woman who said she was going to sneak on with her contact solution -- presuming she gets past security. This implies not everyone is taking it seriously.
— Moderator

C.P.: There's no need to "sneak'' contact lens solution or any other non-essential medication in carry-on luggage. They can be packed in checked luggage. Today's ban on liquids (in carry-ons only) will likely be eased once the federal Transportation Security Administration is able to sort things out and put methods in place for screening liquids for explosives (which it already has the ability to do).

For now, use common sense and play by the rules — which will save everyone time and hassle. If it's liquid and non-essential, pack it in your checked luggage.

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Do you think US airlines/the TSA will adopt today's British airlines policy of not allowing laptops, mobile phones or ipods? If so, will that force the airlines to revisit their policies of not covering electronic devices that are lost (or stolen) from checked baggage?
— Diane, Seattle, WA

Carol Pucci and Kristin Jackson: It's too early to tell what the TSA will do about laptops and other electronic devices, but yes, it would pose a big problem in terms of who would be responsible if they were lost, stolen or damaged while packed in checked luggage. Already the airlines and security staff argue about who's responsible for damaged or pilfered luggage. The airlines are in no financial position to cover such losses, and business travelers would certainly protest. It's unlikely there will be an outright ban, but a lot depends on what authorities learn about the nature of the terrorists' plans in the next few days.

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What should American citizens currently traveling in Europe be prepared for?
— Moderator

C.P.:

It's likely that most European nations will go along with U.S. requests to ban liquids and gels in carry-on luggage, but for now at least, it's unlikely that any that go as far as the UK's total ban on carry-on bags.

If you're planning on traveling out of the UK or transferring to or from an airport there, be prepared for lots of security and new rules. Today they included allowing passengers to board planes only with pocket size wallets and pocket size purses plus contents (for example money, credit cards, identity cards etc); travel documents essential for the journey; prescription medicines and medical items sufficient and essential for the flight, glasses etc.

Kip Hawley, director of the Transportation Security Administration, said that today's broad ban on liquids was temporary until screening methods could be developed.

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Are crew and captains subject to the security that travelers are? It seems to me that I see them walk right through the security gate quite a bit without much of a search. They should be suspect as well.
— Katie, Seattle, WA

C.P.: Airline pilots and flight attendants are screened along with passengers at airport security checkpoints, but it's a controversial subject. It's unclear whether they are going to be held to the same restrictions announced today regarding what passengers can and can't take in carry-on bags, but the Airline Pilots Security Alliance earlier recommended that an electronic ID system be used at airport concourses to allow flight crews to bypass security screening.

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