METRO CONNECTIONS The Motor City's Air Travel Newspaper
How to speed up your winter break travel schedule
by kevin bunch
Heritage Newspapers
ROMULUS — Travel is on the minds of many area residents as winter heads
to spring.
Schools are starting their midwinter breaks, college students are gearing up
for spring breaks and Easter is nearing.
That means Detroit Metropolitan Airport is expecting lots of business.
“We expect the airport will be very busy over the next several weeks with
families taking advantage of school holidays, in addition to our usual
business travelers,” said Lester Robinson, chief executive officer of the
Wayne County Airport Authority, which governs the airport.
To help travelers, Robinson suggests visiting the airport’s Web site,
www.metroairport.com, to plan
ahead. The airport authority also had other suggestions to speed up the
boarding and departing processes.
The most important bit of information for international travelers is that to
re-enter the United States, from anywhere — including the Americas — they
will need a valid passport. This includes children, as well.
Be sure to fill out luggage identification tags ahead of time. Travelers are
allowed one carry-on bag, as well as a purse or briefcase. The airport
authority recommends packing valuables and medication in the carry-on bag. A
prescription or a letter from the traveler’s physician should accompany
medications to justify them.
In addition, razorblades, needles, knives, scissors and anything else that
could be construed as a weapon are prohibited from carry-on luggage and can
cause delays.
Liquids also are subject to scrutiny. Anything larger than a 3-ounce
container will be confiscated, and that 3-ounce container must be in a
clear, plastic zip-top bag no larger than a quart.
All undeveloped film should be kept in carry-on luggage to prevent
accidental exposure. Requesting a hand inspection at the screening
checkpoints remains the safest way to keep film from getting damaged. This
doesn’t apply to digital cameras.
In addition, the federal Transportation Security Administration requires
that all checked luggage be unlocked due to safety concerns. If it is
searched, the TSA will leave a note informing the owner. It also suggests
the use of cable or zip ties in place of locks.
Gifts should remain unwrapped until after arrival.
To speed up boarding, a passenger should make sure not to forget their
boarding pass. These can be printed from a computer, from e-ticket kiosks at
the airline counters or at check-in booths along curbs.
The airport authority also recommended that a meeting place be arranged if a
traveler is being met by anyone. The airport expanded its cell phone waiting
lots in September to allow travelers to call their drivers, who can wait in
the lot for the person to arrive.
Finally, cars are not allowed to idle along the terminal curbs unless
actively loading or unloading passengers. Using the cell phone lots is
encouraged because unattended vehicles at curbsides can be ticketed and
towed.
“We encourage travelers to get their trip off to a good start by planning
ahead,” Robinson said.
