What are the current flying rules/laws?

haven't flown for a few years

[Trisha]

I'm going to pubcon next week and realized its been a long time since I've flown anywhere. I don't know if they have changed the size, etc. of carry on luggage and all sorts of stuff. I never really flew that much anyway, so its all new to me each time anyway.

This will also be my first time to fly with a laptop, anything I should know or be prepared for with this?

[hannamyluv]

With the laptop, just make it accessible. They will ask you to take it out and may ask you to turn it on to prove that you did not stuff it with explosives.

The level of security changes from airport to airport. Your bigger ones will be a bit tighter.

Wear shoes that don't have metal and, just in case, can be easily removed and put back on.

Nothing sharp is allowed on the plane, metal nail files, pocket knives, letter openers, the such will be confiscated.

Carry-ons are still the same. Two per person.

[Go2]

Steel undies may be a good idea.... [edition.cnn.com]

[Trisha]

When turning on the laptop, will they need to have the operating system all up and running and everything? My linux takes a while start up. And I don't usually run it on batteries, so I don't want to start it up too soon, because I don't know how long they will last.

I only have tennis shoes to wear, but I can't get them on or off too fast.

I plan on putting pointy things into checked baggage, I believe that is ok?

[monkeythumpa]

You will love flying now-a-days. They have planes now that can go from LA to NY nonstop. And with jet engines the time it takes is significantly shortened. They let men be stewardesses, and as a result the food has gotten worse.

But kidding aside, I LOOK like a terrorist (shady, paranoid, Sears work boots and I sweat more than usual) and I never get searched, yet they keep going through my wife's luggage. Good thing the Cohibas were in my backpack on our way to Salt Lake!

I always think of this Fight Club scene when I go to the airport:
"Nine times out of ten it's an electric razor, but every once in a while...it's a dildo. Of course it's company policy never to, imply ownership in the event of a dildo... always use the indefinite article "a dildo", never "your dildo".

[Trisha]

The food may have gotten worse, but dramamine, which I have to take when I fly, tends to make me really hungry and airplane food even tastes good then!

I think I may put my underwear in a little clear plastic bag, I don't want strangers touching them if they go through my stuff!

[photon]

Take a look at the TSA site: [tsa.gov...]

[Leosghost]

monkeythumper ..ROTFALOL..
( interesting to see what words do sneak by Bretts " naughty" filter )....

Strangley enough ..I have similar description ( without the shady,paranoid )to you ..with for many years near waist length hair and shorter beard ....Always a "wave thru" from customs or security every where in the world ..

Frequently the people in around me ( always totally "straight" looking and sometimes with young kids ) ..they got the greif ..strip search ..tires shredded on their cars ..the works ...

Now the hair is a bit shorter ( gets in the way else ) ..still the same treatment...

Friend who is head of customs and immigration "honcho" for a small country ..once told me " We can distinguish ...Weird but honest" ...from "This person feels uncomfortable...why ...lets see?" ...

[lawman]

Yeah, if it makes it past the filter, and is otherwise not used in a graphic manner, I leave it. However, I snip camo words (words with stars and such that would not make it past the swear filter with regular spelling).