DAYTON — If you are traveling by air during the holiday season, the do's and don'ts remain largely the same for getting through the airports in the post 9/11 era.

Do:

•Plan on arriving 90 minutes to two hours before your scheduled flight departure time, to allow enough time to get through security checkpoints.

•Store carry-on bottled liquids or gels in clear, one-quart plastic zip-top bags, in bottle sizes of 3 ounces or less — or pack larger bottles in your checked luggage.

•Bring a federal or state photo identification, such as a driver's license or passport, along to show as identification that security officers must see before allowing you to head for your gate and flight. Boarding passes also must be shown to the security personnel.

Don't:

•Expect to get on board with a non-photo ID such as a fishing license or library card.

•Carry keys, loose change, cell phones or heavy jewelry through metal detectors (it likely will set the machines off and cause delays in line).

•Stow away your boarding pass or photo ID before leaving the security checkpoint (security officers may ask to see them again).

If you haven't been aboard a commercial flight in a while and have questions about procedures, feel free to ask questions of any of the blue-shirted U.S. Transportation Security Administration officers at the airport, said John Crowe, a transportation security officer assigned to Dayton International Airport.

"Dayton has the same goal you do, to get you where you want to go on time, and get you there safely," Crowe said Thursday, Nov. 20, during a news conference at the Dayton airport to offer travel tips just before the holiday travel season begins in earnest.

Julius Roberge, a corporate-branding consultant from New York City, had all his travel belongings tucked into a wheeled piece of luggage Thursday. Roberge said his experience as a weekly business traveler has familiarized him with the requirements.

"I've got it down," he said as he waited to enter the security checkpoint.

Gasoline prices have fallen to more tolerable levels in recent weeks as the holidays approach. The prices were averaging $1.75 per gallon Thursday in the Miami Valley, and were as low as $1.58 to $1.64 at some stations. That compared with $2.56 a month ago and $3.08 a year ago, according to www.DaytonGasPrices.com.

The Dayton airport normally handles 3,500 passengers a day, but saw that amount increase to 4,632 the day before Thanksgiving last year.

Betsy Walker, of Findlay, was flying from Dayton to visit her Air Force son at Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas. She had stuffed her items into a wheeled piece of luggage, but said she wished she had more room.

"If I could drive, I would," Walker said. "I pack everything but the kitchen sink."

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2242 or jnolan@DaytonDailyNews.com.