Passenger Travel Tips

Commercial aviation helps drive more than 10M American jobs and 5 cents of every dollar of U.S. GDP
Commercial aviation drives more than $1 trillion per year in economic activity
In 2012, U.S. airlines moved more than 48,000 tons of cargo per day
In 2012, the value of a kilogram of U.S. merchandise exported by air averaged 121 times the value exported by sea
For every 100 airline jobs, some 360 are supported outside of the airline industry
Federal taxes constitute $61 – or 20% – of the price of a typical $300 domestic round-trip ticket
In 2011, U.S. airlines carried 16 percent more passengers and cargo using 10 percent less fuel than in 2000
Domestically, airlines drive 5% of economic activity but account for 2% of man-made GHG emissions
From 2000-2011, airlines reduced GHG emissions by 11% while transporting 16% more passengers and cargo
From 1975-2011, U.S. airlines and their partners reduced significant noise exposure by 99%
Commercial air travel is the safest form of intercity transportation in the United States
In the most recent decade, scheduled air service on U.S. airlines was seven times safer than in the 1970s
From 2000-2012, U.S. airlines improved the on-time arrival rate from 72.6% to 81.9%
From 2000-2012, U.S. airlines reduced the flight cancellation rate sharply from 3.30% to 1.29%
Airfares are a bargain: From 2000-2012, U.S. CPI rose 33% while average domestic fare rose just 14%
Adjusted for inflation, the average round-trip domestic airfare fell 15% from 2000
2007 domestic flight delays cost the United States approximately $31 billion
In 2012, the value of U.S. merchandise exported by air reached an all-time high of $427B
In 2012, U.S. exports of air-travel services reached an all-time high of $39.5B, driving a $5.1B trade surplus
In 2012, U.S. passenger and cargo airlines spent more than $50B on fuel, averaging 36% of operating expenses
In 2012, U.S. airlines posted the lowest annual rate of mishandled baggage ever recorded
FAA projects U.S. air travel demand to top 1 billion passengers in 2027
In 2012, US airlines flew 83.4 million passengers in scheduled international service - a record high
In 2012, the total value of merchandise exported from or imported to the United States by air exceeded $927 billion
In 2012, 7.15 teragrams of merchandise was exported from or imported to the United States by air

	Passenger Travel Tips
	PubZone1 This resource page is available to assist passengers as they plan and prepare to depart for travel. All passengers are strongly encouraged to review the website of the airline on which they are flying for respective policies, amenities, customer service plans and flight-operation alert notifications. Security and Your Reservation The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) checks all passengers against government “watch lists” through the Secure Flight Program. All passengers are required, when making a reservation, to provide their full name as it appears on their government-issued identification (see TSA Identification Requirements), date of birth, gender and, if applicable, redress number (passengers who encounter identification problems should apply to TSA for redress to help prevent watch-list matching misidentifications in the future). Airlines are not be able to complete reservations without this required identification information. Automatic Alerts It is suggested that travelers register with their airline to receive automated travel notifications, which are delivered to cell phones or wireless devices; in the event of system delays and flight/schedule changes. This is best done at the time the reservation is made, but also can be completed at a later date. International Travel If planning to travel outside of the United States, review the following resources for important security and public health information: U.S. State Department International Travel Information Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) International Travel Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Crossing U.S. Borders Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Travelers’ Health U.S. Department of State International Travel Registration When planning to visit the United States, check the DHS US-VISIT Traveler Information page for international travelers holding a non-U.S. passport or visa. You may also want to check for information on clearing U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and for information on bringing food into the United States. For citizens traveling from Visa Waiver (VWP) countries to the United States, visit the CBP VWP and CBP Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA). Packing – Security and Hazardous Materials TSA requires that air travelers follow its 3-1-1 Rule for liquids, gels and aerosols in carry-on bags when passing through security checkpoints. The 3-1-1 Rule describes liquids, gels and aerosol container limitations, bag size requirements for holding them and exemptions. If passengers require larger amounts of liquids, gels and aerosols that are not exempted or banned by TSA, place them in the checked luggage. When traveling internationally, remember that the 3-1-1 Rule applies to liquids such as liquor and perfume purchased at airport duty-free shops or onboard your flight. Travelers are not being allowed to carry large bottles of duty-free liquids onboard when connecting to a U.S. domestic flight (keep in mind that many other countries have similar bans.) Check your airline’s website for more information. Passengers should familiarize themselves with the TSA list of prohibited items, allowable food or gifts, safe travel with batteries and devices, "checkpoint friendly" laptop bags, special items, and rules about baggage locks. Make sure that all checked and carry-on bags are clearly identified with name and contact information. It is a good idea also to place contact information inside of the bag in case luggage tags become detached. Also, label items like cameras, cell phones, and laptop computers, or anything else that you might accidentally leave behind at the airport or onboard an aircraft with respective contact information, so that arrangements quickly can be made to have it returned. It is important to follow federal rules and airline policies concerning carry-on baggage; each passenger in general may carry one standard-size carry-on bag and one personal item such as a purse, briefcase, camera case or laptop computer – see also FAA Carry-On Passenger Tips. Medicine, cash, jewelry, passports, visas and other valuables should be stored in passenger’s carry-on luggage. Special Needs Passengers with Disabilities: Passengers with disabilities have greater access to air travel than ever. Airlines work extensively with the Department of Transportation (DOT), advocacy groups, airports and passengers to provide a safe, efficient and dignified travel experience. Please check the individual airline policies that will apply before traveling. If there is a special need, it is a good idea to discuss it with the airline ahead of the travel date. Read the Overview Information for Passengers Based on Air Carrier Access Act Regulations, TSA Travelers with Disabilities and Medical Conditions and DOT Rules and Guidelines for Passengers with Disabilities Traveling with Children: The following links provide guidelines for traveling with children to help children have a safe and comfortable experience: FAA Child Safety, TSA Traveling with Kids, FAA Flying with Children, FAA Child Safety on Airplanes, FAA Child-Safety Brochure and DOT: When Kids Fly Alone Pet Travel: Not all airlines accept pets for travel, either in the cabin or cargo compartment. Those carriers that do accept pets for travel have their own pet transportation policy. Customers need to contact their airline directly when making travel plans for their pet. See Air Travel for Your Pet and FAA: Pets in the Passenger Cabin Other: TSA offers screening guidance for military personnel, those with religious and cultural needs and those traveling with special items Just Before Taking Your Trip Up to 24 hours prior to departure, passengers can use automated check-in options, offered via airline websites and at airports. TSA offers MyTSA mobile application, which includes airport status and screening checkpoint wait times, information on the 3-1-1 Rule for liquids, gels and aerosols in carry-on bags, as well as the handling of food/gifts. It is always a good idea to check flight status before leaving for the airport in the event that there has been an unexpected flight delay. Check the FAA Airport Status and Delays, Weather, local traffic reports to the airport and plan accordingly. Arrive at the airport early. It is important to check with the airline in advance for specific advice on how early to arrive. Allow a minimum of one hour for domestic flights and two hours for international flights, although at many airports the minimums are 90 minutes and three hours, respectively. Become familiar with Dealing with Delays in the rare event of a lengthy onboard delay. At the Airport Be prepared by having your issued boarding pass and government-issued photo identification ready for security officials to examine. Airport self-service check-in kiosks are available if check-in and boarding-pass issuance was not completed via the Internet. At the security checkpoint, place metallic objects (including keys, coins, pens, cell phone, watch and camera) in carry-on baggage. See TSA checkpoint advice for How to Get through the Line Faster. TSA continues to deploy Advanced Imaging Technology (AIT) screening at airports. This new technology differs from traditional metal detectors and requires different steps for passenger screening. TSA strongly recommends that passengers remove ALL items from pockets, including nonmetal items such as pieces of paper and wallets. Removing all items will reduce the chances that a passenger will need additional screening. In addition, TSA continues to update security measures as part of a layered security approach. A method being deployed selectively includes Enhanced Pat-Down searches. Onboard Once your trip planning has been completed, relax, read a book, watch a movie, enjoy other inflight amenities or take a nap and arrive fully refreshed. Please remember to listen carefully to the onboard safety announcements. The following FAA information might be interesting as well: Safety Record of Airlines/Aircraft and Turbulence: Staying Safe. When traveling on an international flight and when returning to the United States, remember that large bottles of duty-free liquids, such as liquor or perfume, cannot be carried onboard a connecting U.S. domestic flight in accordance with the TSA 3-1-1 Rule. Post Flight A4A members are committed to providing the highest possible level of safety and service to our customers. Each participating airline has published a Customer Service Plan – please consult the respective airline's website for the details of its customer commitment and review Customers First: 12-Point Customer Service Commitment. If you experience a problem while traveling, please contact the appropriate entity(ies), so that the situation may be adequately addressed. Global Entry Global Entry is a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) program that allows expedited clearance for pre-approved, low-risk travelers upon arrival in the United States. Security Matters: TSA Contact Center Airline Customer Service: Please contact your airline FAA-Monitored Matters: FAA Consumer Hotline DOT Aviation Consumer Protection Division: Air Travel Problems/Complaints PubZone2	The U.S. aviation system is the largest and most extensive aviation system in the world.