Natalia Ippolito

When you make your reservation, communicate your needs to the airlines. Make plans ahead of time for items such as: oxygen supply for origin, transfer hubs and destination, a porter to help with luggage, and/or a wheelchair to help you move through the airport with ease and with less stress.

All passengers with disabilities should arrive at the airport a minimum of 2 hours early.

When traveling through airport security it is important for all passengers to be comfortable with the screening process. Passengers with disabilities should go directly to the boarding pass identification checker, bypassing the line at security checkpoint. The checker will direct the passenger to the lane that is recognized for people with disabilities or special needs.

Children are born to move. They have tons of energy and need an outlet to burn it up, so it can be tough to get them to be still and listen. It is even more difficult for children who have special needs or disabilities to be confined to an area.

Most large airports have a designated lane for passengers with a disability. It normally is marked with a universal handicap symbol (blue placard).

As of August 4, 2007 common lighters are permitted in carry-on baggage and on your person when walking through security checkpoint, though, you are only allowed a total of four books of safety matches per person. Matches and lighters are prohibited in checked baggage with one exemption for lighters. Lighters without fuel are permitted in checked baggage.

Do you often wonder how many crimes are committed at the airports? Eighty-five percent of crimes committed against travelers occur at the airport.

Approximately 2 million passengers fly a day with an expected 1 billion passenger to fly per year by the year 2015. More people travel, more opportunities for criminals to prey on unsuspecting travelers.

The holidays are here and so is the stress. There is nothing like the stress of booking tickets and traveling during the holidays. Added to that stress is airport security.

I am a former airport screener and I have made it my personal mission to help passengers get through airport security fast, safe and easy.

Here are my top ten valuable airport security tips to help you travel through airport security this holiday season.

Summer is almost here and millions of air travelers will be hitting the airports for vacation. The one question passengers are most concerned about is how can I breeze though airport security screening.

My first tip is know ahead of time if you are one of the lucky ones selected for secondary screening, even before you arrive at the airport.

I am a former TSA officer and passenger advocate. My goal is to arm you with valuable and usable information to make your next trip through airport security an effortless one.

According to Homeland Security, you surrender your 4th amendment rights when either of these two situations occur:
* When you hand your bag over to an airline or TSA employee.