Tri-Cities Vacations

With the continuation of the COVID-19 outbreak, traveling now comes with a few extra challenges. Keep in mind the following information before hopping on your flight to Tri-Cities:

• Before committing to anything, see if any travel restrictions apply — in both your origin and destination. Get up-to-date information by checking government travel advisories.
• Keep your face mask on even during airport screening. A TSA officer will require you to temporarily lower your mask to verify your identity.
• Rather than handing a TSA officer your boarding pass, place it directly on the reader yourself. Then, hold it up for inspection.
• TSA is now allowing passengers to take one container of hand sanitizer, up to 12 oz (350 ml) in size, in carry-on baggage. This will have to be removed from your bag at the X-ray machine for screening.
• Place any personal items (e.g, keys, phone and wallet) in your carry-on instead of a bin to minimize handling during screening.
• Separate any food you have for X-ray scanning. Putting it in a clear plastic bag and into a bin reduces the need for a TSA officer to handle and inspect your belongings.

If you're poorly prepared, airports and flying can be challenging. But there's no need to hit the panic button just yet. Follow these helpful hints and enjoy a comfortable start to your time in Tri-Cities.What to pack in your hand luggage:

• The secret to having a great flight experience is to plan ahead. Start with the essentials: passport, travel documents, credit cards and daily medications. Next, take on board items that'll help while away those hours, like your laptop or a thrilling novel. You'll also want to pack your chargers, a quality neck pillow and a pair of headphones. Last but not least, be sure to squeeze in toiletry items like a toothbrush, cleansing wipes and a spare change of clothes.
• While the list of restricted items differs between air carriers, the general rule to follow is avoid carrying anything sharp, flammable or explosive. This includes things like screwdrivers, pocket knives, fuels and bleaching agents. Sports equipment like ski poles, and items that could injure passengers, such as pepper spray and guns, aren't allowed in the cabin either.
• Comfort should be your main priority when selecting what to wear on your flight. Consider your footwear choice carefully too, as swollen feet are quite common. Roomy, closed-toed shoes are always a smart option.
• Unfortunately, a risk of flying long-haul is developing deep vein thrombosis (DVT), a blood clotting condition caused by lengthy periods of inactivity. To prevent this from happening, make the most of every opportunity to walk around the cabin and stretch your legs. Compression socks and tights are another simple way to help minimize this risk.

It's all about being prepared. We've pulled together some tips and tricks for a fuss-free trip through security. Watch out Tri-Cities, here you come:

• Your boarding pass and passport will need to be presented to airport security. Keep them handy so you don't have to dig around for them.
• Next up, both you and your carry-on bag must be X-rayed. To make the process quick and painless, remove anything that is likely to trigger the alarm. Items such as your jacket, belt and headphones need to go through the machine.
• For just a few minutes, you'll have to unplug from technology. Your laptop, phone and any other electronic gadgets must also go through the scanner.
• Any gels or liquids, such as hair oil or hand cream, that you want to bring on board need to be in containers no larger than 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters). They must also all fit inside a quart-size (one liter), zip-lock bag.
• There's a possibility that you'll need to remove your shoes for scanning, so wearing lightweight sneakers is always a clever idea.
• Airlines will not allow any sharp objects in your carry-on baggage. If you need to bring these kinds of items, put them in your checked baggage.