F.A.Q.

1) How do I lodge a complaint about my experience during security checks at the airport?

To report specific violations and concerns about security, please contact the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Consumer Response Center. After business hours, please leave a message and your call will be returned promptly.

Phone: (866) 289-9673
Email: TSA-ConsumerResponse@tsa.dot.gov

2) How much time prior to my flight should I allow for check-in at the airport?

You should allow ninety minutes to two hours prior to your departure for flight check-in and security when you're traveling within the borders of your home country. If you are traveling outside the borders of your home country, you should allow two to three hours prior to your departure for flight check-in and security. If you have questions regarding the specific airports and airlines in your travel plans, please contact your travel arranger.

3) What documentation do I need to bring?

Below are the standard access requirements for most airports. However, certain airports have different access requirements. Be sure to double check here before you go.

TSA - Transportation Security Administration

Access is limited to:

Passengers with:

* Boarding Pass

* Ticket

* Ticket confirmation

Persons with parental, official, medical, business, or similar reasons with:

* Gate pass or other authorization issued by the airline

4) Do I need a paper ticket? Can I use my e-ticket receipt printed from Sabre® Virtually There®?

To enter the secured area beyond the security-screening checkpoint, you must produce a valid photo ID (see FAQ #2) and one of the following documents indicating a flight departure for the current date:

* a receipt for an electronic ticket (including ticket number) or

* an itinerary generated by an airline or travel agency confirming an electronic ticket (including ticket number) or

* a boarding pass or

* a paper ticket

If you do not have a boarding pass, ticket, e-ticket receipt or printed confirmation, be sure to obtain an airline-issued boarding document prior to entering the security checkpoint. If you don't have baggage to check and already have an approved boarding document, as outlined above, you may proceed to the security checkpoint.

Please note: You may be subject to searches of your person, your luggage (whether checked or carry on) and your personal belongings at the discretion of security personnel. Policies may vary by airport and/or airline.

The availability of curbside or skycap check-in depends upon the airport from which you travel. Curbside wheelchair assistance will continue to be provided. Parents, guardians or assistants accompanying minors or passengers with special needs should check at the airport check-in counter for authorization to pass beyond security checkpoints.

All passengers should check with their travel agent, airline or airport, or Transportation Security Administration (TSA) website, for additional information specific to their departure and destination. Policies vary between airlines and specific airports.

5) How can I change my flight?

Check with the travel agent or airline involved with your travel plans. They are the best resource for obtaining information and getting advice about changing your flight.

6) Are there any new luggage restrictions?

As of January 1, 2003, TSA began screening 100% of checked baggage at all 429 commercial airports across the United States. Please be aware that you will not be able to access your bags after they are screened no matter which process you encounter. Therefore, you should remove everything that you want to take on the plane with you before you hand over your checked bag for screening.

Please refer to the TSA website for details on new baggage screening processes.

7) Are there new restrictions on for checked and carry on baggage?

The U.S. Transportation Security Administration has issued a list of Permitted and Prohibitted items for flights originating within the United States.

Prohibited items are weapons, explosives, incendiaries, and include items that are seemingly harmless but may be used as weapons-the so-called "dual use" items. You may not bring these items to security checkpoints without authorization.

TSA List of Permitted and Prohibitted items

Your prohibited item may be detained for use in an investigation and, if necessary, as evidence in your criminal and/or civil prosecution. If permitted by the screener or Law Enforcement Officer, you may be allowed to: consult with the airlines for possible assistance in placing the prohibited item in checked baggage; withdraw with the item from the screening checkpoint at that time; make other arrangements for the item, such as taking it to your car; or, voluntarily abandon the item. Items that are voluntarily abandoned cannot be recovered and will not be returned to you.

Please refer to the TSA lists of prohibited and permitted items where you will find a list of items that are permitted or prohibited in your carry-on or checked baggage. You should note that some items are allowed in your checked baggage, but not your carry-on. Also pay careful attention to the "Notes" included at the bottom of each section - they contain important information about restrictions.

Since policies vary by airline and airport, passengers should confirm limits and restrictions by contacting their travel agent and/or their airline prior to their departure. Please check with your airline or travel agent for restrictions at destinations outside of the United States.

Please note: Airline and/or airport security are not currently required to return confiscated items to the original owner, however the original owner may be able to request said item(s) be returned at their own expense.

8) How do I find out if my flight is departing today?

You may do one or more of the following to confirm your flight's departure:

* Contact your travel arranger

* Contact the airline

* Check gate information available via the Virtually There Itinerary

* Register for flight notification services via Virtually There

9) Are there now special restrictions about baggage claim?

The best thing to do is to hold onto your baggage claim checks. Stricter security and bag matching may require that you produce your baggage claim checks in order to obtain your bags. Policies may vary from airport to airport.

10) Have countries outside the US implemented any new travel restrictions?

Please check travel and airline news updates, travel warnings and airport links listed on the Travel Alerts and Iformation page.or contact your travel arranger for up-to-date information on travel restrictions into and out of countries outside of the U.S.

11) What about traveling with pets?

People traveling with animals should check with the airline before heading to the airport. Some airlines are restricting pet transportation.

12) Are there restrictions on unaccompanied minor travel?

Contact your travel arranger or airline about current policies on unaccompanied minors prior to going to the airport.

13) Why won't Virtually There help me change my airline, car and/or hotel reservation?

Virtually There is not a booking tool. Many of the features and functionality on our Web site only display what is entered into your travel profile by your travel arranger. Booking, canceling, confirming or revising your travel reservations must be handled by contacting the travel arranger that originally created your reservations.

14) It seems like airlines are suddenly enforcing stricter rules about being checked in and at the gate 20, 30, sometimes even 45 minutes prior to your scheduled departure. Is this new and could I lose my confirmed seat?

These rules, which vary from airline to airline, are not new. Most of them have been around for quite some time but weren't rigorously enforced. The new checked baggage screening rules (see FAQ #7) make it extremely difficult, if not impossible, for airlines to allow passengers to check in "just under the wire." A recent USA Today report indicated arriving at the gate fifteen minutes prior to your departure is sometimes considered acceptable. However, depending upon the airline and the type of flight, you could still possibly lose your confirmed seat. Check with your travel arranger and/or airline before your departure to confirm exactly how early you should be checked in at the gate.