Thursday, February 2, 2012

Travel Tips for Fans Traveling to Super Bowl XLVI

40,000 or more additional passengers are expected at Indianapolis International Airport (IND) during game week, more than 70 additional commercial flights and 30 charter flights. Arrivals will increase the entire week before game day. We thought it might be helpful to put together a little list with some helpful hints related to things football fans might want to know.

Super Bowl Information: For extended airport operating hours, Super Bowl travel accommodations, special airport amenities, etc., please visit the Host Committee’s website.

Body Scanners: Contrary to what you may have heard, TSA is not using body scanners (Advanced Imaging Technology) at the stadium for the Super Bowl. To keep passengers flying out of Indianapolis International Airport (IND) safe, we do have our new millimeter wave machines that show a generic image for each passenger at the IND airport

TSA's Traveler Site: Go to the TSA Traveler’s Site for more information on permitted and prohibited items, travel tips, etc.

MyTSA App: Use TSA’s MyTSA app for crowd-sourced wait times, and other useful information and tools.

Heightened Security: You can expect to see TSA assets working with law enforcement to help with the heightened security at the stadium. Read here for more information…

Items you may WANT to bring; but CAN’T…
Air horns: Air horns are prohibited in both carry-on and checked baggage. It’s a compressed can of air which is prohibited, but can you imagine the reaction from passengers if one of those things went off in the cabin?

Concealment flasks: We’ve seen them all. Binocular flasks, beer bellies, cell phone flasks, cane flasks, pen flasks, flip flop flasks, you name it… You may be able to sneak these into concerts and sporting events, but we’ll find them at the airport. Please get your libations in Indianapolis if you’re not going to check them in your baggage. You can however have 3.4 oz or less bottles of liquid in a baggie per 3-1-1 guidelines.

Propane tanks: These are a big no-no. I’m a camper, and I know how handy they are for stoves, heaters, coffee makers, etc., but they’re a compressed flammable gas that can’t be brought on the plane at all.

Gas heaters and stoves: These are popular items at tailgating events, but if gasoline can be smelled, the item won’t be permitted.
Loose fitting jerseys: These are great, but if they’re being worn as outerwear, you may be asked to remove them.

Food Items: Here is a list of items that should be placed in your checked bags instead of your carry-on bags to comply with our 3-1-1 policy: Creamy dips and spreads, cheeses, peanut butter, salsa, jams, salad dressings, jellies, maple syrup, sauces, soups, wine, liquor and beer.

NE Patriots fans: You should be prepared to remove your tricorn hats during the screening process. (We make the Cheeseheads do it too.) Also, if you want to bring your life-sized Tom Brady cutout, you may have to check with the airline about buying another seat.

NY Giants fans: You should be prepared to duck when going through the walkthrough metal detector and body scanners. Get it? Duck? Giants? Oh well…

Heading home: Obviously, the busiest travel day will be the day after the game, so be sure to allow extra time to get to the airport. To help keep things speedy, TSA will have every lane at every checkpoint at IND fully staffed and operational. There will also be two extra screening lanes at each concourse entrance to speed security processing.

For all of you who are traveling to Indianapolis for the big game, safe travels and have a great time! I’ll be at home with the family (and my Tom Brady cutout) kicked back in a recliner with some Cincinnati chili dip

If you’d like to comment on an unrelated topic you can do so in our Off Topic Comments post. You can also view our blog post archives or search our blog to find a related topic to comment in. If you have a travel related issue or question that needs an immediate answer, you can contact a Customer Support Manager at the airport you traveled, or will be traveling through by using Talk to TSA.

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

Why would TSA be conducting screening checks at a football game? Are you now the Sports Security Administration?

Anonymous said...

"To keep passengers....safe... we will be using millimeter wave machines..."

In a pig's eye.

RB said...

"Loose fitting jerseys: These are great, but if they’re being worn as outerwear, you may be asked to remove them."

..................

TSA Strip Searches.

Anonymous said...

Love it... GO GIANTS!!!

Anonymous said...

The Super Bowl - A National Celebration!

The TSA - A National Disgrace.

Enough Said.

Anonymous said...

If you're flying out of IND, see how well they actually screen every passenger. According to TSA Status about half the passengers are screened. Let us know if, with long lines post-game, that number rises or falls.

Anonymous said...

"Why would TSA be conducting screening checks at a football game?"

The article talks about getting through the airport on the way to Indianapolis.

Also, to RB - a loose shirt as outwear (ie: you have it over other clothes) hardly counts as stripping. It's not stripping when I remove my jacket, either.

RB said...

Anonymous said...
"Why would TSA be conducting screening checks at a football game?"

The article talks about getting through the airport on the way to Indianapolis.

Also, to RB - a loose shirt as outwear (ie: you have it over other clothes) hardly counts as stripping. It's not stripping when I remove my jacket, either.

February 3, 2012 8:51 AM

.................
The blog piece doesn't mention jerseys as a second layer.

Loose fitting jerseys: These are great, but if they’re being worn as outerwear, you may be asked to remove them.




Having to undress for TSA in the slightest is a Strip Search.

Bob said...

Do you have any tips travelers can use to protect their property from being stolen by TSA screeners?

http://www.cnn.com/2012/02/02/travel/jfk-screening-theft/index.html?hpt=hp_bn7

Anonymous said...

" RB said...
"Loose fitting jerseys: These are great, but if they’re being worn as outerwear, you may be asked to remove them."

..................

TSA Strip Searches.

February 2, 2012 4:21 PM"
-----------------
So RB, in your mind, being asked to remove a loose fitting jersey just so one DOES NOT have to be patted down, equates to a strip search?
Yours must be a very frightening world.

Anonymous said...

A strip search would require you to remove all clothing. TSA simply ask you to remove loose or bulky OUTERMOST clothing. You can hide things under bulky clothing so its for your safety. TSA was put here because of 9/11. So if you dont want another 9/11 than i would suggest you guys to be grateful.

RB said...

Anonymous said...
" RB said...
"Loose fitting jerseys: These are great, but if they’re being worn as outerwear, you may be asked to remove them."

..................

TSA Strip Searches.

February 2, 2012 4:21 PM"
-----------------
So RB, in your mind, being asked to remove a loose fitting jersey just so one DOES NOT have to be patted down, equates to a strip search?
Yours must be a very frightening world.

February 4, 2012 10:19 AM
................
TSA doesn't want to talk about the false hit rate of the Strip Search Machines but information I am getting is that people are still getting pat downs/partial pat downs over 50% of the time when using the unproven Whole Body Imagers.

Anonymous said...

"So RB, in your mind, being asked to remove a loose fitting jersey just so one DOES NOT have to be patted down, equates to a strip search?
Yours must be a very frightening world."

In my mind, the frightening thing is that we've spent $100B on a huge, bloated bureacracy that can't tell if my wallet is a bomb or if a cupcake is an explosive.

Having to remove clothing, of any sort, is a sure sign that our TSA brethren don't have a clue of what they're looking for or how to find it.

Geld verdienen said...

"NY Giants fans: You should be prepared to duck when going through the walkthrough metal detector and body scanners."

I like that :D

Anonymous said...

Funny that I didn't hear anything about naked body scanners at the Super Bowl.

AssistanceDave said...

Why are the TSA screening at a football game?