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MARY LOU PICKEL
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Today at airports across America, bomb-detecting machines will scan millions of pieces of luggage as the nation enters a new phase of aviation security. Minivan-size machines using CAT-scan technology will analyze the contents of checked bags, looking at the density of objects to identify explosives. Other machines will analyze cloth swabs that have been rubbed against luggage to detect traces of explosives. At Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, General Manager Ben DeCosta expects New Year's Day travel to go "very, very smoothly." "I don't expect any extraordinary waits," DeCosta said. But the terminal lobby may be congested because of the large machines, and travelers may need extra help understanding where to bring their luggage. Here are some frequently asked questions and answers that could help travelers navigate Hartsfield-Jackson: Q: What's different today with the government's screening checked bags? A: The Transportation Security Administration will screen every piece of checked luggage placed aboard an aircraft, as required by Congress in a security law passed after Sept. 11. The government will use CAT-scan technology and explosive trace technology for at least 90 percent of luggage scanned. It will use bomb-sniffing dogs, hand searches and a system of matching passengers to their baggage on every leg of a flight for the remainder of bags. Q: How do I check my bags at the airport? A: Procedures will vary from airline to airline. In some cases, passengers will take their bags to the ticket counter or skycap, receive their boarding pass and luggage tags, and then carry their bags to the bomb-detecting machines. In most cases, the passengers can drop the luggage at the machine without waiting. In other cases, it may be sent along automatically. Q: How early should I arrive at the airport? A: The TSA recommends following the guidelines of individual airlines. Hartsfield-Jackson General Manager Ben DeCosta says arrive at least one hour before departure time, and two hours early during peak travel times such as Monday mornings. Q: Will the airport lobby seem different? A: Yes, the airport lobby will look different because it now has at least 11 large bomb detecting machines, which can block the sightline of the ticket counters. "It's not as easy to see where you're going as it was before," DeCosta said. "We'll have some temporary signs up. There will be some congestion in the terminal without a doubt, because the machines take up so much space." The airport will have more employees in the lobby to help steer travelers to the right lines. Q: Can I park close to the terminal? A: Yes. Parking spaces within 300 feet of the terminal, which had been closed for security reasons after Sept. 11, are now open. Q: Will the Transportation Security Administration open my bag and search it, even if I'm not present? A: Yes. The TSA will open bags to search them even if the owner is not present. The TSA recommends that passengers refrain from locking luggage because screeners will open a bag if they are suspicious about the contents. The TSA will cut locks off luggage if it has to. Q: What if I want to lock my bag to protect my belongings? A: In coming weeks, the TSA will make available, free of charge, red plastic luggage locks at ticket counters, sky-cap stations and other places where travelers check luggage. Once closed, it takes a fair amount of pressure to break off the lock, said a TSA spokesman. If the TSA has to look inside a traveler's bag while the traveler is not present, a worker will break off the red lock and replace it with a blue one, indicating the bag was opened for security reasons. Until the locks are delivered to airports, the TSA recommends fastening luggage with plastic cable clips, available at office supply stores. If the TSA removes a fastener to look inside a bag, it will leave a pamphlet inside, explaining why the bag was opened and giving a toll-free number to call with any questions. The TSA will probably reseal the bag with tape, a spokesman said. The toll-free number for customer complaints is: 1-866-289-9673. Q: Who is responsible for lost or damaged luggage or stolen items? A: The TSA says it is not responsible for damaged luggage. It will consider complaints of stolen goods on a case by case basis. Air carriers have a procedure in place for dealing with both damaged luggage and stolen goods, said Air Transport Association spokesman Mike Wascom. Air carriers could experience higher claims rates because of government luggage searches, Wascom said. "That liability still applies to us, but not to TSA," he said. "Right now, we're the only recourse." The TSA says that baggage screeners will always work in pairs, under supervision, and that eventually the government will install video cameras in baggage screening areas. Q: What should I pack in my checked luggage? A: Do not pack film. The machines will ruin it! Do not pack chocolate, cheese, stacks of books, or shoes filled with items, because these things could appear suspicious on the bomb-detecting machine's screen. The operator may need to perform a time-consuming hand search of your luggage to clear your bags. Do not pack valuables in your checked luggage. For a complete guide to what to pack and what to leave behind, visit the TSA's Web site, www.tsa.gov and click under "Travelers & Consumers" for the list of permitted and prohibited items. Publication date: Jan. 1, 2003 Cheap flights powered by TripAdvisor.com 
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