DALLAS, Nov. 19 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Southwest Airlines’ (NYSE: LUV) Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend of $.0045 per share to Shareholders of record at the close of business on December 10, 2009 on all shares then issued and outstanding. The 133rd consecutive dividend will be paid on January 7, 2010.
SOURCE Southwest Airlines
Southwest Airlines Investor Relations, +1-214-792-4415
While it may be embarrassing to set off a metal detector at airport security, it’s much worse to be called aside to for a secondary X-ray search. Aside from the obvious problems associated with being late for your boarding call and missing your flight, problems getting through airport security can be frustrating and time consuming.
Despite the exponential growth of airport security guidelines, dressing for air travel is actually a lot simpler than it seems, though many people insist on opting for the more difficult route almost every trip.
This is probably the simplest way to dress for a flight, not to mention the most comfortable. If I’m not headed directly to a conference or a meeting, I will almost always opt for flip-flops, jeans, a t-shirt and my carry-on bag. The key items of note on this air travel dress code are:
Aside from that, it’s a pretty simple process dressing for casual air travel.
Let’s pretend that you’re not trying to impress your cohabitants on the plane and genuinely have to be dressed for an important meeting on the other end of your flight. Business dress does not require you to have a difficult time at airport security.
Carry your dress shoes in your carry-on bag and opt for flip-flops or other slip on shoes for travelwear. If you have leather shoes that require polishing, you can wrap them in Saran™ Wrap to prevent scuffing.
Belts, tie clips and cuff links should be carried in your carry-on bag. Car keys, coin change and metal ink pens should join them. When you arrive at your destination airport, it should take you less than 10 minutes to don your shoes and other accessories.
While it may seem that different airports treat certain things differently, there are a few guidelines that will make your security check go much smoother:
n addition to the above items, large metallic items not pulled out of the carry-on bag might result in a bag check. I have an engraved white and yellow gold money clip I often carry in my bags that will almost always trigger a bag search if I do not pull it out with the electronic devices.
Also, I do not wear jackets through security and instead opt to stuff them in my carry-on bag. I have never had a bag searched because of a jacket inside as the X-Ray machines can easily see through these items.
Lastly, keep your pockets empty except for your wallet. Even if you don’t have any metallic items that might set off a metal detector, you may be asked to empty your pockets during a secondary search which can be time consuming.
While some of the below items may not trigger a secondary search, it’s always better safe than sorry. Be sure to avoid wearing/carrying items such as:
The bottom line with carry-on bags, much like dressing for airport security, is that if you follow the below guidelines you will probably not board your flight any faster. However, you won’t be the guy who the flight crew is waiting on to find a place for his carry-on luggage because he can’t find a place in the overhead compartments for his baggage.
Bookbags Always BestIn my line of work, you can carry a backpack with padded laptop compartment and still appear pretty professional. Some people still opt for bags with handles and wheels but this still shouldn’t translate into unnecessary bulk.
Samsonite makes several good carry-on bags that carry a bit more than a bookbag but will still fit under your site. If you’re looking for a rugged, urban backpack that will accommodate your electronic gear such as laptops and mp3 players, I wouldn’t look much further than the North Face Surge Backpack. 2150 cubic inches of tough yet surprisingly functional carry-on space that can easily be stuffed under your seat or thrown onto your shoulders for boarding/exiting the airplane.
A passport is an internationally recognized travel document that verifies the identity and nationality of the bearer. Only the U.S. Department of State and U.S. Embassies and Consulates have the authority to grant, issue or verify U.S. passports. For travel overseas and to facilitate reentry into the U.S., a valid U.S. passport is the best documentation available.
A valid passport is required to enter and leave most foreign countries. Some countries may allow you to enter with only a birth certificate, or with a birth certificate and a driver’s license. Note, however, that rules established under the U.S. Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004, require that all persons, including U.S. citizens, traveling by air, must present a valid passport to reenter the United States. (Until September 30, 2007, U.S. citizens who have applied for but not yet received passports can enter and depart the United States by air to Western Hemisphere countries with a government-issued photo identification and official proof of application for a passport. The proof may be obtained at http://travel.state.gov. This accommodation does not affect entry requirements of other countries, and U.S. citizens who are traveling to a country that requires a visitor to have a passport must still obtain one.)
If you are traveling by land or sea, make certain that you can return to the United States with the proof of citizenship that you take with you. U.S. regulations require that you document both your U.S. citizenship and your identity when you reenter the United States. For more information about U.S. passport requirements, see http://www.travel.state.gov/travel/cbpmc/cbpmc_2223.html.
Some countries require that a traveler’s U.S. passport be valid at least six months or longer beyond the dates of the trip. In addition, with the number of international child custody cases on the rise, several countries have instituted passport requirements to help prevent child abductions. (Mexican law, for example, requires a child traveling alone, or with only one parent, or in someone else’s custody, to carry written, notarized consent from the absent parent or parents if the child is not in possession of a U.S. passport.) Contact the embassy of the foreign destination for more information. A listing of foreign embassies and consulates in the U.S. is available on the Department of State’s website at http://www.state.gov/s/cpr/rls/dpl/32122.htm. Foreign embassy and consulate contact information can also be found on the Country Specific Information for each country.
How to Apply for a U.S. Passport
Apply for your passport several months before your planned trip, and, if you will need visas from foreign embassies, allow even more time. Even if you don’t have specific travel plans, but have family living abroad or are waiting to find a bargain trip, it is a good idea to apply as early as possible. Information about applying for a U.S. passport may be found at http://www.travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html.
If You Need to Obtain a New Passport While Abroad
For information on obtaining a new passport if yours is lost or stolen abroad, see “How to Get Your Passport Replaced” below, under “Emergencies: Consular Assistance and Crises Abroad.” Also visit the Department of State website at http://www.travel.state.gov/passport/lost/us/us_848.html. Additional information is available at http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/emergencies/emergencies_1197.html.
If you plan to adopt a child overseas, be aware that, in order to bring the child to the U.S. to live, the child must be issued a U.S. immigrant visa in the country of adoption. In addition to other requirements that must be met before a visa may be issued, U.S. law must be satisfied as to the legality of the adoption process that took place. Persons interested in adopting abroad should consult the State Department website at http://www.travel.state.gov/family/adoption/adoption_485.html.
The U.S. Government considersforeign adoptions to be a private, legal matter within the judicial sovereignty of the nation in which the child is residing. U.S. authorities have no right to intervene on behalf of American citizens in the courts of the country where the adoption takes place, and prospective parents must comply with the laws of that country.
