I have written several times about how I wear bike shorts under skirts and dresses on travel days. It just makes so much sense! It alleviates worry about any unexpected TSA pat-downs, wind gusts, or, of course, chafing. For what seems like forever I have just worn normal bike shorts from Target. My problem with them, and with most typical exercise bike shorts, is that they’re just too long! With my knee-length dresses I am constantly concerned that they will show as I’m walking. Not fun at all.

On a recent Corporette post, a commenter mentioned that she uses Jockey Skimmies Slipshorts. Seriously, these seem like the answer to a prayer. They are inexpensive, come in a bunch of colors, and have different lengths. Plus the reviews are mostly very good, and report no roll-up (or down) or muffin-top. Woohoo! I am definitely going to be trying out the regular length, although there is also a shorter length. $20 at Amazon.

Readers, have you tried the Slipshorts? Do you feel comfortable wearing dresses on travel days?

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A couple of years ago, I got an email from American inviting me to participate in a pilot program of some new expedited security system called “TSA Pre-check”. I was interested enough to read about it on the TSA website. It sounded very interesting, but I didn’t travel to any of the airports where it was available and declined to participate.

Over the last two years, I’ve followed the progress of TSA Pre-check. Frequent travelers from all over the country like it a lot, and I knew that when it was more widely available I would participate. Until recently, it still didn’t have a presence at any of the airports I frequented, so I wasn’t too concerned about it. Until a few weeks ago, when I flew to Nashville. I saw signs that it was going to be offered in my home airport and two others that I frequent often! I decided to apply immediately. Except that, as much as I searched, I couldn’t find the “application”. I looked all over the American Airlines website and the TSA website, but my Google-fu failed me. Finally I called American, and was told that unfortunately I wasn’t eligible anymore. However, I could participate in Pre-check if I participated in Global Entry.  BTW, in case you don’t know, the fee for applying for Global Entry is a non-refundable $100.

I am pretty irritated. Should I be? Is Pre-check really that awesome? Of course it would be nice to not have to take my shoes off or laptop out of my bag, but should I be all up in arms? It just seems silly that you have to either be invited or pay to be a part of the program.

Oh, and the other good news American gave me was that I can easily get my Platinum status back for the low, low rate of $750. Lucky me! /sarcasm

Readers, what have your TSA Pre-check experiences been? Is it worth paying for? Is there a loophole that I missed?

The TSA recently announced they would be allowing pocketknives through airport security and on to planes starting in April. A lot of people are very concerned about the safety repercussions, including the flight attendant unions and some members of Congress. I have tried to stay away from the pocketknife controversy because, honestly, it’s been covered pretty adequately everywhere. But in case you aren’t aware, here are the details (from the TSA blog, emphasis mine):

Starting April 25, TSA will relax restrictions on certain items previously prohibited as part of its ever evolving efforts to focus on items that pose the highest threat. Relaxed restrictions will apply to knives that do not lock, and have blades that are 2.36 inches or 6 centimeters or less in length and are less than 1/2 inch in width, novelty-sized and toy bats, billiard cues, ski poles, hockey sticks, lacrosse sticks and two golf clubs as part of their carry-on baggage.

The relaxing of the rules around knives has predictably drawn the most questions and criticism. I totally get why people get freaked out thinking about knives on a plane. It sounds so dangerous!! However, when you look at the knives in question, they are smaller than the sewing scissors that have been allowed on planes for years. As I have personally carried these tiny scissors (similar to these) on many trips (probably over one hundred) during the last few years, it’s hard for me to get too excited about pocket knives.

Now, I said earlier that I have purposely stayed out of the discussion. Obviously that’s changed today! The reason is a New York Times article from Monday. The author wrote about the TSA changes last week, and not surprisingly received a ton of comments from readers. What was surprising was that a large portion of the comments in support of the relaxed regulations were from women business travelers. As I happen to be a woman business traveler who finds the relaxed regulations not that big of a deal, I found this very interesting. Because other groups were so opposed to changing the rules, I kind of assumed I was a minority. Now that I know that’s not the case, I want to know what others in my situation think as well. (Pictured: a lovely Swiss Army knife. I don’t carry one, but if I did this one would top the list!)

So, Readers, what is your take on the TSA allowing small knives through security and onto planes? Does it seem dangerous, or no big deal? In your comment, if you’re comfortable with it please identify your gender. Just because I’m curious

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When I flew to Nashville a few weeks ago, I noticed that the security line designed for first class and elite flyers at my home airport was unusually long, in fact longer than I’ve ever seen it. Normally it moves pretty quickly, though, so I went ahead and got in it. This time, though, it was pretty sluggish, and when I got to the font I realized why: they were training new TSA agents.

This was irritating to me for multiple reasons. First of all, it was 5:30am on a Monday morning, so it was during one of the busiest times at the airport. Second, business travelers typically don’t leave very much extra time in their schedule, so it seemed likely the delay could lead to someone missing their flight.

I get why they would put a trainee in our line—we fly so often we know the routine, and are (in theory anyway) more prepared to go through security. People who don’t fly often are less likely to be ready with ID and boarding pass and more likely to be flustered, leading to delays. Plus there are fewer frequent fliers, so if the trainee has difficulty with a procedure he is causing fewer people to wait.

But I can’t help but feel that frequent travelers, especially business travelers, pay a lot of money on a regular basis to fly, and I feel like that should be respected. Not that it ever will be, by airlines or the TSA, but that’s how I feel.

Readers, what are your thoughts?

A friend asked me yesterday about Kindles and security. (You may have seen the exchange on my Facebook page.) “Do you have to take your Kindle out at security the way you do with a laptop? Or can it stay inside your bag while it goes through x-ray?” Regular readers may have noticed that I am a HUGE proponent of eReaders, and count my old school Kindle to be one of the most valuable things I travel with. I take it on every trip, so can say without a doubt that you don’t need to take it out at airport security.

However, I know the latest generation of Kindles are more like tablet computers, and I’m less familiar with those. I do have an iPad that I travel with occasionally, and I’ve never had to take it out before. But of course we know that sometimes what happens in practice does not follow the actual rule (thanks for the consistency, TSA) so I thought I would check for sure. I went to the TSA webpage to see what I could find.

Here’s what I found after entering “tablet computer” into the “Can I bring my….” tool:

Small and portable electronic items (iPods, iPads, cell phones, etc.) do not need to be removed from their carrying cases.

Super, so iPads and other tablets don’t have to come out. Just for fun I checked eReaders, and the same message came up. Good to know! Of course, laptops still have to come out and go into their own bin.

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A few weeks ago I posted about bringing tissues and sanitizing wipes on every trip moving forward. One of the comments was a question, asking if TSA allowed wipes through. The reader thought since they are technically wet, they may not be allowed.

I have flown with face wipes many times, never taken them out of my suitcase at airport security, and never had a problem, so I assumed they were allowed. But of course, I also never take out my liquids bag, and I know I’m supposed to do that! So I went to the TSA site to see what I could find. I ended up using the “When I fly, can I bring my….?” tool. I wasn’t expecting much, because the last time I used the tool it was terrible. However, this time when I typed in “wipes” it asked me to choose which kind (baby, antibacterial, etc) and said they were allowed in both checked and carryon luggage.

So that’s good news! In fact it’s two pieces of good news. Yes, wipes are allowed, and the TSA “Can I bring my….?” tool works at least some of the time. Hooray!

Last week was my first trip away from home since I had my baby. One of my big concerns was traveling with breast milk. The TSA rules are pretty straightforward, but I’ve heard that in practice they are not super consistent (shocker right?). The rules from the TSA website are:

• Breast milk is exempt from the 3-1-1 rule (because it’s considered a medicine).
• You can travel with freezer packs, and they can be frozen solid or partially frozen.
• Separate your breast milk from your liquids toiletry bag.
• You do not have to be traveling with your child to travel with breast milk.
• You may be subject to additional screening.

Sounds pretty straightforward right? When I got to my home airport I did all of the stuff I normally do, pulling out my laptop, taking off my shoes, etc. I also pulled out my cooler full of empty bottles and freezer packs. I told the TSO that I was traveling with medicine and had a freezer pack. He said, “No problem, we’ll just have to check that the freezer pack is completely frozen.” Uh, okay. Since I had just left my house it was completely frozen, but it likely wouldn’t be the next night when I flew home. As I was waiting for them to check it (holding up the line, of course. Cringe.) I asked what would happen when I flew back home and the freezer packs were only partially frozen and repeatedly told that they had to be fully frozen. I said, “On your website it says that when traveling with medicine they can be partially frozen.” And the lady quoted the 3-1-1 rule to me. Ugh.

So I was pretty anxious about what would happen when I flew home. At that point, I had the mostly frozen gel packs, plus a quart sized bag of ice, in my cooler. I let them know I was traveling with medications, they said, “Ok thanks for letting us know,” and then slid all of my stuff through. No waiting, no extra screening, no questions about the gel packs or the ice. All that worry for nothing.

When I traveled again this past Monday, it was the same thing. I let them know, they slid it through the X-ray machine, no waiting. Easy peasy!

Obviously YMMV. I have a print out of the TSA’s guidelines in my pump bag just in case. It sounds like it will never be consistent, but that doesn’t surprise me.

Also, be sure to check out Corporette’s post about how to ask for a place to pump during travel.

November 2011:

• I did a super fun Business Traveler Interview with Aliza Sherman and Danielle Smith.
• After suffering from a sinus infection, I gave tips for avoiding them.
• I went to Blog World, and figured out how to pack for a conference.
• Transitioning to Fall Wardrobe

November 2010:

• Learn what happens when you don’t stay home when you’re sick with The Tale of Typhoid Mary
• I rediscovered my love for sweater dresses.
• The TSA started their extra touchy-feely pat downs. Fun times!

November 2009:

• Recommendations for what to pack on a fun trip.
• DFW got the first Sephora vending machine. Swoon.

Follow Road Warriorette on Twitter!

One year ago….

• TSA crossed the line….again.
• I fell in love with navy and discovered the awesoness of gel soles.
• On my journey to more miles, one strategy worked (a miles credit card) and one backfired (trying for a travel voucher).
• Movie streaming apps on my phone changed my life. No joke.
• The Top Five Travel Necessities: Things I Wear is still very true, and something I consult for packing all the time.

Two years ago…..

• I answered readers’ question about traveling to rainy destinations and plus-size travel outfits.
• The TSA announced some updates to its liquids carry-on rules.
• I got super excited about flats, boots, and travel wallets.
• Andi Fisher from Misadventures with Andi wrote a great post about healthy eating on the road.
• Readers voted, and decided the correct term is “rollaboard” instead of “rollerboard”.

Three years ago…..

• The Home Warrior and I had a fantastic trip to Napa.
• I wrote about the importance of sleep on the road.

I recently received a question from Reader M:

Like you, I’m a knitter. Is TSA allowing knitting items through now?

Great question!

After 9-11, there was some pushback about carrying knitting needles onto planes. However, a few years ago the regulations relaxed and knitters are once again allowed to work on their projects while flying. According to the TSA blog, there are no restrictions on what kind of needles you can bring through—bamboo, plastic, metal, circular, etc. Also, scissors with blades shorter than four inches are allowed. I would advise printing out the page from the TSA blog and TSA website where it says these are okay, just in case you get a TSO who doesn’t know what the rules are. If in the rare case that a TSO still won’t let them through, I would be prepared with some scrap yarn and a plastic needle so you can save your work. (Pictured: Lion Brand Speed Stix Size 50 knitting needles, available at Joann for $10.99.)

My own personal experience: I have never had anyone even ask me a question about my knitting needles, and have traveled hundreds of times in the US, and several times internationally, with them. Once, in Cozumel, it was posted that knitting needles had to go in checked baggage so that’s where they went. Other than that, it’s never been an issue. And it’s a good thing, because without my knitting to keep me busy I would not be a happy traveler!

Readers, have you ever had an issue with your knitting items? What about stuff for other crafty endeavors?