No. 1: Relax and enjoy your flight to the vacation of your dreams. After all, it's YOUR VACATION. You're supposed to relax. If you packed wisely, checked in early, arrived early at the airport, prepared yourself for a smooth security screening and boarded on time, you have virtually eliminated the stress that can be caused by travel procrastination.

No. 2: Stay close to your departure gate. Board when your group number or row is called. Group or row numbers are printed on your boarding pass. You may be selected for additional screening during the boarding process.

No. 3: Don't forget your photo ID. If you are over 18 years of age, you will need a photo ID. You must have your ID in hand at the security checkpoint and during the boarding process. Make sure the name on your ID matches the name on your boarding pass.

No. 4: Dress for success to navigate security. Metal may look cool to you, but the screening machines hate it. Avoid wearing shoes, clothing, jewelry and accessories that contain metal. Place your outer coat in a bin. Don't take wrapped presents to the airport. Ship them in advance or wrap them upon arrival.

No. 5: Arrive early at the airport; avoid the lines. Think 60, 90, 120. Arrive 60 minutes before your flight if you are not checking any luggage, 90 minutes if you have luggage to check. For international flights, allow two hours. If you didn't check in online, you can go to the nearest Self-Service Check-In machine to check in at the airport, make seat selections and print your boarding passes and your receipt, thus bypassing the potentially long lines at the ticket counters. Curbside check-in also is available in most airports. If you need wheelchair assistance, check with a skycap at curbside or with a ticket agent upon arrival.

No. 6: Check in early. You can check in for your flights online prior to departure.

No. 7: ID your baggage, place identification tags on the inside and outside of your baggage. Label your laptop computer as well. Laptops are the number one forgotten item at screening checkpoints. And don't lock your checked baggage. If security personnel need to check your baggage, they may have to break the lock to gain access. There are new locks on the market that only can be opened by the TSA. For more information, go to the TSA's Web site.

No. 8: Pack smart with security in mind. With increased security at every airport it only makes good sense to pack accordingly. All your baggage will be screened and possibly hand-searched. Pack your medicine, jewelry or other valuables in your carry-on baggage. Do not pack or bring prohibited items to the airport. Prohibited items are weapons, explosives, incendiaries and even seemingly harmless items that could be used as weapons. For a complete list of prohibitions, visit the Transportation Safety Administration's Web site at www.tsa.gov Quick tip: place all undeveloped film and cameras with film in your carry-on baggage. Checked baggage screening equipment will damage undeveloped

No. 9: Travel during "off-peak" times. The major airport "hubs" tend to get more crowded during the "peak" traveling times (early morning, late afternoon). Try to travel during off-peak times (mid-morning through early afternoon or in the evening) from Monday through Thursday.

No. 10: Don't procrastinate. Book early during the summer months, popular flights sell out early. Generally speaking, the longer you wait, the more expensive your trip.

Source: American Airlines