• Planning for your trip
• How to pack
• What to wear

Planning for your trip

Plan your packing and remember to Think Small, Think Smart, and Think Safe. You should pack lightly and travel with as little baggage as possible. Check with your airline to determine how much you can bring with you.

Label your luggage and remember to include a label on the inside of your bags as well. You should avoid using your home address and business title on your luggage labels. Luggage labels with flaps that hide your name and address are a smart idea. These simple steps will protect your anonymity and thwart would-be thieves.

Make sure to bring an appropriate piece of government-issued photo ID with you, such as a drivers license for domestic travel or a passport for international travel. Keep your ID handy and accessible as you may be required to show it at the check-in counter and again before boarding your flight.

Check your travel itinerary, something your travel agent should have provided. It should show what airline you are flying, what terminal it uses and your departure and arrival times going and returning.

Plan to arrive at the airport early. For international travel, make sure to arrive two to three hours before your scheduled departure time. Check with your airline to determine when to arrive for your flight and for possible changes to the flight schedule.

Bring your patience and understanding.

• How to make travelling a more enjoyable experience
  http://www.catsa-acsta.gc.ca/english/travel_voyage/infreq.htm
  
• Planning to Travel?
  http://www.tc.gc.ca/aboutus/travel/menu.htm

How to pack

There are strict rules on items that you can bring into the aircraft. Articles that are too bulky or too heavy to fit in the overhead stowage bins or under the seat can injure other passengers if the aircraft encounters turbulence.

Limitations apply to baggage on all airlines. For the comfort and safety of all passengers it is necessary to limit the size and weight of your cabin baggage. Try not to pack more luggage than you can carry. The airline or your travel agent will have further details on baggage entitlements.

Pack all medication in your carry-on baggage so it is available when you need it.

Carry-on Baggage

Each airline has a similar carry-on baggage policy. There is a weight and size limitation for each passenger. This is based on stowage areas, aircraft weight limitations, fuel required, centre of gravity and balance required for take-off. Overloaded passengers have the ability to seriously compromise the convenience, comfort and safety of other passengers and the crew.

• Check with your airline to find out the maximum size and number of pieces of carry-on baggage allowed. Most airlines restrict carry-on baggage to two pieces per passenger.
• Plan to check more of your baggage and carry on less – let the airlines carry the weight for you.
• Carry-on bags must be small enough to fit under the seat in front of you or in the overhead bins. Heavy items should always be placed under the seat.
• When using overhead bins, be aware of how you stow your baggage. Baggage has been known to fall out of overhead compartments when the contents shifted during flight or if the compartments were overloaded.

Plan to pack only the essentials (prescriptions, personal hygiene items, passports) and valuable items (jewellery, cameras) in your carry-on baggage. Minimize the size and amount of your carry-on baggage:

• You will be able to proceed through security checkpoints more easily.
• During the winter months, overhead compartment space is needed for heavy coats and parkas.
• If in doubt, leave it out – don't pack sharp or piercing objects in your carry-on baggage.
• Wrapped gifts will be opened at security, so consider wrapping them at your destination or putting them in your checked baggage.
• If you have electronic equipment, make certain that you can prove that it is operable – but then make sure it is turned off before the flight.

In an accident, the more baggage there is on board, the greater the likelihood of overhead compartments spilling open and the greater the chance of injury from flying objects. Evacuation times are slowed by baggage cluttering aisles.

Dangerous Goods

Some articles were never meant to fly. For a listing of items that may not be carried on board the aircraft or that may be restricted, visit the following site:

• Dangerous Goods in Passengers Luggage
  http://www.tc.gc.ca/CivilAviation/commerce/DangerousGoods/
  regoverview/passlugg/menu.htm

What to wear

Dress appropriately for the conditions you may encounter. You may have to go outside to get on the airplane so shorts, tank tops and sandals are not likely to give you any protection against the elements of a typical Canadian winter.

The clothes you are wearing can also play a significant role in your safety. People wear synthetic blend fabrics because they are easy to maintain and do not wrinkle when spending a long time seated. However, these fabrics ignite quickly, shrink, melt and continue to burn even after the heat source is removed. In the unlikely event that the aircraft is evacuated, even pantyhose contribute to injuries, as they melt and cause burns from the friction generated with contact on the slide.

• Clothing made of natural fibres such as cotton, wool, denim and leather offer the best protection during an evacuation or fire. Synthetic fibres (rayon, poly/cotton and nylon, including pantyhose, wigs, hairpieces, scarves, ties and underwear) can become very hot and melt causing severe burns.
• Avoid leaving large areas of the body uncovered. Steer clear of shorts or skirts because they do not cover extremities. Wear non-restrictive clothing as this allows you greater movement.

Wearing suitable footwear can prevent the most common injuries to feet during accidents or emergencies. Keep your footwear on during the flight. In an emergency, finding your shoes will probably be one of the last things on your mind. Unprotected feet can slow departure from the airplane once outside. Imagine trying to walk through jet fuel, possibly on fire, broken glass, or sharp metal fragments without shoes to protect your feet.

• Wear fully enclosed low-heeled shoes or boots that have laces or straps.
• Avoid sandals and high-heeled dress shoes. High-heeled dress shoes will have to be removed before using the escape slide.