Oakland International Airport Reminds Spring Break Travelers of New Security Procedures

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Cyndy Johnson-OAK, (510) 563-2820
Rosemary Barnes-OAK, (510) 563-2892
OAK After Hours, (510) 563-3360
OAK Parking, (888) IFLYOAK
TSA Media Relations, (571) 227-2829
TravInfo, 511

OAKLAND, CA, April 8, 2003 — Spring means warmer weather, blooming flowers and the “travel bug” for many people, including students and families. Oakland International Airport (OAK) and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officials want to remind anyone traveling over the next few weeks of current security procedures in place, as well as provide them with a few easy travel tips.

Security Procedures
The following procedures are in place currently at Oakland International Airport:

• Passengers are required to present a boarding pass or other airline-approved security document and government-issued photo I.D. at the passenger security checkpoint;
• Vehicles are subject to random search on roadways entering the airport and at the terminal curbside;
• There is an increased presence of law enforcement officers in and around the airport terminals and increased patrols of terminal facilities by the airport’s canine unit.

Prepare for Takeoff
Spring Break travelers can play a cooperative role in airport security by following a few easy travel tips:

• Pack Smart. TSA has revised the list of items that are permitted and prohibited in carry-on and checked baggage (www.TSATravelTips.us). Consideration should be given to items that are needed for travel and how they are packed—avoid putting food or stacking books in checked luggage; place film in carry-on luggage only to prevent damage from the checked baggage screening machines; put footwear on top of other contents where it is readily accessible for screeners; and put personal items like a toothbrush in a clear plastic bag so screeners do not have to handle them.
• Arrive Early. Many airlines are requiring bags to be checked 30 minutes to an hour prior to flight departure. Oakland International recommends that travelers plan to arrive at least 90 minutes prior to departure for domestic flights and two to three hours for international flights. Check with your airline for advice on specific flights, especially those departing between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m., Monday through Friday and Friday and Sunday evenings.
• Unlock Luggage. All checked luggage now must be searched by TSA personnel so keep it unlocked, unless otherwise directed by your airline.
• Wrap on Arrival. Gifts packed in carry-on or checked baggage should remain unwrapped, as they may be opened for inspection.
• In/Out/Off. When approaching the passenger security checkpoint, passengers should place all metal objects IN their carry-on baggage, take their laptop computer OUT of its case, and take OFF outer coats or jackets (does not include suit jackets).

Travelers can contact TSA’s Consumer Response Center toll-free at 1-866-289-9673 or email at TellTSA@tsa.dot.gov with any TSA-related comments or concerns.

Oakland International Airport, a revenue division of the Port of Oakland, served 12.7 million passengers and handled more than 600,000 metric tons of air cargo in 2002. Oakland International has 200 flights a day on 14 domestic and international carriers to 38 nonstop destinations, including Atlanta, the Hawaiian Islands, New York, Washington, D.C., Mexico and Costa Rica (service begins May 2003).

Oakland International consistently has the fewest weather-related flight delays in the Bay Area. It is the only Bay Area airport with a dedicated shuttle bus that meets every Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) system train at the nearby Coliseum station. Travelers are reminded that the 98th Avenue corridor is open to both inbound and outbound traffic creating a fast, direct route to and from Interstate 880. Once at the airport, motorists can tune to 1700 AM for current traffic, parking and security information. For information on ground transportation and parking services, call 1-888-IFLYOAK (435-9625). Visit www.oaklandairport.com for additional information.