Can you believe that Thanksgiving is almost upon us? Whether you're staying put and consuming a family meal over Zoom or are actually embarking on a trip to meet your relatives, the 2020 holiday season demands some sort of celebration.
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If you are planning on traveling in the next couple of weeks, there is one thing to keep in mind: safety, both your own and the one of those around you, should be your number one priority. To that intent, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has released five tips to travel safely this Thanksgiving.
Here they are:
1. Know what to expect when traveling during a global pandemic and don't forget your mask
Pretty straightforward, isn't it? Among the highlighted expectations are social distancing cues, contact-less ID verification practices, increased cleaning and disinfecting efforts and—this one's fairly new—the permission to bring one liquid hand sanitizer container of up to 12oz. per passenger in a carry-on luggage. You will be asked to remove it from your bag for special screening.
2. Enroll in TSA PreCheck now to expedite screening and reduce touchpoint
As a general statement, TSA PreCheck is a great program that will significantly cut down your travel time (you won't have to take off your shoes, belts and jackets, for example). You can apply for it right here. Needless to say, amid a global pandemic, the ability to run through checks and reducing touch points is that much more important.
3. Know what foods you can bring with you before you commit to bringing that special dish to contribute to the Thanksgiving feast
Remember: if the food you're planning on carrying along with you can be spilled, sprayed or poured out, you need to pack it in your checked bag. That means that your gravy and your wine cannot be put into your carry-on. Also remember that anything you do bring on the plane with you will have to be put in a bin for screening prior to boarding, so try to pack everything inside of a plastic bag to prevent cross-contamination.
4. Download the free myTSA app
On the app, you'll be able to scroll through a searchable list of "Can I Bring" products, be notified about flight delays and more.
5. Follow TSA on Twitter
The agency constantly posts tips and guidelines on its social media pages, so following their account might be a good way to stay up-to-date when it comes to travel-related information.
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