Travel rules relaxed? Bless you, Mr. Chertoff

Unintended consequences
Honestly, we’ll never know if the ban on gels and liquids has served as any sort of deterrent, but it did have some interesting side effects. The good news is that with more passengers checking more luggage, the resulting decrease in onboard congestion has led to an increase in on-time departures. Alas, the bad news is that all those newly checked bags has also led to an increase in baggage-claim delays and lost bags.

Clearly, there are trade-offs, just as there are with the underlying issue of inconvenience vs. implied risk. In the end, I think most of us are willing to empty our pockets, remove our shoes, and if necessary, place our gels and liquids in our checked bags. We’d just like to know that our efforts are helping to stop dangerous people, not just prohibit dangerous items.

Bottom line: If allowing/disallowing individual items is truly addressing the issue, that’s fine; if it’s just window dressing, then we’ve got bigger problems than tossed lattes and tubes of Crest.

Packing light is still packing right
So, what’s a frequent flyer to do? Ultimately, that depends on the kind of flying you expect to be doing.

If you’re a business traveler or other member of the carry-on-only set, be happy that you can once again bypass the crowds at baggage claim. Just remember to pack your gels and liquids — “travel size” only — in a clear-plastic, zip-top bag. And be prepared to place it in a separate bin when you go through security.

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If, however, you’re leaving for an extended trip, and expect to need more than three ounces of any item, you might as well continue packing it in your checked luggage. You might be surprised to learn what you can do without on all but the longest flights. Personally, I’ve already discovered that I like having more room in my carry-on bag for magazines, music, and once again, my big bottle of water.

Either way, consider the current situation a test case for the future of air travel. The fact is, the good old days are long gone, and changing times come with new realities and unforeseen risks. And while the TSA says not to expect any more changes in the security regulations any time soon, I think it’s safe to say that change is the one thing we can absolutely count on.

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