When checking in with an airline to receive a boarding pass and drop off luggage, passengers will be asked to show a form of identification. Passengers must present a U.S. federal or state-issued photo ID such as a valid U.S. passport, driver's license or military ID. If passengers are traveling internationally, they will be required to show a passport, as well as any travel visas required by the destination country. A series of security questions involving the check-in luggage will ensue. Passengers are advised to remove any locks from checked bags as they will pass through an X-ray machine and may be subject to hand searches. If the security personnel cannot unlock a bag, they will break the lock in order to examine the bag's contents.
Passengers will be asked to present their boarding passes and IDs to the security personal at the line entrance. They are advised to remove shoes, jackets, jewelry and other metal objects in their pockets and place them in a bin. Laptops should be removed from their carrying cases and placed in a separate bin. All liquids must be placed in a quart-sized, clear, plastic, zip-top bag and one bag per passenger can be placed in the screening bin as a carry-on. Larger quantities of liquids, such as water bottles, much be surrendered to security. Passengers place all items, including carry-on luggage, on the conveyor belt to pass through an X-ray machine.
Passengers will pass through a metal detector when directed to do so by the security personnel with their boarding passes in hand. If the metal detector alarm does not sound, they may return to the conveyor belt to retrieve their items. Occasionally, they may be subjected to secondary screenings such as pat-downs, X-ray machines and hand searches of their carry-on luggage. They are advised to stay calm and cooperate with security personnel at all times.
Passengers should be prepared for additional security procedures at the gate. Sometimes they will be subjected to additional screening after they have entered the secure area. Their passports may be scrutinized for a second time and they may be asked to cooperate in a random screening. Frequently, employees pass hand-held wands over them and hand search their luggage.
