Security tips?
 

I haven't travelled overseas in three years, and now I'm going from Japan to the States (and back) in July/August -- around the time of the Olympics.

We had to give up our baby scissors (these were little plastic jobbies with just a strip of metal for the blade) at the airport last time. Are there any toys/stationery things I should not pack for the plane?

What about shoes for me and the kids?

What's the deal about drinks and food on the plane, and going through security?

Any help (and useful URLs) would be very much appreciated!

Thanks!

www.tsa.gov

I believe blunt-end scissors are now allowed. In the US you'll have to remove your shoes. No liquids other than 3 oz containers in a 1 quart zip-lock bag. You can usually buy liquids after security to take on the plane. No idea what the Japanese requirements are - check with your airline for the latest info.

Thanks! That's just the website I needed.

Now, I'm a little worried about books. I usually buy a lot of books while I'm travelling, then pack them together in a small bag. But the TSA says not to stack the books. Has anyone had any problems with travelling with a bunch (say, 20 or 30) magazines?

I'm not sure about magazines - I think the glossy paper may be a problem with the X-ray machines. I've had a checked bag pulled for inspection with just one Lonely Planet in it! My last trip I took an iPod with books and podcasts on it instead of books.

The only thing to know about shoes that I can think of, is that you have to slip them off going thru security check points at the airport.

Thanks. I hope the magazines go through OK.

The thing about shoes: last time I went, people were wearing flip-flops so they didn't have to take their shoes off.

Now, apparently, there's a big to-do about anything with gel in it (no gel shoe inserts, apparently), and I don't know if it's worth it to get flip-flops or not.

Although, the girls do have some zori made of wood.

The thought of subjecting my socks to an airport floor is slightly icky. But . . . whatever. Better than having a security failure, I guess.

I wear my over-the-ankle hiking boots when I fly, since they would take up far too much room in my checked bag. It's a nuisance to have to take them off for security, but preferable to a twisted ankle. I worry more about the bathroom floor on the plane (for which I take oversocks) than the floor in the airport. But then I grew up back when kids played in the dirt and no-one got paranoid about it.