What Not to Wear to the Airport

Going through airport security can be a trying experience even if it goes smoothly. Between hauling your bag up on the conveyor belt, removing everything from your jeans, including your belt and taking off your shoes, it's a pain even if you don't set off an alarm or have to suffer a pat-down.

So how can you make it a little easier on yourself when going through the security line? It has to start before you leave: It's all about how you dress before you go.

According to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), there is no particular style or type of clothing that passengers should wear or avoid from a security point of view, although "passengers may be directed to additional screening if their clothing (religious or otherwise) is loose fitting or large enough to hide prohibited items."

To avoid sounding off that embarrassing alarm when walking through the metal detector, passengers should avoid wearing clothing, jewelry or other accessories that contain metal. Here's the TSA's list of pack-it or leave-it-home items:

* Heavy jewelry (including pins, necklaces, bracelets, rings, watches, earrings, body piercings, cuff links, lanyards or bolo ties)
* Clothing with metal buttons, snaps or studs
* Metal hair barrettes or other hair decoration
* Metal belt buckles
* Under-wire bras
* Hidden items such as body piercings may result in additional screening, including a pat-down. If selected for additional screening, passengers may ask to remove their body piercing in private.

Before you leave for the airport, place your wallet, change, mobile phone and any other small electronic device in a small plastic bag and put it in your carry-on bag. Once at the airport security checkpoint, all you have to do is place your carryon bag on the belt and away you go. That is after you remove any coats and shoes you're wearing.

For more information on going through airport security, visit www.tsa.gov.

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