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How Does a Raised Security Level Change Traveling? By Amy Ziff, Editor-at-Large February 18, 2003 Traveling has its tough times. Even if you're one of those people who maneuvers the airport, car-rental agency, and hotel lobby with enviable aplomb, there's still a lot of information to keep straight these days. Sure, you may have mastered when to buy a restricted versus a non-restricted ticket; and perhaps you've negotiated the new baggage restrictions, keeping your checked luggage to a 50-pound maximum; you may have even figured out the self-service check-in machines. But when the government increased the security level to orange last week it made even the most seasoned travelers wonder if things were about to get a lot tougher. The following information will help you know what to expect if you're taking to the skies in the near future. CHANGES AS A RESULT OF THE HEIGHTENED SECURITY MEASURES: There is a higher presence of law enforcement officials at airports as well as train and bus stations nationally. Increased random searches for both cars and passengers at airports. Some airport parking areas close to terminals are once again off-limits. More Federal Air Marshals are flying. Every citizen is reminded to remain vigilant, aware, and alert, and to notify law enforcement of anything out of the ordinary. SECURITY MEASURES ALREADY IN PLACE: The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is now fully operational with an expandable workforce of roughly 54,000 employees who are charged with making it safe to travel in America. They are omnipresent at airports and screen our possessions before allowing us to pass through to the gate. If you haven’t traveled recently, you will notice that things are faster since the TSA took over security at airports. This past holiday season I tracked some record times getting though security, even at major airports like Washington Dulles and Houston International. In 17 months, the Federal Air Marshal program has grown from a group of 33 to an undisclosed fierce force, the number of which is estimated in the thousands. This week I saw where and how those Marshals train. (Federal Air Marshals operate much like plainclothes policeman but are specially designated to monitor flights.) The Federal Air Marshals boast the highest standards of any law enforcement group. They are rigorously trained to be the last line of defense in air travel, working undercover so you won't know who they are unless you need to. What can you do if you are unsure about traveling? Consider travel insurance and whether or not it is right for you. Look closely for war or terrorism provisions or exclusions! Look at the State Department Web site for travel warnings at: http://travel.state.gov/travel_warnings.html. Before traveling internationally, consult the State Department list of countries to avoid at: http://travel.state.gov/warnings_list.html. You may want to check with your airport’s Web site in advance of going there to see if they mention any special checks. Allow ample time for access to the airport, parking, and check-in due to increased security inspections. When you land in a different airport, watch the procedures so you are prepared for your return flight. Keeping track of the rules and regulations is manageable. I promise to do my part with informative travel tips each week to help you sort through them. As for the question of whether or not to travel these days, I look back in time to find that the American traveling public is a resilient bunch. We returned to the skies and hit the roads shortly after the Gulf War in 1991 and once again after the events of September 11, 2001. In an independently-conducted poll that I oversaw earlier this year, we asked over 1,000 Americans if they would still travel despite heightened security alerts and/or war, the majority of respondents answered that they would indeed still travel. I know I'm with the majority. I continue to choose to travel each and every day, every chance I get. For more travel tips and advice, check out Amy Ziff's blog, The Window Seat, or her monthly column, Travel Trends & Advice from A to Z. To suggest a topic for a future column or to tell about a travel experience of your own, please email Amy Ziff at ask.amy@travelocity.com.

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