Tagged: security

Bags Stolen From Baggage Claim: The Airlines' Big Luggage Security Problem

Many travelers won't know or remember this, but there was a time when airline passengers had to to present a claim check in order to pick up their luggage after flights.Until the early…

TSA Confirms Real ID Will Be Mandatory to Fly Starting May 7, 2025

This post was originally published in December 2022 and contains updated information.The deadline for all Americans to be using Real I.D., the strengthened identification format that…

10 Surprising Things That Could Trigger a Bag Search at the Airport

Most travelers already know the warnings about packing hazardous and prohibited items—we're well informed to avoid sharp objects, flammable liquids, and firearms. But at airport…

How to Apply for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry

Jump to: TSA PreCheckJump to: Global Entry How to Apply for TSA PreCheck First of all, what is TSA PreCheck? By pre-screening passengers and assigning them a low-risk status, TSA…

Are Hotel Room Safes Safe? The Surprising Truth Behind Online Fears

Across social media, a wave of videos urgently warns viewers about the perils of using hotel safes. A TikTok video demonstrating a safe being opened by punching 00000 into its keypad…

The Difference Between CLEAR and TSA PreCheck? For Starters, One Has Way More Critics

“Enough is enough,” said Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., ranking member of the House Committee on Homeland Security, at a hearing in December. “As carried out by the private sector,…

One of Brazil’s Visa Requirements Could Get You Kidnapped, Consumer Group Says

This post, originally published December 26, 2023, has been updated with new information.As Frommer's has previously reported, Brazil's electronic visa for travelers from the United…

25-Plus Holiday Travel Tips From an Industry Expert: Save Money, Beat Crowds, Dodge Delays

Last year was arguably the worst holiday travel season we’ve ever seen. The Southwest Airlines operational meltdown lasted 11 days encompassing Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, and New…

Disruptions to Airplane GPS Systems Are on the Rise—What Passengers Should Know

If there’s one thing most of us take for granted in boarding a commercial aircraft, it’s that the plane is headed where we expect it to go. If you’re flying from New York to Miami, it…

Don't Scan a Fake QR Code! Scammers Can Steal Your Personal Info

An earlier version of this post has been updated with new information.We know QR codes are convenient, allowing quick access to the website or payment portal of a restaurant, parking…

Scam Alert: Passengers Report Fake Airline Phone Numbers Are Listed by Google

Over the weekend, as airports in the northeastern U.S. endured another 1,300 flight cancellations, reports surfaced of a complex scam operation that has allegedly compromised Google…

Can Kids Use TSA PreCheck with Their Parents? Sometimes. Here's How to Know

TSA PreCheck, that speedy blessing for frequent travelers, is also a boon for families. Nobody likes standing in line, least of all kids, and no parent looks forward to wrestling with…

Is the TSA's 3-1-1 Liquids Rule Ending Now That Technology Has Improved?

The days of bringing a full-sized bottle of water or shampoo in your carry-on bag for a flight are, by and large, a distant memory. In fact, some young travelers have never known such…

If You Use the Public Phone Chargers at the Airport, the FBI Has a Warning for You

It's awfully easy to run out of mobile phone power when you travel. The travel industry has offloaded lots of activity and paperwork to the smartphone in your pocket: Flight check-in,…

An Easy Way to Eliminate Long Global Entry Interview Wait Times

It’s shaping up to be another busy summer in air travel. So far in 2023, the TSA has already logged 9 of its 10 busiest days since the start of the pandemic, and we haven’t even…

Amid Record TSA PreCheck Enrollment, Here’s How to Get Through Airport Security Faster

If you’re a TSA PreCheck member and have noticed more company in the line at airport checkpoints lately, you’re not imagining things. New numbers show the TSA is seeing interest in its…

If You Have Old Traveler's Checks Lying Around, Here's Why You Should Cash Them ASAP

For a long time, the standard advice about traveler's checks has been conditional: You can still buy them, but be prepared for them to be refused at many places. Traveler's checks hail…

Peru’s Machu Picchu Reopens to Tourists—but Is It Safe to Go There?

Machu Picchu, the world-renowned Inca citadel in the Andes of southern Peru, reopened to tourists this week after a nearly monthlong closure due to antigovernment protests. Peruvian…

Did You Know You Can Enroll in TSA PreCheck at Staples Stores? Here’s How

Because I'm a frequent traveler, I know I should have enrolled in TSA PreCheck long ago. But I'm also a writer and therefore a chronic procrastinator. So even though the U.S.…

A Rare Fee Reduction! The TSA Trims the Cost of PreCheck

You don't see this very often these days: prices going down. The U.S. Transportation Security Administration and its enrollment partner IDEMIA, eager to get more travelers signed up…

TSA PreCheck Will Come to You Now: How to Find the Mobile Enrollment Truck

Enrolling in TSA PreCheck is getting more convenient in cities across the U.S. this fall. Thanks to the expanded IdentoGO mobile enrollment push, travelers who want to join the…

How to Skip Long TSA Lines for Free—Without TSA PreCheck

Last Sunday, more than 1,000 passengers missed flights at Ireland's Dublin Airport because of epic security lines caused by staffing shortages. Anyone who has waited in one of the…

Which U.S. Airports Have the Longest Security Wait Times?

If you need to fly out of South Florida at any point this summer, you might want to leave for the airport now. Miami International Airport (MIA) and Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood…

6 Crucial Things Parents Can Do to Childproof a Vacation

Once parents have planned and booked a family trip to a new destination, the next thing they should do is ensure every step will be childproof. That starts with using an approved child…

LOOK: Belgium's New Passports Feature the Smurfs and Tintin

Belgium's new passport design, which debuted earlier this month, pays tribute to the country's rich history of comic strips. The 34-page travel document features illustrations of…