Careful Packing Saves Time So what do people need to keep in mind before they head off to the airport and what can they expect once they actually get there? Basically, the old adage of itís better to be safe than sorry is probably the best course of action when going to the airport. To begin with, if you think you shouldnít pack it, odds are youíre right. Although airports do allow such items as nail files, safety razors, disposable razors, tweezers and syringes (with the medication and prescription label), other seemingly less dangerous items are banned. Some of the slightly peculiar items that crop up among the more obvious list of prohibited weapons include corkscrews, metal scissors, hardware of any kind, athletic equipment that can be made into a weapon (a broad category ranging from cricket bats to ski poles), and absolutely anything that resembles or can be made to resemble a gun. That means all toy gunsóincluding those transformer robots, which can turn into a toy gunóare out. And be forewarned, reports of officials confiscating ballpoint pens, eyelash curlers, flammable perfumes, batteries and other items deemed potentially hazardous are not unheard of. Amy Knight, spo keswoman for Baltimore/Washington International Airport (BWI), said some of the common mistakes she still sees people making are bringing along scissors or forgetting to take pocketknives off key chains. Deirdre OíSullivan, spokeswoman for the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), also warns passengers that their conduct at the airport will be scrupulously watched. ìPlease, please, please do not joke about terrorism. We take that very, very seriously,î she said. In fact, OíSullivan said that a pilot was barred from flying for making some inappropriate comments. Other typical airport behavior, such as racing to catch a flight, a staple still so often portrayed in films and television, is no longer tolerated. ìDo not take the risk of running through the airport or rushing to catch a flight. That just doesnít happen anymore,î OíSullivan said. ìThe traveler must take these new responsibilities very seriously to move the process along expeditiously.î Erring on the side of caution and packing less can also help move things along more quickly. For example, limiting the number of metal items you carry, such as watches and coins, will help the process immensely. And if possible, leave that precious laptop at homeóit can save you a heap of hassle at checkpoints. Above all, be prepared to be searched. Wear shoes that can easily be slipped off in case of a foot search. To avoid the embarrassment of officials ransacking dirty undergarments for all the world to see, place laundry in a see-through bag, and donít lock baggage until after youíve cleared all checkpoints. Despite all of the added security measures, the overall climate at the airports is not as intimidating as it was immediately after Sept. 11. The presence of National Guard soldiers armed with machine guns swarming airport hallways was unnerving for many passengers, but in May, the last of the troops moved out of BWI, Dulles International and Ronald Reagan National. In addition, the extra precautions have not resulted in the tremendous backups many people initially expected, say airport officials. ìDuring spring break we were running full planes, though there werenít as many flights as before, but everything went pretty smoothly,î said Jonathan Gaffney, a spokesman for the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, which oversees Dulles and National. Similarly, officials at BWI report that lines at security checkpoints are running smoothly, with wait times rarely exceeding 15 minutes. Passenger reaction, however, has been mixed. The wait at the airline counters can be quite lengthy, with lines snaking around corners even during slower traffic times. Thatís because many of the airports have yet to work out the kinks in their security procedures, and more documentation is usually required at the counters. Inspections and searches are still random, and reports vary greatly between individual airports, but for the most part people have at some point been subject to searches at or beyond the checkpoints. Such searches can involve taking shoes off, being patted down by security officials, or having bags hand searched or run through explosive detection machines. Sara Hartle-Kinzinger, a masterís degree student from Salt Lake City, said she has had to take her shoes off several times before flights to Washington, D.C., and Scotland. ìIt has been a hassle, but itís understandable,î she said. So has the shored-up security made her feel any safer about flying? ìI certainly hope [the airports] are safer. Iíve read otherwise in news articles, so Iím a little skeptical, but I accidentally packed some scissors in my carry-on bags, and they caught it, so that made me feel better.î óAnna Gawel