Travel Tips

Here are some important travel tips to keep in mind when planning your next trip. For the most up-to-date security information, visit www.tsa.gov.

Travel Tip #1: Pack Smart

• Limit your stress by limiting your carry-on baggage. Airlines are enforcing tighter restrictions on the amount of baggage you may carry onto planes, so avoid the added worry. Bring only one bag that will fit under the seat or in the overhead bin and one personal item, such as a purse or briefcase.
• Place medicine, jewelry, cameras and other valuable items in your carry-on baggage.
• Fill out luggage ID tags and place them on both the inside and outside of your bags before you travel. You might also consider labeling items such as cameras, cellphones and computers.
• Please keep Transportation Security Administration (TSA) security regulations regarding liquids and gels in mind when packing your bags. You may carry through security checkpoints travel-size (3 ounces or less) toiletries that fit reasonably in ONE QUART-SIZE clear plastic zip-top bag. At the security checkpoint, you will be asked to remove the zip-top bag and place it in a bin or on the conveyor belt. TSA security officers can more easily examine these items by x-raying them separately.
• For a complete list of permitted and prohibited items, visit www.tsa.gov.

Travel Tip #2: Arrive Early

• Our airport is designed to get you parked, checked in and on your way quickly, but do allow plenty of time to check your bag(s) and pass through security.
• We recommend that travelers arrive in the terminal approximately 90 minutes prior to departure on non-peak travel days, and two hours prior to departure during peak travel periods.
• Keep in mind that most airlines require that bags be checked 30-45 minutes prior to departure. Airlines at Richmond International Airport offer self-service kiosks as well as personal customer assistance in the ticket counter area of the terminal. Additionally, many carriers offer the option of printing boarding passes from their websites as early as 24 hours prior to departure.

Travel Tip #3: Be Prepared for the Checkpoint

• A boarding pass and government-issued photo identification, such as a driver's license or passport, are required to enter the security screening checkpoints.
• Prepare to remove your shoes, coat and outer garment(s) and place them in a tray along with your purse, backpack, etc. If you have one, you also must remove your quart-size zip-top bag of liquid, gel or aerosol products from your carry-on bag and place it in a bin to be screened.
• Electronics items, such as laptops and cellphones, may be subject to additional screening. You will need to remove your laptop from its travel case so that both can be x-rayed separately. You may want to label your laptop to avoid mix-ups when several laptops that look alike move through x-ray machines in succession.