From Teresa Plowright,
Your Guide to Family Vacations.
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Allow plenty of time before your flight, to pass through security checks! Current security rules (since August 2006) can cause line-ups to move more slowly than in the good ol' days.

No Liquids etc. (- and that's a big "et cetera")

In a nutshell, no liquids (gels, creams, or even jams, honey, etc.) can be brought through the security gate. If you're carrying a water bottle, you'll have to throw away your water.* You can take toiletry items, but only in 3-oz. sizes, all packed in one clear quart-sized zip-lock bag. For details, and important exceptions, read more below.

The better everyone packs, the faster the security lines will move! Delays occur when a security agent has to deal with wrongly packed items; plus it's no fun throwing away your favorite shampoo or jam or salsa (-yes, they're "liquids", too.)

What can I bring on the plane?

The TSA (Transportation Security Administration) has a "3 -1-1" motto, to help you remember what you can bring in your carry-on luggage.

3-1-1 For Carry-on

• toiletries (and other liquids, gels, lotions, etc.) must each be in a 3 ounce container (or smaller) ;
• pack these items together in a 1 quart-sized, clear, plastic, zip-top bag;
• 1 such bag per passenger is allowed, and must be removed from your carry-on bag and placed in a bin to go through the screening machine.

Size of the clear bag
The size for the clear plastic zip-lock bag is one-quart, not the more common one-gallon size! The TSA web site explains: "One-quart bag per person limits the total liquid volume each traveler can bring."

You can bring bottled water IF...
... you first pass through the security gate, and then buy the water (or other beverage) in the secure boarding area.

It's not just about drinks and toiletries
The 3-1-1 rules apply to all liquids, gels, lotions, etc., including some food items you might not consider "liquids". The TSA has this to say:

"Food items such as jams, salsas, sauces, syrups and dips will not be allowed through the checkpoint unless they are in containers three ounces or less and in the passenger's one quart zip-top bag. This applies to gift items including lotions, creams, scented oil, liquid soaps, perfumes, and even snow globes, that are in excess of three ounces -- even if they are in sealed gift packs."

Be sure to pack all such gifts in your checked bags! Watch out for prohibited items, too.

Exceptions: Formula, Breast Milk, Baby Food
Parents of babies, of course, have to bring aboard nourishment for their little ones. Baby formula and milk are allowed in quantities greater than three ounces, and don't need to be packed in the zip-top bag. Keep in mind:

• you must be traveling with a baby or toddler
• take only amounts needed for the plane trip (- pack the rest in your checked luggage)
• you'll need to declare these items for inspection at the security checkpoint

Parents can also stock their carry-on bag with baby food in cans or jars, and gel or liquid-filled teethers for babies. There are also allowances for creams, medicines, and other essential items for your child: read more about travel with children at the TSA site.

Exceptions: Prescriptions and Other Items for Medical Conditions
A wide range of prescription and over-the-counter medications (in liquids, gel, or aerosol forms) can be carried onto airplanes; other items for medical purposes are allowed as well, and size is not limited to 3-oz. containers.

However, if the item is larger and not in the zip-lock bag, passengers must declare it for inspection at the security checkpoint. Check the TSA policies about medications for details.

Change Happens
At any time, a new security incident can lead to changes in regulations about the items you can carry on the plane. You can find the latest regulations for the United States at the TSA site.

* One reader writes that she was able to carry an empty water through the security checkpoint, and then fill it from a water fountain in the boarding area.